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Delta Air Lines showcases decarbonization efforts during New York Climate Week

Policy

Julie Stewart, V.P. ‐ Investor Relations & Corporate Development | Delta Air Lines

By Sky Industry News

Oct 28, 2024

Delta Air Lines showcased its sustainability initiatives during New York Climate Week in September, where global leaders and corporations gathered to discuss corporate action on climate change. The airline highlighted its decarbonization efforts through various collaborations and innovations.

Delta's Carbon Council has played a significant role in reducing fuel consumption by optimizing flight operations. In 2023, the council saved over 21 million gallons of fuel, with expectations to reach a cumulative savings of 40 million gallons by the end of 2024. Efforts include reducing auxiliary power unit (APU) usage between flights, which saved 1.3 million gallons of fuel.

The company is also transitioning to paper cups across its international network this fall, aiming to eliminate nearly 7 million pounds of single-use plastic annually by 2025. Enhanced landing procedures have been implemented, such as the low flaps landing procedure certified on Delta's 717 fleet, expected to save up to one million gallons of jet fuel per year.

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Additionally, Delta is upgrading its fleet with advanced winglet technology to improve efficiency further. The completion of modifications on the 737-800 fleet will result in saving more than three million gallons of fuel annually.

The Green Up business resource group at Delta involves over 4,000 employees worldwide who support sustainable business decisions and community awareness for sustainable travel practices.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) remains a critical component in Delta's strategy to reduce carbon emissions from jet fuel use. Despite limited availability globally, Delta advocates for increased SAF production through policy engagement with state and federal stakeholders.

In September 2024, Delta announced milestones achieved with the Minnesota SAF Hub, including the first delivery of SAF at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and plans for blending up to 30 million gallons annually by Q4 2025.

“Delta remains firmly committed on its journey to connect people to a more sustainable future of travel by reaching net-zero emissions by 2050,” stated DeLuca. “We know that the people we care about care about sustainability, and that when we look at every aspect of our business through that lens, we can drive meaningful change while also driving efficiencies across our business.”

Organizations Included in this History

Delta Air Lines

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