In this episode, we talk to Amelia DeLuca, Chief Sustainability OfficerVice President, at Delta Air Lines. She shares how the next frontier of sustainability is collaboration – not only from collaboration with their SkyTeam airline partners, but also in how it shows up in other spheres whether they’re on the ground or in the air. 

We’ll also learn about Delta’s single-minded focus on tracking customer preferences and linking them to sustainability; the airline’s efforts to run on 10% SAF by 2030; the aggressive campaign to discard single-use plastics and reduce waste; a unique collaboration with MIT to explore the reduction of airplane contrails; and, of course, the first-of-its-kind Sustainable Skies Lab that seeks to create a space for various stakeholders and innovators to collaborate and realise the future of sustainability. 

If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversation we had with Holly Boyd-Boland, Virgin Atlantic’s VP Corporate Development and Sustainability. She shares how the airline is preparing to conduct their historic 100% SAF flight and using SAF and other pathways to net zero by 2050. Check it out here.

Reach out to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Note: This episode is a part of our SkyTeam special series. In this series, we will highlight SkyTeam member airlines participating in The Sustainable Flight Challenge, and bringing sustainability into flight operations today. 

Links and more:

Delta Ups onboard sustainability with eco-friendly soft products - Simple Flying

Clean Skies for Tomorrow leaders: 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel by 2030 - World Economic Forum 

Delta signs SAF agreement with Gevo - Biomass Magazine 

California Legislature passes bill to achieve 20% SAF use by 2030 - Biobased Diesel 

Fort Worth’s Aero Design Labs aims to help Delta Air Lines save fuel, reduce carbon emissions with 'Drag Reduction Kits' - Dallas Innovates  

Delta to work with MIT to study impact of airplane contrails on climate - Phys Org 

Delta Airlines and Joby outline a seamless, sustainable eVTOL passenger experience - APEX

Delta Air Lines pushes towards net zero emissions with Sustainable Skies Lab - Forbes

Virgin Atlantic’s 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel gambit - SimpliFlying