Delta Air Lines Is Setting Itself Apart From Competitors With A Groundbreaking New Partnership
Most airlines will try to win over travelers with perks, whether that translates to fancy airport lounges or offering the world's best airline points program. Some airlines will go as far as to launch the longest direct flight in the world if it means flyers will pick them over a competitor. Delta Air Lines, one of the largest U.S.-based airlines, is opting for a different approach.
Delta hopes to stand out from the crowd by investing in the next generation of airplanes, and the company is well on its way to achieving this through a new, exclusive partnership with Maeve Aerospace. The two companies will collaborate to further the development of the Maeve Jet, a hybrid-electric design meant to reduce fuel consumption. Delta will be providing its operational expertise and preparing for the aircraft's eventual commercial launch.
Maeve Aerospace is the fifth company to join Delta's Sustainable Skies Lab, a first-of-its-kind innovation hub dedicated to the future of aviation. An exclusive partnership means that when the Maeve Jet is ready to fly passengers, they'll be on a Delta flight.
Can Delta become the world's most sustainable airline?
This partnership is only the latest concrete step toward Delta Air Lines' goal of achieving zero-net emissions by 2050. Thanks to a revolutionary design and a combination of fuel and electric engines, Maeve Aerospace claims its jet will reduce conventional fuel consumption and emissions by up to 40% compared to existing regional aircraft. If using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), emissions could be reduced by up to 95%. Delta is already increasing its use of SAF across its fleets, as it works toward its goal of 10% SAF utilization.
Maeve is also promoting their jet as a more economical solution. Less fuel consumption means that a single flight will also have a reduced operational cost for the airline. Although still a few years away, an industry-wide shift to hybrid-electric jets could help bring sustainability to all airlines and even keep plane ticket prices lower than they might otherwise be.
Rising fuel costs are among the biggest reasons flights keep getting more and more expensive. All things considered, more sustainable aircraft would be a win-win situation for all parties involved.