Delta Air Lines Betting Big On More Connected, Tech-Driven Future

LAS VEGAS—Big names in tech took center stage alongside Delta Air Lines at CES 2025, as the carrier celebrated its centennial and framed a future focused on innovation, partnerships and a more connected journey.

“This is the beginning of a new era of travel,” CEO Ed Bastian said during the keynote presentation at Sphere. Airbus, Joby, Uber, and YouTube were among the partners Delta highlighted, as Bastian described four key areas of focus: enhancing the operational experience, creating new means of seamless travel, reimagining the onboard experience, and unlocking new fleet technologies.

For the latter, Delta will partner with Airbus’ UpNext innovation lab on early-stage, fast-track technology solutions. Under their collaboration, the companies will explore wing performance, fuel efficiency, superconductivity, and advanced aircraft assistance among other innovations for future aircraft, with “regular technical exchanges” between the two. Delta’s active participation may include potential tests of early-stage features on its fleet, the airline noted.

“We’re imagining technological innovations that seemed impossible,” described Airbus Chief Sustainability Officer Julie Kitcher, noting the airline’s work on the eXtra Performance Wing demonstration program as one example. The collaboration with Delta, “will be key,” she added, “because we need your feedback.”

Additionally, Delta will participate in the next Airbus flight test phase of a fuel-saving technique called fello’fly—pairing flights in the style of migrating geese—slated to occur in the second half of 2025. Airbus “has been critical in making Delta the airline we are today,” Bastian said.

Artificial intelligence (AI) will also have a large role to play in the carrier’s future, as Delta looks to broaden its involvement in all stages of a customer’s journey. A new generative AI (GenAI) tool dubbed “Delta Concierge” is set to be introduced on the airline’s app in 2025, with plans to expand its functionality in coming years—including for “multi-modal” airport transportation options with Uber rideshare and future Joby electric air taxi services. “It’s not a distant future that we’re talking about,” Bastian said. “We expect Joby to be flying in the next couple of years, beginning with our service to Los Angeles and New York City.”

The digital assistant will respond to voice or text input, the carrier says, noting, “in real-time, the tool will eventually anticipate customers’ needs, provide contextualized guidance and take actions on customers’ behalf.”

Delta Concierge will also automatically connect to new Delta Sync seatbacks in the future. The inflight entertainment (IFE) systems are poised for a next-generation upgrade of hardware and software beginning in 2026, through a collaboration with Thales Avionics. Bolstering Delta’s onboard offerings is a new partnership with YouTube to offer ad-free access to video content, podcasts and music, supported by Delta’s free Wi-Fi and powered by new cloud-based IFE infrastructure.

Delta’s rollout of free Wi-Fi across its fleet is expected to be completed in 2025, noted Bastian, and is currently available on more than 700 aircraft.

Throughout the presentation, Delta focused on “smarter” and “more personalized” experiences across its digital channels through “deep partner integrations,” with membership in SkyMiles, its lucrative loyalty program, continuing to be the key for access. A collaboration with Uber will soon expand the program’s benefits, enabling SkyMiles members to earn miles for eligible rides and Uber Eats food deliveries, with rollout beginning in spring 2025.

“Fifteen percent of Uber bookings either begin or end at an airport,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said during the presentation. Delta described the partnership as underscoring the type of “home to destination connectivity” it is working toward through integrations with brands and companies.

“The innovations and partnerships that we shared today are more than advancements, they’re the foundation of a future where technology links us to experience, places and people in ways we’ve only dreamed about,” Bastian said. “With every innovation ... we are transcending the boundaries of travel and redefining what it means to connect.”

Delta will report its fourth quarter and full-year 2024 earnings on Jan. 10.