Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major American airline, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving six continents. Delta Air Lines and its subsidiaries operate over 5,000 flights every day and have approximately 80,000 employees. Delta is the sixth-oldest operating airline by foundation date, and the oldest airline still operating in the United States. Delta Air Lines is one of the four founding members of the SkyTeam airline alliance, the other three being Korean Air, Air France, and Aeroméxico. Regional service for the airline is served by Delta Connection.
WHAT’S NEW WITH DELTA
NEWS & UPDATES
August 24, 2021 - Delta continues fleet renewal with 30 additional Airbus A321neos
Delta continues to refresh and upgrade its fleet, adding 30 incremental A321neo aircraft to its existing order book with Airbus. This transaction further positions the airline as a leader in the recovery, and beyond, with its cutting-edge, reliable and lower-emissions fleet, while reinforcing Delta’s strategic fleet objectives to boost operational simplification, achieve economies of scale and drive productivity.
“Adding these aircraft strengthens Delta’s commitment to replacing older fleets with more sustainable, fuel-efficient jets, and offers the best customer experience in the industry,” said Mahendra Nair, Delta’s S.V.P. – Fleet and TechOps Supply Chain. “Delta appreciates the extensive partnership with the Airbus team in support of our strategic growth plans, and we look forward to continuing to work together throughout the recovery and in the years ahead.”
The state-of-the-art A321neo is Delta’s most fuel-efficient large gauge narrow body aircraft and is well-suited to complement Delta’s leading domestic network.
August 10, 2021 - Sit back, tune in and enjoy: Delta adds new movies, TV shows and more to theater in the sky
August 4, 2021 - Delta eliminates fee to allow free standby for same-day trip changes
Beginning Aug. 4, customers who need to change their flight on the day of departure can now stand by for an earlier, alternative flight without paying a fee. The new flight must depart the same day, and standby requests or a confirmed change must be made within 24 hours of departure. Customers can make their same-day travel change directly within the Fly Delta app or delta.com.
July 27, 2021 - Your loyalty has never been more important': Delta is only airline to extend Medallion Status, key SkyMiles benefits into 2023
As more people reclaim the joy of travel, Delta is leading the way in extending Medallion and SkyMiles benefits.
Delta is consistently delivering new ways for customers to feel confident when booking their trips, from eliminating most change fees to extending the validity of travel credits through the end of 2022. Recently, Delta enabled flexibility for Basic Economy customers to make changes to their upcoming 2021 travel.
Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members will be able to enjoy their Status through Jan. 31, 2023, in addition to other extensions designed to give the airline’s most loyal customers more flexibility as travel resumes.
Medallion Members who are currently earning Status by traveling in 2021 will receive elevated benefits for the 2022 Medallion Year. The global carrier is also extending the ability for Award Travel on Delta to count toward Status through Dec. 31, 2022. And all SkyMiles Members will continue to earn at an accelerated rate on most tickets through Dec. 31, 2021.
July 19, 2021 - Delta tops The Points Guy rankings for third year in a row with 'consistent, high-quality performance
The online travel and lifestyle platform said Delta topped rankings in reliability and travel experience and noted its consistent scores across all categories that pushed it to the top.
As people seek to rediscover the joy of travel and seek connections in the wake of the COVID-19, they have more reason to be confident in their decision to fly with Delta. A study by The Points Guy finds that Delta offers the best overall experience for fliers for the third year running.
The Points Guy’s airline ranking assesses reliability, experience, loyalty and costs and reach. The online travel and lifestyle platform said Delta topped rankings in reliability and travel experience and noted its consistent scores across all categories that pushed it to the top.
As people return to the skies, Delta has continued to innovate the travel experience with an eye towards the future, including:
– Chef-curated meals, premium sandwiches, salads, bowls and snacks
– A new era of connectivity with advanced high-speed wifi and personalized seat back entertainment
– Integrated health credentials to ease trans-Atlantic travel
July 13, 2021 - Delta to add Airbus, Boeing aircraft to fleet amid travel demand recovery
Delta has entered into agreements to add 29 used Boeing 737-900ERs and lease seven used Airbus A350-900s as it continues to streamline and modernize its fleet. The 36 additional aircraft will improve fuel efficiency and enhance the customer experience, while supporting Delta’s fleet renewal strategy focused on simplification, scale, size and sustainability.
“These aircraft are an investment in Delta’s future,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “As we look past the pandemic, Delta’s disciplined, innovative approach to fleet renewal positions us for growth as travel demand returns, while enhancing the customer experience and supporting our sustainability commitments.”
The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to simplify Delta’s fleet and accelerate retirements of 18 widebody 777s, and the MD-88 and MD-90 narrowbody fleets, all of them older and less efficient. The pandemic also provided unique business opportunities to add newer generation aircraft at attractive prices.
June 21, 2021 - Harvard Business Review: Delta’s ‘change power’ sets it apart for success
The Harvard Business Review identified nine common traits, in three groups, that it says make companies excel at change, and that Delta exemplified:
- Purpose, direction and connection.
- Capacity, choreography and scaling.
- Development, action and flexibility.
“Delta Air Lines has strengths in each of these three groups, which helps explain why it responded so well when the pandemic hit, relative to its competitors,” the Harvard Business Review wrote. “The company is particularly strong in purpose, connection, and action.”
May 25, 2021 - High-speed Wi-Fi, personalized seatback entertainment: Delta to bring new era of onboard experience to customers
“Customers expect the very best when they fly with Delta, and our investments in a best-in-class onboard experience will give them even more reasons to look forward to their next flight,” said Byron Merritt, V.P. – Brand Experience.
The airline plans to outfit more than 550 aircraft with high-speed, streaming-quality Wi-Fi service by the end of 2022, with all of Delta’s Airbus A321ceo, Boeing 737-900 and 757-200 fleets outfitted by the end of 2021. Select aircraft from the carrier’s Airbus A321neo, A220-300, A320ceo, A319 and Boeing 737-800 fleets will begin installation in 2022.
May 4, 2021 - Elevated experiences await: Delta Premium Select coming to more aircraft
“As customers return to travel, we’re bringing them better and more comfortable experiences, and that includes introducing Delta Premium Select to more aircraft in our fleet,” said Byron Merritt, V.P. – Brand Experience Design. “We know customers are ready to get back into the world, and that is driving us to accelerate improvements to our aircraft that will give our customers the best onboard products.”
Delta Premium Select, an elevated Delta cabin experience available on select international routes, debuted in 2017 and features a wider seat, additional recline and an adjustable foot and leg rest on select widebody aircraft* – offering customers more ways to cruise in comfort. Customers seated in Delta Premium Select also receive a TUMI amenity kit, noise-cancelling headsets and a blanket and pillow to help them arrive at their destination refreshed and relaxed.
April 21, 2021 - Delta reaffirms commitment to cleanliness through innovation, partnerships and Delta people
Starting July 17, the airline’s kiosks in Atlanta began to feature the new coating recently authorized by the EPA for Delta’s use in Georgia, Minnesota and Utah.
BiaXamTM, a product developed by Kraton Corporation, a leading global producer of specialty polymers, kills the COVID-19 virus and provides sustained protection for customers and employees against a range of other surface contaminants.
February 8, 2021 - Delta extends middle seat blocking through April 2021; Only U.S. airline to continue providing more space for customers
The airline has consistently listened to its customers and prioritized their preferences by offering more space through seat blocking and reducing the overall number of people on board each flight since April 2020.
“We want our customers to have complete confidence when traveling with Delta, and they continue to tell us that more space provides more peace of mind,” said Bill Lentsch, Chief Customer Experience Officer. “We’ll continue to reassess seat blocking in relation to case transmission and vaccination rates, while bringing back products and services in ways that instill trust in the health and safety of everyone on board – that will always be Delta’s priority.”