Soaring toward a more sustainable future of travel in Seattle

Delta’s commitment to sustainability is more than a statement – it’s a long-term path to secure a more sustainable future for travel.

This commitment has been on full display in Delta’s Seattle hub, with the Port of Seattle recently recognizing Delta through its Sustainable Century Awards program as having the highest percentage of fuel-efficient aircraft in use at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in 2023.  

The Sustainable Century Awards recognize the Port of Seattle’s customers and partners for a “demonstrated commitment to exceptional sustainability and equity leadership in operations and/or involvement with the Port and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.”

“The Port of Seattle is known for setting ambitious environmental goals for all Port operations and collaborating closely with nearby communities on aviation noise. We know that, while we are a national leader in many of these respects, we still have work to do to reduce our impacts and be the best neighbor possible,” said Port of Seattle Commission President Hamdi Mohamed. “The Commission prioritizes working with our Port partners to innovate and take on programs that move the Port and our region forward on climate action and noise abatement strategies. We’re excited to recognize the work our partners are doing to amplify our Century Agenda goals and Fly Quiet program.”

“It’s important to recognize these early adopters of environmental stewardships measures that also advance competitive economic advantages for our region,” said Fred Felleman, Port of Seattle Commissioner. “Innovative leaders like those being recognized today set an example for how businesses can create collaborations that result in lessoning impacts on the environment and near-port communities, to advance a sustainable economy.”

Driving fuel savings and updating older aircraft with more modern, fuel-efficient fleet additions are two vital levers that can produce an immediate impact on fuel usage and its associated carbon emissions. Delta continues to invest in and modernize its fleet with state-of-the-art, next generation aircraft. Across its domestic and global network, Delta took delivery of 43 new aircraft in 2023 that were on average 28% more fuel-efficient per seat mile than aircraft retired since 2019.

“Delta’s commitment to sustainability is a commitment to our future of connecting the world while making an impact in the communities we serve,” said Joan Wang, Managing Director – Pacific Northwest for Delta Air Lines. “Continuing to develop a fuel-efficient fleet is vital for the future of sustainable aviation in Washington and across the globe. We are honored to serve as a recipient of the Port of Seattle’s Sustainable Century Award and are grateful for their partnership as we work toward net zero emissions by 2050.”

Delta’s global sustainability strategy is presented through short-, medium- and long-term goals, which focus on what we fly, how we fly, and the fuel we use. For Delta, a commitment to sustainability is a commitment to the business.

Delta takes pride in its position as Seattle’s largest premium global airline. SEA serves as a crucial coastal hub for Delta, operating over 150 peak-day departures from SEA to more than 50 destinations worldwide.

Delta flies to more international destinations than any other carrier at SEA, including to popular cities such as Amsterdam, Cancun, Cabo, Paris and London, as well as multiple domestic destinations in Alaska and Hawaii. Seattle also serves as a key gateway for the airline’s operations across the Pacific, which features four non-stop trans-Pacific destinations, inclusive of existing routes to Incheon (ICN), Tokyo (HND), Taipei (TPE) (starting June 7) and Shanghai (PVG).

Delta marked its 90th anniversary in Seattle in December 2023, a history dating back to the start of operations by Northwest Airways (later Northwest Airlines) in 1933. Delta flights began on June 1, 1980, with nonstop service between SEA and Atlanta (ATL), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Portland (PDX).