Delta Unveils Groundbreaking Innovations in Stunning CES Presentation
Taking over Sphere Las Vegas for an afternoon, all eyes were on Delta as it celebrated its centennial with tech-forward advancements.
Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
From the vibe of Delta‘s keynote address Tuesday at Sphere Las Vegas during the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show, many might think they were attending a presentation by one of the world’s top tech companies. And they wouldn’t be wrong; the airline unveiled industry-disrupting advancements poised to change air travel throughout the event.
Photo: Delta Air Lines keynote at Sphere Vegas in Las Vegas. Courtesy of Casey Sykes, Rank Studios
The event featured celebrity guest appearances from Viola Davis and Tom Brady, along with a closing performance by Lenny Kravitz. More than 10,000 attendees experienced the Delta universe from the pilot’s seat of an Airbus A350-900, enhanced by Sphere’s 16K LED screens, haptic seats, and immersive audio technology.
The century-old airline revealed new and expanded partnerships to create new pathways to seamless travel and reimagine how passengers spend their time on board.
Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
“New marvels like AI, the digital revolution, and sustainable technology are giving us incredible tools to transform the travel experience,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian during the keynote. “But amid the wonder of new technology, we’ve always understood that innovation is to lift people up.”
But first … data. Delta worked with the experience-management company Qualtrics to gather insights guiding many innovations.
“Last year at Qualtrics, we looked at nearly 7 million records from Delta customers to identify the areas people care about the most,” said co-founder and Executive Chairman of Qualtrics Ryan Smith. “Nobody’s doing this at the scale that Delta is, with nearly 200 million travelers served each year.”
Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
According to Smith, “this experience data is critical to unlocking how Delta can connect meaningfully with customers, exceed their expectations, and anticipate their needs. Knowing customers better means that, in turn, you’re recognizing them and improving that experience as they move through each leg of the journey,” he explained.
“We’re finding out people want to be seen, and so we’re combining intelligent listening with the AI we’re working on to unlock new ways to deliver elevated moments.”
Enter Delta Concierge
Bastian touted Delta’s philosophy of “putting people first” and “innovating with heart, using technology to create premium experiences with humanity at the core.” He says blending these physical and digital experiences begins with the Fly Delta app.
“We know our customers count on the Fly Delta app from home to air,” conveyed the CEO. “In 2024, we saw roughly 1.3 billion interactions in the app, and more than 97 percent of SkyMiles Medallion members use their app as the go-to companion during travel,” he says.
Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
“In 2025, we intend to make that even better with an industry-leading experience called Delta Concierge, [an AI-powered personal assistant built into the Fly Delta app], combining the context of who you are and how you travel with the deep knowledge and insights we’ve already built.”
This assistant will give users control and confidence when navigating the travel experience. It will use generative AI to create seamless, personalized moments while making the journey easier.
Bastian outlined several examples to illustrate Delta Concierge’s role now and in the years ahead.
Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
Use Delta Concierge by text or voice input. It will understand arrival and departure, create efficiencies that save time and stress, and ensure you unlock all the benefits of SkyMiles membership.
Pre-trip planning with notifications about passport expiration and visa requirements will become more intuitive.
In the years ahead, Delta Concierge will offer weather updates and packing suggestions, wayfinding at unfamiliar airports, and notifications for directions to bag drop, Delta Sky Clubs, and TSA PreCheck Touchless ID lines.
Entertainment Upgrades
In future releases, Delta Concierge will automatically connect you to Delta Sync Wi-Fi and Delta Sync seatback.
Bastian also outlined a “multimodal future of travel,” in which one itinerary will be connected from start to finish through partner integrations, including the previously announced Joby electric air taxi service.
Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
Thanks to a new partnership with YouTube, the experience that starts in the palm of your hand continues in the Delta Sync seatback system. Creator and podcast content and music will be available ad-free on most flights, bringing the at-home entertainment experience to the sky.
Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
Rolling out in 2026, Delta Sync will also evolve with a first-of-its-kind, cloud-based in-flight entertainment system in collaboration with Thales Avionics, featuring an intelligent 4K HDR QLED display, Bluetooth capabilities that allow pairing personal wireless devices, and a 96-terabyte storage system delivering higher-quality content and streaming experiences.
Technology At The Forefront
In partnership with Hughes and in the works for late 2025, a first-of-its-kind commercial aviation connectivity solution will enable simultaneous multi-network connectivity, more reliable streaming to personal devices, and more stable performance across Delta’s global network.
Bios Lighting’s SkyView circadian lighting technology will enhance the cabin experience. This standalone product, which goes into the seats and that passengers can bring with them aims to reduce jet lag, improve sleep, and provide a more restful and rejuvenating flight experience.
Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
Robert Soler, the founder of Bios Lighting, was previously responsible for designing the lighting system aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA.
“Think about how you feel on a blue sky day versus a cloudy day. That is because there are blue sky receptors in our eyes that are looking for a blue sky signal, and they drive our physiology,” Soler says. “We recreated that blue sky in a product that benefits you wherever you are.”
Lyft No More
Delta is ending its long-time partnership with Lyft and is now partnering with Uber. Users can link their Uber and SkyMiles accounts to earn miles for eligible rides and deliveries. Here’s how it works:
- Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on UberX rides to and from airports.
- Earn 2 miles per dollar on premium rides.
- Earn 3 miles per dollar on Uber Reserve rides.
- Additionally, earn 1 mile per dollar spent on eligible restaurant and grocery orders.
Beyond the tech thrills, the event’s highlight was Tom Brady’s appearance. He shared his top three travel hacks and announced a new travel show, “Well Traveled,” coming soon to Delta inflight entertainment.
Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
The address also highlighted the strengthening of Delta’s partnership with Airbus, noting that “Delta operates more Airbus jets than any other airline in the world.” Additionally, it mentioned that Delta will be a key partner in Airbus’s UpNext innovation lab, which focuses on advancing next-generation aviation technologies.
Before and after the keynote, what happened inside the Sphere didn’t stay inside, as by day, the Exosphere featured visuals of Delta’s destinations, and by night, it depicted five planes representing the company’s 100-year history.
