While much of the airline industry has trimmed creature comforts in the name of cutting costs, Delta Air Lines says it's gradually trying to provide passengers better food, pillows and other amenities.

Delta has slowly been reintroducing meals into coach since fall, after years of offering just snacks. Delta's EATS program, scheduled to be fully implemented by April 1, will offer coach passengers on trips more than 1,025 miles — or about three or more hours — five entree options by celebrity chef Todd English. The new fare will be priced between $4 and $9 per item.

Delta's upgrades come at a time when passengers are looking for more distractions on their flights.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported this month that the average domestic flight in 2007 was 79.9 percent full and the average international flight was 80 percent full. Despite more passengers, airlines have been slow to add seating so they can maintain pricing power and contain costs.

Delta's research found that passengers would be willing to pay for the food if it provided quality, said Jake Frank, Delta's managing director of global product development and delivery.

"Back in the day when airlines offered free food in coach, they weren't known as premium offerings," he said. "What our customers told us is they'd rather pay for better food than get free food that wasn't very good."

Among items on the menu: freshly made hummus with veggies; a chicken parmesan sandwich; a cheddar, turkey bacon and apple butter croissant; and a chicken bistro salad.

The airline still offers free snacks for coach passengers, depending on the duration of the flight.

Delta always has offered food in first-class sections, but the company has recently introduced a new menu by celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein.

To entertain fliers, Delta is upgrading in-flight audio and visual entertainment options, mostly on transcontinental flights. By June 1, the airline will have 100 aircraft equipped to provide on-demand audio and visual entertainment, allowing passengers to stop, start, rewind and pause from their selected song or movie. The carrier also is offering 12 video games.