We aim to connect people to a more sustainable future of travel. Achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 for our airline operations is our ultimate goal. But the global aviation industry is a hard-to-abate sector, meaning it is innately difficult to decarbonize. Our multi-pronged approach to make progress toward this goal focuses on improving the efficiency of our fleet, innovating aircraft operations, and increasing the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to reduce our emissions.
In the short term, we are working to transition to a more fuel-efficient fleet and enhancing operational efficiency to reduce jet fuel burn. Longer-term efforts include replacing a growing proportion of traditional jet fuel with SAF and collaborating with innovators to revolutionize aviation.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a key lever to decarbonizing flight, reducing lifecycle emissions from jet fuel by up to 80%. We aim to procure over 400 million gallons of SAF annually by the end of 2030, supporting our goal of 10% SAF utilization. In 2024, we more than tripled SAF deliveries compared to 2023, for a total of over 13 million gallons.
We focus on building our fleet to improve fuel efficiency by upgauging our planes and replacing retiring aircraft with next-gen models. Aircraft added to our fleet since 2019, including 38 delivered in 2024, are on average 28% more fuel efficient per seat mile than those they replaced. Initiatives like better flight routing, onboard efficiencies, and cutting-edge technologies saved approx. 44 million gallons of jet fuel in 2024 compared to what we would have used in 2019 without these improvements.
Launched in 2023, the Delta Sustainable Skies Lab is a first-of-its-kind airline innovation lab focusing on research, design and testing to drive progress toward our climate goals. The Lab inspires disruptive industry innovation and aims to scale new technologies and actions to help Delta reach its sustainability goals. Partners include JetZero, whose blended-wing body aircraft aims to reduce carbon emissions by up to 50% compared to today.
Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond our flight operations. We are working to reduce waste and offer more sustainable products to our customers, to minimize the environmental impact of our ground operations, and to engage our supply chain in these efforts. We’re eliminating millions of pounds of plastic onboard annually and incorporating more products that are recyclable onboard our aircraft, which can help us reduce our environmental impact, enhance the customer experience, and improve our operations.
Our 2024 Delta Difference Report offers the latest data and insights into our efforts to advance our purpose of connecting people with opportunity while expanding the understanding of the planet and the people within it.
View our 2024 Delta Difference Report and 2024 Delta Difference Report Highlights
Note: Delta has been publishing annual reports since 2009. To request prior reports prior to 2022, please contact sustainability@delta.com.
Delta’s progress towards its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 is included in its most recent Delta Difference Report, including information regarding its net-zero emissions goals, how emissions are calculated, how progress toward the net-zero emissions goal is measured, and third-party verification of emissions calculations.