Sustainability
Setting a bold vision and accelerating our work to deliver sustainable travel experiences and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 is not only good for communities and our planet, it is a business imperative.
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Delta’s mission to better connect the world has never been more important on our path to net-zero emissions by 2050 and a more sustainable future of travel. That’s why a year ago, we introduced a strategic roadmap for achieving our climate and sustainability ambitions. At Delta, we believe that what gets measured gets done, so our public strategy embraces short-, medium-, and long-term milestones to guide what we fly, how we fly and the fuel we use – all while supporting the elevated experiences Delta customers have come to expect.
With over 90% of our carbon footprint coming from jet fuel, we are focused each day on reducing emissions in our own operation while working with industry stakeholders for longer-term decarbonization solutions. In 2024, we expect this work to further reduce fuel consumption by spurring policies and coalition building in support of decarbonization while driving cost efficiencies in our business.
As our decarbonization work continues, we are also implementing sustainability measures across Delta in ways within our control today – like reducing single-use plastics on board. In fact, we’re currently testing a completely new paper cup design that, once implemented throughout our network, we expect will eliminate 7 million pounds of single use plastics (SUPs) on board annually – that’s the weight of 1,300 pickup trucks. 2024 will be a year that we continue building momentum for optimizing our provisioning on board (less weight on the aircraft burns less fuel) and across the ground experience while reducing waste.
While we have a clear path for our work in 2024, Delta’s overarching environmental sustainability strategy is designed to be durable for the long term – here are some ways we’re already seeing that plan in action:
1. Sustainability is a core consideration for business decisions.
Our sustainability road map entails influencing business decisions ranging from what we fly and how we fly, to the fuel we use to get there.
What We Fly
Delta has invested heavily in state-of-the-art aircraft that ensure safe, reliable and premium customer experiences while delivering superior fuel efficiency, including:
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The A321neo, that Delta started taking delivery of in 2022, is 20% more fuel efficient than aircraft we retired in its class. Delta is currently operating 48, with a total of 155 scheduled to be flying in our colors by the end of 2028;
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The A220, of which Delta is the North American launch customer, delivers over 25% more fuel efficiency than retiring small narrowbody aircraft. Delta will add 77 additional aircraft to the 68 already in service; and
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Our recently announced orders for 20 next-gen A350-1000s that we’ll start taking delivery of in 2026 for our international operations. This fleet will be 20% more fuel efficient than retiring widebody aircraft, building on the existing fleet of A350-900s that will grow to 44 aircraft.
We’re also installing enhanced winglets on existing fleets like the 737-900ER and 737-800 to improve fuel efficiency while outfitting these aircraft with lighter-weight, high-performing landing gear tires.
As we keep an eye on guiding future technologies to decarbonize our industry, we set a goal in 2023 to secure five partnerships with revolutionary tech players by 2025, and we’re well on our way. In 2024, we’ll continue building our partnerships with Airbus and Boeing to spur the development of more fuel-efficient airframes with the ambition to have fully sustainable aircraft powered by revolutionary technology in play by 2050.
How We Fly
Smarter, more-efficient flying reduces fuel consumption and corresponding emissions. In 2023, Delta saved a cumulative 21 million gallons of fuel via operational improvements driven by Delta’s cross-divisional Carbon Council. These fuel savings come from Delta-initiated innovations like weight reduction, improved routing, and enhanced landing procedures. We have an aggressive goal of saving our operation 45 million gallons by 2025, and as a result, we’ll continue to identify areas where we can create fuel efficiencies in the coming year.
We’re also working across our operation to optimize weight onboard our aircraft while reducing waste. By testing solutions onboard such as more sustainable cups, more efficient potable water levels, and efficient catering provisioning, we are working to deliver a more sustainable, yet elevated travel experience while reducing waste and emissions.
The Fuel We Use To Get There
Over 90% of our airline’s carbon footprint comes from jet fuel. What if we could scale a new fuel source while bringing about a more sustainable future?
Enter Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF as it’s commonly referred. SAF is the greatest near-term lever the industry has to achieve our decarbonization aspirations. The biggest challenges: there’s not enough being produced annually to fuel the world’s commercial airlines for a single day, and SAF is two to four times as expensive as conventional jet fuel.
Delta has set an ambitious goal to use 10% SAF on our flights by the end of 2030. But we can’t do this alone – we need federal, state, and local governments to level the playing field by advancing and sustaining the same kind of incentive policies that spurred the electrification of the auto industry. The federal government has already taken an important first step by advancing the world’s first SAF incentives and several states (including Illinois, Washington, and Minnesota) have followed suit while others are weighing new policies.
Delta is also taking action by driving coalitions and partnerships across our industry and beyond. Last year we launched the first of its kind Minnesota SAF Hub as an anchor member in coordination with Greater MSP to collaborate across the SAF value chain to drive investment and production. We are also a founding member of Americans for Clean Aviation Fuels, the first national SAF coalition focused on promoting the economic benefits of a robust domestic SAF market with a goal of spurring supportive SAF policies. In 2024, you’ll see Delta driving this work forward with the goal of ultimately creating a global market where the majority of our fuel will come from SAF by 2050.
2. Every role touches sustainability.
Delta’s team of 100,000 are known for doing hard things well. It’s the power of Delta people that allows us to run the most reliable operation in the business while creating opportunities to turn small, personal ideas into large, collective impact. This is why Delta’s Waste and Carbon Councils were set up to include representatives from departments across the business. Our Carbon Council has already saved 21 million gallons of fuel through operational improvements, while our Waste Council has begun piloting projects to better understand the state of recycling onboard.
Our employee-led BRGs have also played a key role in integrating business-wide thinking into our strategic planning. We’re thankful for the passion and expertise that permeates teams across Delta by our 4,500-strong Green Up members, in particular – it was their idea to pilot having our check-in kiosks enter into power-saving mode at night, which is now rolled out across the operation. We also host yearly innovation challenges where employees across the organization team up to create and present ideas to the leadership team that help make Delta more sustainable, some of which ultimately get rolled out into the operation. Many small actions like this together add up to meaningful impact.
3. Collaboration is key.
Decarbonizing our business and our industry is tough. That’s why time and time again, I come back to this: Solving for climate change is not something one person, organization, government or community can do alone.
It takes all of us working together to not only do our part now, but to continue innovating for the future. It’s also about turning commitments into action - through partnerships and coalitions, tech innovation, and creative ways to scale proven concepts.
That’s why I’m so energized by the collaborative work we're doing within academia like our work with MIT to research contrails and the Zero Impact Aviation Alliance to reimagine air transportation with reduced environmental impact. We’re also collaborating within the private sector with partners big and small, like SAF start-up Gevo who are innovating around the creation of jet fuel from corn and other feedstocks.
I’m also inspired by the work that my colleagues at other airlines are doing to solve for the difficulties of decarbonizing our business. While we’re fierce competitors on the commercial front, I believe that the rising tides of sustainability lifts all boats. It’s important that we’re all trailblazing and innovating in different directions, sharing our learnings along the way, and figuring out together which paths will help our industry achieve net zero ambitions the most effectively.
I’m inspired by the foundations we’ve been laying for years and even more excited about the building we’re doing now to shape the more sustainable future of travel. Keep Climbing.
From welcoming back Amelia DeLuca to Delta’s Global Sustainability leadership team as CSO to continued initiatives to reduce emissions while spurring SAF production and reducing single-use-plastics on board, Delta continues to be a leader in sustainability in the aviation sector.
Delta will begin its final testing of new paper cups on board transcontinental flights starting in December 2023. This latest sustainability milestone underscores the airline’s commitment to innovation and progress. Pending testing, the new paper cups will be rolled out throughout Delta’s network.
A transformative initiative has taken flight with the formation of Americans for Clean Aviation Fuels, of which Delta is a founding member.
Delta shortlisted for ‘Best Innovation’ and ‘Lowest CO2 Emissions Ground Ops’ awards, and the airline won two categories: “Lowest CO2 Ground Emissions Home Base” for its ground support equipment and “Best Innovation Wildcard” for overall high performance in innovation in 2023 SkyTeam Alliance Sustainable Flight Challenge.
Through the GREATER MSP Partnership, Bank of America, Delta Air Lines, Ecolab and Xcel Energy have established the first large-scale SAF Hub in the U.S. with unparalleled collaboration among key players committed to scaling SAF production to replace conventional jet fuel.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is the most promising lever known today to accelerate progress toward a net zero future.
Effective Aug. 1, Amelia DeLuca will return to Delta’s Global Sustainability team as Chief Sustainability Officer. Delta’s commitment to achieving net zero by 2050 through decarbonizing our airline operations remains a business imperative.
Delta displayed its sustainability strategy in action as part of the second annual SkyTeam Alliance Sustainable Flight Challenge. The challenge tests sustainable solutions as the company works toward net zero emissions by 2050 while delivering elevated, more sustainable travel experiences. These flights showcased the company’s strategy in action from the electric ground support equipment to reducing single-use plastic onboard and actions that reduce emissions.
Delta’s always-on work to advance its purpose is on full display in the airline’s 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance Report. The latest data, insights and examples of how Delta is delivering meaningful progress in Safety, People and Culture, Environmental Sustainability and Community Impact clearly illustrate Delta’s purpose behind its business.
The zero-emission catering truck will be deployed for three months to supply Delta's aircraft at the gate.
Delta will purchase up to 10 million gallons of neat SAF from Shell Aviation over a two-year period for use at its hub at Los Angeles International Airport. This will increase the global airline’s SAF commitments to over 200 million gallons – more than halfway to its goal of SAF comprising 10% of its fuel use annually by end of 2030*, and well on its way to 35% SAF use by 2035.
Ground support equipment at Delta's hubs in Salt Lake City and Boston are nearly entirely powered with electricity, a huge step toward the airline's aspirational goal of a 100% net-zero ground operation around the world.
Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer Pam Fletcher outlines the company’s bold strategy for achieving net zero-emissions and more sustainable travel by 2050, including scaling the sustainable fuel market, innovating for the fleet of the future, addressing single-use plastics and encouraging net-zero supply chains.
INTERACTIVE | Path to sustainability
The Delta Sustainable Skies Lab, depicted in the vision concept above, will bridge the gap between fledgling ideas and proven innovation by focusing on clean fuel, efficient flying operations, revolutionary fleet concepts and sustainable travel & business practices.
Delta is taking another step toward its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 as it tests novel drag-reduction technology by Aero Design Labs on its 737-800 and 737-900 fleets. By reducing drag, aircraft are more aerodynamic and use less fuel while in flight.
If successful, this work could drive significant progress quickly in reducing the climate impact of aviation by preventing the creation of persistent contrail formations altogether.
![Headshot of Delta's Chief Sustainability Officer Pam Fletcher](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_wide_horizontal/public/2022-09/pamela_fletcher_1.jpg?itok=eRi6khcI)
Pam Fletcher is Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer – the only such role reporting directly to an airline CEO. Pam joined Delta as we accelerated efforts to combat the crisis of climate change to build a sustainable future for air travel – something that’s essential for the long-term success of Delta people and our planet.
Editor's note: Delta outlined a roadmap to more sustainable travel on March 7, 2023 that details the airline's strategy for achieving net-zero emissions and more sustainable travel by 2050.
Beyond the pure wonder of it, air travel shatters barriers that once seemed insurmountable. It brings together people and cultures from the furthest corners of the world, broadening our collective experiences and building understanding. At Delta, we see travel as a noble force for good – and the miracle of flight is helping us to better understand the far-reaching impacts of climate change.
Aviation continues to make technological advancements, yet the need for jet propulsion and fossil fuels makes it among the most challenging sectors to decarbonize. The very core of our business – flying – accounts for 98% of an airline’s carbon footprint.
This is the challenge that inspired my decision earlier this year to join Delta as Chief Sustainability Officer. Working with the Delta Team to create a sustainable future offers a compelling challenge and an opportunity to lead meaningful change. The solutions we develop will help define the next century of air travel.
In my years helping build a zero-emissions future for the auto industry, I experienced first-hand that big challenges, especially those with big impact, inspire innovation and technical advancement while bringing out the best in people. Dramatic climate change demands all stakeholders come to the table with a dedication and sense of urgency to listen and act. Airlines, manufacturers, governments, consumers and yet-to-be-discovered contributors, alike, need to work together to advance climate-friendly programs and services – all while elevating the overall travel experience.
In March 2020, Delta set a bold vision and began its journey toward carbon neutrality with the best tool available at the time: high-quality carbon offsets. Today, our vision of the path forward is much wider and centered on a long-term strategy of decarbonization. As we reshape the fundamentals of aviation, we are as dedicated to making immediate progress as we are to investing wisely in disruptive solutions. A portfolio of short-, medium- and long-term actions across the industry are essential to achieving net zero aviation.
Long-Term: Driving Innovation for Net Zero Future of Flight
What will an aircraft’s propulsion system or airframe look like in 2050? Delta continues to encourage and incentivize revolutionary and disruptive aircraft technologies with our supply base and creatives outside the industry, forging an ecosystem to catalyze innovation. We’ve partnered with Airbus to study hydrogen-powered aircraft along with the ecosystem required at airports and beyond to potentially reduce aviation emissions exponentially. We’re optimistic about early-stage companies pushing the boundaries with futurist thinking on aircraft, propulsion and more, and look forward to fostering collaboration with the industry, academia, and start-ups to accelerate the sustainable future of flight.
Medium-Term: Scaling Proven New Tech Quickly
In the mid-term, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are the most impactful solution. Made from renewable plant-based and waste resources, SAF can be used in existing aircraft engines – which is incredible. They are produced with a fraction of the lifecycle carbon footprint compared to traditional jet fuel. But it’s also an emerging technology not currently produced at scale, which means it’s largely inaccessible and about three-to-five times the cost of traditional jet fuel.
The auto industry’s all-electric roadmap offers insights into SAF. Early electric cars were cost prohibitive and the ecosystem to support mass commercialization simply didn’t exist. Government prioritization and infrastructure support along with industry investment has unlocked a tidal wave of innovation that is enabling more affordable electric cars to be produced at scale for the mass market. We have the same opportunity with SAF to accelerate its viability to become as economical and widely available as traditional jet fuel.
Delta has forged partnerships with federal and state governments, early-stage SAF developers and our jet fuel supply chain to help spark this nascent industry. In addition, improving operational efficiency through industry collaboration with air traffic control agencies and supporting new aerospace research will be critical to our success.
Short-Term: Changes to What We Control
Today, Delta is propelling the industry forward. We’ve proven the infrastructure exists to make SAF accessible to every major airport on the East Coast by leveraging our partnership with Colonial Pipeline. We’re funding top minds to accelerate new innovations through our pension fund’s co-investment with TPG Rise Climate Fund. We are pushing the industry to look holistically at the impact of aviation beyond jet fuel, including a goal of electrifying 50 percent of our ground fleet by 2025 with five of our top hubs fully electric in the next three years. And we’re eliminating nearly 5 million pounds of single-use plastics onboard this year alone and offering customers compostable food service items as new options come to market.
Reducing our carbon footprint is good for our business, which is why for the past decade, Delta’s Carbon Council has had the goal of reinventing longstanding operating procedures to reduce fuel consumption. In 2022 alone, we are expected to have reduced fuel consumption by over 10 million gallons through operations and fleet modifications including reducing aircraft weight, modifying landing approaches, optimizing flight speed and more. This improvement is on top of ongoing multi-billion-dollar investments to replace and modify aircraft with more efficient technology, resulting in our fastest rate of fuel efficiency improvements over the past three years. This includes our recent order of Boeing 737-10 aircraft which is intended to improve fuel efficiency by 25% over the aircraft they will replace.
Keep Climbing
In my short time at Delta, it is clear that “Keep Climbing” is a way of life – from senior leaders to front-line teams – in pursuit of continuous improvement and big ideas that will elevate the next 100 years of aviation. We believe in the unmatched power of human connections that flight allows, enabling us to see the world and help to save it at the same time. I’m excited about the journey of learning, growing, and making meaningful change ahead. Focusing on progress – not perfection, will define our path.
Under a new agreement, DG Fuels, LLC plans to establish a new SAF supply stream that could provide Delta with 385 million gallons of unblended sustainable aviation fuel, while helping to expand availability of SAF in the underserved marketplace.
The talents of expert artisans are finding their way to premium and more sustainable amenity kits for Delta One® customers next month, through a partnership with the Mexico-based brand Someone Somewhere.
Our commitment to carbon neutrality is rooted in the idea that our customers shouldn’t have to choose between seeing the world and saving the world.
Delta’s new brand campaign builds on the commitment first announced in March 2020 to be the first carbon-neutral airline globally.
This announcement is part of Delta’s ongoing commitment to protecting the planet which, since 2005, has resulted in a 9 percent decrease in emissions as Delta works toward its long-term goal of reducing its emissions