Sustainability: How Delta is Saving Money and Jet Fuel
Aviation contributes up to 3% of global emissions, a figure projected to increase without targeted efforts.
With aviation being one of the toughest sectors to decarbonise, airlines face the challenge of maintaining operational efficiency while striving towards ambitious climate targets.
Delta Air Lines is at the forefront of this mission.
The airline has set a precedent as the first in the United States to meet its 2025 jet fuel savings target through operational improvements alone.
Delta’s decarbonisation milestone
This accomplishment is not only significant for the environment but also offers financial benefits.
Delta has managed to save 45 million gallons of jet fuel, translating to more than US$110m in annual cost reductions, by integrating sustainability into its operations.
With 98% of its carbon footprint arising from flights, initiatives like these are pivotal to Delta's pursuit of minimizing its environmental impact.
Key strategies include the efforts of Delta’s cross-functional Carbon Council, which deploys actions across departments to cut emissions effectively.
Initiatives aimed at slashing Delta's carbon emissions include:
- Reducing onboard weight
- Utilising technology to track and reduce Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) usage
- Optimising aircraft speed and routes
- Certifying innovative landing procedures
- Implementing drag-reduction technology like winglets on existing aircraft.
“65% of Delta people are in a position daily to directly contribute to our operational KPIs for reducing fuel usage, improving fuel efficiency and driving millions of dollars in cost savings each year that, in turn, contribute to profit sharing,” explains Jesse Miers, Director of Global Sustainability at Delta.
“It’s a true team effort that adds up quickly.”
Sustainability across the business
To ensure lasting impacts, Delta has established operational KPIs geared toward engaging employees from various departments, enabling them to spearhead sustainable transformations.
The Carbon Council's coordinated approach has demonstrated tangible outcomes.
In 2022 alone, Delta saved 10 million gallons of fuel, with plans for similar achievements annually.
“Delta is the first US airline to achieve its near-term fuel savings goal from operational improvements thanks to our cross-divisional Carbon Council,” says Amelia DeLuca, Chief Sustainability Officer at Delta.
“Delta is no stranger to solving hard problems, and I'm incredibly proud of our airline as we continue to meet milestones and track toward our sustainability and decarbonisation goals.”
Cost saving, climate saving
More than 2,000 companies have committed to net-zero targets, including 80% of the top 25 airlines.
Delta's broader sustainability commitments entail cutting single-use plastics by almost 5 million pounds annually and continuously evolving its fleet and procedures.
These efforts align closely with the expectations of consumers and investors worldwide:
- 88% of investors view net-zero-compliant companies as more valuable
- 65% of Gen Z job seekers favour employers demonstrating sustainable practices
- 75% of consumers believe brands should act now for societal and environmental good.
Delta’s sustainability initiatives revolve around three central themes:
- Efficient Aircraft Operations: Refining flight practices
- Clean Fuels: Promoting Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)
- Revolutionary Fleet: Innovating aircraft design for a net-zero future.
This milestone embodies that Delta’s sustainability strategy is actionable and impactful.
Through collaborative innovation and strategic alignment across the organisation, Delta showcases a pathway to a sustainable future for the aviation industry.
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