Delta Flight Will Allow Air Travelers To See Eclipse From the Sky

A Delta Air Lines flight from Austin, Texas, to Detroit, Michigan, will allow air travelers to see an anticipated lunar eclipse from the sky. Delta’s website describes the event as the chance “to spend as much time as possible directly within the path of totality.”

The airline is offering the special flight on April 8, 2024. Delta flight 1218 will be operated explicitly on an A220-300. This particular aircraft will give passengers “premium viewing” as it has more oversized windows than standard planes.

The flight leaves Austin at 12:15 p.m. CT and is expected to land in Detroit at 4:20 p.m. ET. The flight was appropriately timed to allow passengers time to watch the eclipse safely at its peak moments.

Eclipse viewing at 30,000 feet: @Delta to offer path-of-totality flight https://t.co/9JMPkCMms7

— Delta News Hub (@DeltaNewsHub) February 20, 2024

“This flight is the result of significant collaboration and exemplifies the close teamwork Delta is known for — from selecting an aircraft with larger windows to determining the exact departure time from Austin and the experiences at the gate and in the air,” said Eric Beck, managing director of domestic network planning.

He added, “Thanks to teams across the company, the idea of viewing a total eclipse from the air will become a reality for our customers.”

If passengers can’t get a ticket on the almost-sold-out flight, other options exist to view the eclipse from the sky. The website states that five additional routes that same day will also have eclipse-viewing opportunities.

These include DL 5699, DTW-HPN with a 2:59 p.m. EST departure; DL 924, LAX-DFW with an 8:40 a.m. PST departure; DL 2869, LAX-SAT with a 9 a.m. PST departure; DL 1001, SLC-SAT with a 10:08 a.m. MST departure; and DL 1683, SLC-AUS with a 9:55 a.m. MST departure.

The April 8 eclipse will be the last eclipse seen over North America until 2044. Warren Weston, Delta Air Lines lead meteorologist, says, “This eclipse will last more than twice as long as the one that occurred in 2017, and the path is nearly twice as wide.”

As with any lunar eclipse, protective glasses are necessary for all passengers who want to watch the event and protect their eyesight.