Delta Air Lines launches a new international route today with service between Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Dublin, Ireland (DUB).
The first flight from MSP to Dublin departs at 9:20 p.m. this evening for a daily flight schedule running through Oct. 25. Delta is operating the service on a Boeing 767-300 aircraft.
Photo: Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-332 (ER). Courtesy Metropolitan Airports Commission
Delta now operates 24 international routes from MSP, which is the airline’s second busiest hub. The Dublin service is the first new transatlantic Delta route from MSP since 2016, when it added Reykjavik, Iceland.
Delta operates nearly 350 peak-day departures to more than 135 destinations across the globe from MSP, with nonstop service to popular international destinations including Amsterdam, Paris, London, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico City, Tokyo-Haneda and more.
Delta unveiled its custom Airbus A350-900 Team USA aircraft livery in Toulouse, France on N521DN honoring the airline’s commitment to celebrate the athletes’ journeys and connect them with their dreams as the official airline of Team USA.
The Team USA-inspired A350 celebrates Delta’s eight-year partnership with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, which runs through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Unveiling the Team USA aircraft for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 marks a major milestone for Delta’s support of Team USA as we look toward the start of competition in just a few months,” said Chief Marketing Officer Alicia Tillman. “This plane, designed by our in-house creative team, represents Delta’s commitment to Team USA and our partnership to elevate these athletes to reach their highest potential. As this plane flies around the world in the coming months and years, we hope it is seen as a symbol of hard work, dedication and the upward momentum to being the best that Team USA and Delta innately share.”
DELTA’S CHAIRMAN’S CLUB TAKES DELIVERY IN TOULOUSE
The celebration in Toulouse – home of Airbus’ global headquarters and where the plane was built and painted this year – had a special audience this year, with Delta’s Chairman’s Club – a peer-selected honoree group of the airline’s top 100 employees from divisions across the company – being a part of the reveal moment for the first time.
These employees, who are nominated by their peers and Delta’s most senior leaders, represent top employees from across the business. The honorees, which are selected annually, are chosen based on their merit and ability to exemplify the Delta brand each day. Each year, Chairman’s Club Honorees receive the distinction of flying on a new Delta aircraft home to Atlanta as recognition of their commitment and dedication to the brand. To celebrate the countdown to the Paris Games, the 2023 honoree class was able to unveil the brand-new Team USA livery design and be the first to fly on the newly minted plane. Members of the 2023 class were in attendance for the occasion.
“Team USA athletes are resilient and perseverant – much like Delta’s own people who work each day behind the scenes to connect the world,” said VP of Global Communications Gina Laughlin. “Celebrating this moment alongside our 2023 Chairman’s Club Honorees is only fitting as Delta’s people and Team USA work diligently each day to bring the best of themselves to their work. No one better understand what it means to Keep Climbing to the top.”
Delta’s Chairman’s Club Honorees will fly the aircraft back to Atlanta on May 3.
DESIGNING THE LIVERY
The custom livery was designed over several months by Alessandra Rabellino and Delta’s internal brand design team, Window Seat. The bespoke design boasts red, white and blue colors with ‘Team USA’ proudly written across its side and maintains elements of the Team USA Livery design for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, as a nod to the beginning of the partner journey, while also incorporating features that look ahead to Paris and beyond.
“We evolved one of the main features from the Beijing Livery – the jet stream – into the shape of the Eiffel Tower, symbolizing momentum as we countdown to Paris,” Rabellino said. “Being able to see the big reveal after the curtain drop was so exciting. But what is even more special is being part of this occasion alongside the Chairman’s Club Honorees who have such a big impact on our company – it’s a true honor.”
On May 2 Delta unveiled its custom Airbus A350 Team USA aircraft livery in Toulouse, France honoring the airline’s commitment to celebrate these athlete’s journey and connect them with their dreams as the official airline of Team USA. NBC’s Keir Simmons shared an exclusive look inside on TODAY.
ABOUT DELTA’S TEAM USA PARTNERSHIP
To further its commitment to Team USA, Delta has also proudly partnered with 15 Team USA athlete ambassadors for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. This group of inspiring athletes will join Delta on the road to Paris as the airline will support them both on and off the field of play, celebrating their stories of resilience and perseverance as they pursue their Olympic and Paralympic dreams.
Delta’s Team USA athlete ambassadors include U.S. Olympians and Paralympians, an Olympic hopeful and gold-medal winning legends, who will support the Games next year as spectators – some for the first time.
U.S. Olympic Athletes:
Allyson Felix, 11X U.S. Olympic medalist, Track and Field
Gabby Thomas, 2X U.S. Olympic gold medalist, Track and Field
Ilona Maher, U.S. Olympian, Rugby
Brooke Raboutou, U.S. Olympian, Sport Climbing
Jagger Eaton, U.S. Olympic bronze medalist, Skateboarding
Chase Kalisz, 2X U.S. Olympic medalist, Swimming
Victor Montalvo, U.S. Olympic hopeful, Breaking
Ashleigh Johnson, 2X Olympic gold medalist, Water Polo
U.S. Paralympic Athletes:
Brad Snyder, 8X U.S. Paralympic medalist, Para Swimming & Paratriathlon
Oksana Masters, 17X U.S. Paralympic medalist, Para Cycling & Para Cross-country ski
Kaleo Kanahele Maclay, 3X U.S. Paralympic medalist, Sitting Volleyball
Trevon Jenifer, 3X U.S. Paralympic medalist, Wheelchair Basketball
Roderick Townsend, 4X U.S. Paralympic medalist, Para Track and Field
Chuck Aoki, 3X U.S. Paralympic medalist, Wheelchair Rugby
Mallory Weggemann, 5X U.S. Paralympic medalist, Para Swimming
As Team USA’s official airline, Delta will manage travel for all U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milan 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, where it also is an inaugural founding partner.
The partnership with Team USA furthers Delta’s longstanding support for sport – and the airline’s proud history supporting Team USA and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Delta served as a past sponsor of its hometown in the Olympic and Paralympic Games Atlanta 1996 and Salt Lake City 2002.
The Delta-Aeromexico Joint Cooperation Agreement (JCA) is expanding its operations between the United States and Mexico, marking a significant milestone in the aviation industry. Delta and Aeromexico recently celebrated the launch of their new service between Boston (BOS) and Mexico City (MEX) during a ceremony at Logan International Airport. This highly anticipated route, operated by Aeromexico, marks the airline’s return to the Massachusetts capital.
Fantastic view Mexico City’s downtown at twilight. The nightlife of the city can be seen around the Palacio de Bellas Artes building in foreground (Delta Air Lines).
To celebrate this milestone, authorities and special guests gathered for an event at Logan International Airport, including Todd Smith, Director of Aviation Operations for Massport; Felipe Cuellar, Deputy Consul of Mexico in Boston; John Angel, Managing Director of Airport Operations for Delta; and Jose Zapata, Vice President of Sales for North America & Latin America at Aeromexico.
As part of the celebration, customers who flew on the first flight to Mexico received commemorative gifts as a thank-you for being part of this important event.
As the Delta-Aeromexico JCA continues to expand its operations, it reinforces its commitment to providing a seamless travel experience and strengthening the connection between the United States and Mexico, our country’s second largest trading partner.
Copyright Photo: EuroSpot. Delta new Airbus A350-900 “Team USA” livery for team transport for 2024 Paris Olympics.
Delta Air Lines today reported financial results for the March quarter and provided its outlook for the June quarter.
“Thanks to the extraordinary work of our 100,000 people, Delta is delivering the best operational reliability in our history, and we have widened the gap to our competitors. We were thrilled to recognize their efforts with $1.4 billion in profit sharing payouts during the quarter,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s Chief Executive Officer.
“For the March quarter, we delivered record revenue on outstanding operational performance, enabling strong earnings growth. We anticipate continued strong momentum for our business, and in the June quarter, we expect to deliver record revenue, a mid-teens operating margin and earnings of $2.20 to $2.50 per share. We remain confident in our full year targets for earnings of $6 to $7 per share and free cash flow of $3 to $4 billion.”
Photo: Delta Air Lines
MARCH QUARTER 2024 GAAP FINANCIAL RESULTS
Operating revenue of $13.7 billion
Operating income of $614 million with an operating margin of 4.5 percent
Pre-tax income of $122 million with a pre-tax margin of 0.9 percent
Earnings per share of $0.06
Operating cash flow of $2.4 billion
Payments on debt and finance lease obligations of $712 million
Total debt and finance lease obligations of $19.4 billion at quarter end
MARCH QUARTER 2024 ADJUSTED FINANCIAL RESULTS
Operating revenue of $12.6 billion, 6 percent higher than the March quarter 2023
Operating income of $640 million with an operating margin of 5.1 percent
Pre-tax income of $380 million with a pre-tax margin of 3.0 percent
Earnings per share of $0.45
Operating cash flow of $2.5 billion
Free cash flow of $1.4 billion
Adjusted debt to EBITDAR of 2.9x, down from 3.0x at the end of 2023
Return on invested capital of 13.8 percent on a trailing five quarter average, up 2.8 points over prior year.
The Monday, April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The total solar eclipse will begin over the South Pacific Ocean. Weather permitting, the first location in continental North America that will experience totality is Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT.
The total solar eclipse will be visible along a narrow track stretching from Texas to Maine on April 8, 2024. A partial eclipse will be visible throughout all 48 contiguous U.S. states. Want to download this map and view other versions? Visit NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio.
NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio
The path of the eclipse continues from Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. The eclipse will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.
A map developed using data from a variety of NASA sources shows the total eclipse path as a dark band. Outside this path, purple lines indicate how much of the Sun will become covered by the Moon during the partial eclipse. This video shows different areas of the map, explaining these and other features that describe what observers across the country can expect to see during the total eclipse.
This table provides the time that totality begins in some U.S. cities in the path of totality. These areas will also experience a partial eclipse before and after these times.
Location
Partial Begins
Totality Begins
Maximum
Totality Ends
Partial Ends
Dallas, Texas
12:23 p.m. CDT
1:40 p.m. CDT
1:42 p.m. CDT
1:44 p.m. CDT
3:02 p.m. CDT
Idabel, Oklahoma
12:28 p.m. CDT
1:45 p.m. CDT
1:47 p.m. CDT
1:49 p.m. CDT
3:06 p.m. CDT
Little Rock, Arkansas
12:33 p.m. CDT
1:51 p.m. CDT
1:52 p.m. CDT
1:54 p.m. CDT
3:11 p.m. CDT
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
12:39 p.m. CDT
1:56 p.m. CDT
1:56 p.m. CDT
2:00 p.m. CDT
3:15 p.m. CDT
Paducah, Kentucky
12:42 p.m. CDT
2:00 p.m. CDT
2:01 p.m. CDT
2:02 p.m. CDT
3:18 p.m. CDT
Carbondale, Illinois
12:42 p.m. CDT
1:59 p.m. CDT
2:01 p.m. CDT
2:03 p.m. CDT
3:18 p.m. CDT
Evansville, Indiana
12:45 p.m. CDT
2:02 p.m. CDT
2:04 p.m. CDT
2:05 p.m. CDT
3:20 p.m. CDT
Cleveland, Ohio
1:59 p.m. EDT
3:13 p.m. EDT
3:15 p.m. EDT
3:17 p.m. EDT
4:29 p.m. EDT
Erie, Pennsylvania
2:02 p.m. EDT
3:16 p.m. EDT
3:18 p.m. EDT
3:20 p.m. EDT
4:30 p.m. EDT
Buffalo, New York
2:04 p.m. EDT
3:18 p.m. EDT
3:20 p.m. EDT
3:22 p.m. EDT
4:32 p.m. EDT
Burlington, Vermont
2:14 p.m. EDT
3:26 p.m. EDT
3:27 p.m. EDT
3:29 p.m. EDT
4:37 p.m. EDT
Lancaster, New Hampshire
2:16 p.m. EDT
3:27 p.m. EDT
3:29 p.m. EDT
3:30 p.m. EDT
4:38 p.m. EDT
Caribou, Maine
2:22 p.m. EDT
3:32 p.m. EDT
3:33 p.m. EDT
3:34 p.m. EDT
4:40 p.m. EDT
We have your morning eclipse update from @NWS' Kyle Struckmann, a National Aviation Meteorologist at the FAA Command Center. He and his team help us keep flights moving safely and as efficiently as possible during weather, and even astronomical events. #Eclipse2024@NOAApic.twitter.com/4skHrFzJMq
In partnership with GPS Apparel by Gap Inc., Delta is bringing to life prototypes of an all-new, modern and “distinctly Delta” uniform collection, which features details that pay homage to the airline’s brand identity and heritage.
After more than a year and a half of development and design, Delta employees are getting a first look at prototypes of an all-new, modern and “distinctly Delta” uniform collection – one created with feedback from the airline’s 70,000 uniformed employees (including airport customer service agents, cargo agents, flight attendants, ground equipment mechanics and aircraft technicians) at the center of the design process.
Since 2022, Delta has partnered with GPS Apparel by Gap Inc. to bring the new prototype collection to life. Working with Gap Inc. – an iconic and purpose-led company with a portfolio of globally known brands including Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta – allows Delta to leverage product and design expertise from their 50-plus years of experience in the industry, as well as their scaled platform and extensive sourcing capabilities. Through job shadows, focus groups, surveys and interviews, the team at Gap Inc. collected feedback from more than 20,000 employees on future uniform designs; that feedback is being used to create prototypes that are comfortable yet elevated, modern yet durable, and above all, functional.
The uniform prototypes are anchored in deep navy blues and rich burgundy, with accents of bright red and white – a return to a more classic color palette inspired by Delta’s brand identity and heritage. With ease of movement, breathability, inclusive fit, durability, and distinct design elements at the core of Delta’s uniform ethos, the collection offers a cohesive and elevated look and allows employees the option to choose between different looks and styles. Garments are made from OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100-certified fabrics and components and are purpose-built for each division and role, with functional elements to help employees do their jobs well and wear their uniform with pride.
In a further homage to Delta’s brand identity and history, designers incorporated the iconic widget logo across the collection, in ways both obvious and subtle. First introduced in 1959, the widget – as seen on the tails of Delta aircraft – represents the spirit and culture of Delta: the flat base symbolizes the airline’s solid foundation, while the top portion points skyward – a reminder to always keep climbing.
Outfitting Delta employees head-to-toe in new uniforms will take some time, though. The airline will begin extensive wear testing for each uniform garment later this fall, giving Delta employees the opportunity to continue to influence the fit, form and function of the new collection. The roll-in of new uniform pieces across all workgroups is not expected for the next few years.
“Delta has tens of thousands of uniformed employees, all with different needs and preferences,” said Ranjan Goswami, SVP of Customer Experience Design. “That means any evolution of the uniform program will take time and deliberation to get right. We are committed to using this time to listen, learn and iterate as we work toward a new look – one that reflects and celebrates who we are as Delta.”
Good news for astronomy lovers — after selling out its first special flight in under 24 hours, Delta is giving customers a second shot at a sky view of the eclipse in the path of totality, this time out of Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) on April 8.
Delta flight 1010 will depart from DFW at 12:30 p.m. CT and arrive in Detroit together with the other path-of-totality flight (DL 1218 from AUS to DTW) at 4:20 p.m. ET*.
Following the Mon., Feb. 19 announcement of the first path-of-totality flight, searches for flights from AUS-DTW on Delta channels spiked by more than 1,500%**.
DL 1010 will be operated on an A321neo — a larger plane than the AUS-DTW A220-300 — to allow more customers to experience the eclipse path of totality. The A321neo is Delta’s most fuel-efficient aircraft featuring 20 domestic First Class seats, 42 Delta Comfort+ seats and 132 Main Cabin seats, all with memory foam cushioning for improved comfort.
*While Delta flight plans have been designed to maximize time within the path of totality, this is subject to change due to factors outside of Delta’s control such as weather and air traffic control that could impact timing and aircraft.
**Searches on Tues., Feb. 20, as compared to the average search volume between Feb. 1-18.
The airline is offering a special flight from Austin to Detroit on April 8, 2024, specifically for umbraphiles to be able to spend as much time as possible directly within the path of totality.
Delta flight 1218 will be specifically operated on an A220-300, which will offer especially premium viewing due to the aircraft’s extra-large windows. The flight will depart from Austin at 12:15 p.m. CT and land in Detroit at 4:20 p.m. ET — timed to give those on board the best chance of safely viewing the solar eclipse at its peak.*
“This flight is the result of significant collaboration and exemplifies the close teamwork Delta is known for — from selecting an aircraft with larger windows to determining the exact departure time from Austin and the experiences at the gate and in the air,” said Eric Beck, Managing Director of Domestic Network Planning. “Thanks to teams across the company, the idea of viewing a total eclipse from the air will become a reality for our customers.”
Even if you aren’t on this special flight, Delta travelers will also have prime eclipse-viewing opportunities on five additional routes on April 8, so don’t forget your protective viewing glasses if you’re on these flights:
DL 5699, DTW-HPN, 2:59 pm EST departure, ERJ-175
DL 924, LAX-DFW, 8:40 am PST departure, A320
DL 2869, LAX-SAT, 9:00 am PST departure, A319
DL 1001, SLC-SAT, 10:08 am MST departure, A220-300
DL 1683, SLC-AUS, 9:55 am MST departure, A320
And for those who would rather catch the solar event from the ground, Delta flies to many destinations that are within the path of totality, including AUS, San Antonio (SAT), and Little Rock, Ark. (LIT).
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