Delta CES announcements include Uber partnership and new AI travel assistant

Delta Air Lines unveiled a suite of technological innovations at CES 2025, including an AI-powered travel assistant and new partnerships with Uber and Joby Aviation, marking its centennial celebration.

Core announcement: Delta introduced Delta Concierge, a generative AI-powered digital assistant integrated into the Fly Delta app that aims to provide seamless multi-modal transportation solutions.

• The AI assistant anticipates customer needs, offering real-time guidance on passport requirements, visa updates, and weather conditions
• The system helps travelers navigate airports by providing directions to bag drop locations, Delta Sky Clubs, and departure gates
• SkyMiles members can now link their Uber accounts to earn miles on eligible rides and deliveries

Transportation partnerships: Delta is expanding its travel ecosystem through strategic collaborations with innovative transportation providers.

• A partnership with Joby Aviation will enable future home-to-airport transportation via electric air taxis, focusing initially on New York and Los Angeles hubs
• The service awaits approval from federal and local authorities before implementation
• Integration with Uber streamlines the entire journey from home to destination

Sustainability initiatives: Delta’s expanded partnership with Airbus focuses on advancing next-generation technologies and promoting sustainable air travel.

• Collaboration with Airbus’s UpNext innovation lab explores improvements in wing performance, fuel efficiency, and aircraft assistance
• Delta will participate in testing Airbus’s “fello’fly” technique, which mimics migrating geese to enhance fuel efficiency
• Airbus joined the Minnesota SAF Hub coalition to scale sustainable aviation fuel production, supporting Delta’s net-zero emissions goal by 2050

Entertainment innovation: The airline is revolutionizing in-flight entertainment through a new partnership with YouTube and enhanced technology.

• SkyMiles Members will receive ad-free access to YouTube content during flights starting in 2025
• A new cloud-based entertainment system developed with Thales Avionics will debut in 2026
• The system promises personalized experiences across digital channels and state-of-the-art hardware

Looking ahead: While Delta’s technological innovations demonstrate ambitious progress in personalizing air travel, questions remain about implementation timelines and regulatory approval, particularly for the Joby Aviation partnership. The success of these initiatives will largely depend on seamless integration of multiple technologies and partner services, as well as customer adoption of the new AI-powered features.