Dust off your solar eclipse viewing glasses, Delta Air Lines is offering travelers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the 2024 total solar eclipse from the comfort of 30,000 feet. That’s right, on April 8, the airline will provide a special flight from Austin to Detroit where umbraphiles will soar alongside the rare natural phenomena, spending as much time as possible directly within the path of totality.
To make the experience as magnificent as possible, Delta flight 1218 will be operated on an A220-300 which will allow for especially premium viewing due to the aircraft’s sizeable windows. The flight will leave Austin at 12:15 p.m. CT and arrive in Detroit at 4:20 p.m. ET giving those on board the best chance to safely view the eclipse at its peak.
“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. “Thanks to teams across the company, the idea of viewing a total eclipse from the air will become a reality for our customers.”
In addition to this historic flight, Delta shared that those aboard the following flights will also enjoy the opportunity for prime eclipse viewing:
- DL 5699, DTW-HPN, 2:59 pm EST departure, ERJ-175
- DL 924, LAX-DFW, 8:40 am PST departure, A320
- DL 2869, LAX-SAT, 9:00 am PST departure, A319
- DL 1001, SLC-SAT, 10:08 am MST departure, A220-300
- DL 1683, SLC-AUS, 9:55 am MST departure, A320
“The April 8 eclipse is the last total solar eclipse we’ll see over North America until 2044,” said Warren Weston, lead meteorologist for Delta Air Lines. “This eclipse will last more than twice as long as the one that occurred in 2017, and the path is nearly twice as wide.”
Alternatively, for those who prefer to view the event from the ground, Delta flies to many destinations within the path of totality like Austin and San Antonio in Texas and Little Rock, Arkansas.
For booking information, go to delta.com.
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