Delta Air Lines

About Delta Air Lines

Just like United, Delta is one of the two most well respected and successful airlines currently flying in the U.S. airline industry. Their premium and international travel is unmatched amongst U.S. airlines cited by the fact that their revenue from their premium product outpaces their revenue from economy. That is a remarkable achievement for any airline and speaks to the quality of the product they have built.

Although a long time ago, my first ever flight was on a Delta Shuttle flight between ISP and MCO. Much has changed since, but Delta seems to have morphed into a quality brand. We nearly had to pivot to a last minute Delta flight when our booking with Condor Airlines for a transatlantic flight was in jeopardy. That experience reinforced something: for any international flight, Delta is the kind of airline you want to be on when things go sideways.

Who Should Fly Delta Air Lines?

If you're flying internationally or domestically and looking for a safe, comfortable experience, Delta is a great option. If you are looking to save a buck, flying economy on a low cost airline might be a better choice for you. But if the trip matters whether that's a business flight or an international journey, Delta is hard to argue against.

What the Data Shows

Delta sports a wonderfully high load factor. One of the highest amongst the legacies. They are also interestingly running a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing planes. While they are going through a fleet modernization, their Boeing 767-300ER garners some of the highest load factors in the entire fleet. Delta deploys this type on high-yield transatlantic routes where widebody demand is consistently strong, which explains the numbers.

With 17 distinct aircraft types in 2025, Delta's fleet is the most complex of any U.S. carrier. A legacy of absorbing Northwest Airlines and decades of varied orders. The A321neo and A330-900neo stand out as the most efficiently loaded newer aircraft, signaling where Delta is putting its newest metal.