Delta is committed to providing safe and clean transport for customers and a safe workplace for employees.
At Delta, we realize the opportunity to leverage our brand’s trust to drive good vendor practices, touching every aspect of our business.
Delta’s mission to connect the world includes our commitment to being a strong partner to the communities where our employees live, work and serve
Delta has remained steadfast in our commitment to address climate change
Appendix
Our people are our strongest competitive advantage, and the high-quality service they provide sets us apart.
Delta has implemented a robust governance framework over ESG matters at the board and management levels.
Travel Can Change the World. For Good.
CLIMATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
04
Progress Towards Our Goals
Fuel efficiency
Improve fuel efficiency on an ASM basis
For further details on fuel efficiency per ASM and per RTM, see the Fuel Efficiency table in the Appendix of this report.
Achieve Net Zero
by 2050
Announced intention to set science-based targets to achieve net zero GHG emissions no later than 2050 and improve emissions intensity no later than 2035 compared to a 2019 baseline
10% SAF
by 2030
39%
of 2030 SAF secured through offtake agreements
$1B Investment
through 2030
$137M
invested to purchase and retire offsets relating to 27M metric tons of 2021 carbon emissions
25% eGSE by 2022,
50% by 2025
19%
electric ground support
equipment (eGSE) as of April 2022
GHG Emissions Inventory
In the GHG emissions inventory below, CO2e numbers cover all GHG emissions as carbon dioxide equivalents. CO2 numbers only include carbon dioxide.
Scope 1 Mainline Jet Fuel Combustion
2019 CO2e
34,967,854
2020 CO2e
15,681,970
2021 CO2e
22,647,716
2021 CO2 only
22,510,910
Scope 1 Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries Fuel Combustion
2019 CO2e
2,181,283
2020 CO2e
1,342,575
2021 CO2e
1,745,400
2021 CO2 only
1,734,856
Scope 1 Other
2019 CO2e
179,284
2020 CO2e
150,360
2021 CO2e
168,140
2021 CO2 only
162,838
Scope 2 Total
2019 CO2e
295,889
2020 CO2e
274,076
2021 CO2e
246,219
2021 CO2 only
245,048
Scope 3 Jet Fuel Connection Carriers
2019 CO2e
3,438,873
2020 CO2e
1,603,209
2021 CO2e
2,353,044
2021 CO2 only
2,338,830
GHG Emissions Inventory
(metric tons)
2019 CO2e
2020 CO2e
2021 CO2e
2021 CO2 only
Scope 1 Mainline Jet Fuel Combustion
34,967,854
15,681,970
22,647,716
22,510,910
Scope 1 Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries Fuel Combustion
2,181,283
1,342,575
1,745,400
1,734,856
Scope 1 Other
179,284
150,360
168,140
162,838
Scope 2 Total
295,889
274,076
246,219
245,048
Scope 3 Jet Fuel Connection Carriers
3,438,873
1,603,209
2,353,044
2,338,830
Sum of Emissions Above
41,063,183
19,052,190
27,160,518
26,992,482
Totals may not sum due to rounding
Delta’s GHG inventory covers emissions from all operations under Delta’s operational control: Delta, Endeavor, Delta Vacations, Delta Material Services and Delta Flight Products.
The emissions reported for 2021 were calculated and verified using the GHG Protocol, which aligns with the SBTi framework. The 2019 and 2020 emissions shown here are also calculated using the GHG Protocol. In past reports, emissions have been calculated and reported in accordance with The Climate Registry’s General Reporting Protocol; therefore, 2019 and 2020 emissions presented in this report will differ from the emissions reported previously.
Verification of 2019 and 2020 data in accordance with the GHG Protocol is underway. Our verified reports prior to 2021 are publicly available at www.cris4.org. Our 2021 verified report is available in the Appendix.
Scope 1
Consists of all GHG emissions generated as part of the operation of Delta’s air transportation business: emissions from jet fuel consumed by Delta mainline aircraft, wholly-owned subsidiaries, plus GHG emissions from ground support equipment and other ground operations and chemical use.
Scope 2
Consists of GHG emissions that result from the generation of electricity, heat or steam purchased by Delta in both owned and leased facilities, such as airport spaces.
Scope 3
Currently consists of all GHG emissions from jet fuel from Delta Connection carriers that we do not wholly own and emissions from production of jet fuel from our suppliers (including Monroe).
To align with SBTi guidance, going forward we will be including upstream well-to-tank emissions for our jet fuel in our Scope 3 emissions to reflect the full life cycle emissions of our fuel. In 2021, upstream jet fuel GHG emissions totaled 6,208,048 metric tons (6,170,547 metric tons of CO2).
As part of our SBTi target setting process, we estimated the emissions associated with the top 98% of our annual supply chain spend using the GHG Protocol Scope 3 Evaluator tool. We expect future work will focus on the additional Scope 3 categories identified in the GHG Protocol.
Fleet Progress
Currently, fleet renewal is our greatest opportunity to improve our fuel efficiency and emissions intensity, and we have established sustainability considerations as one of the core pillars that guide our fleet strategy and our capital allocation decisions with respect to fleet.
In 2021, Delta took delivery of 52 next-gen aircraft that were, on average, 25% more fuel efficient per seat mile than retired aircraft, contributing to a fleet-wide fuel efficiency improvement of 0.8% compared to 2020.
22.5M
overall fuel savings of 22.5M gallons from a combination of fleet renewal, operational initiatives and other factors
This resulted in overall fuel savings of 22.5M gallons from a combination of fleet renewal, operational initiatives and other factors. In 2022, we expect Delta's total capital expenditures, primarily for aircraft, fleet modifications and technology enhancements, to be approximately $6.0 billion, which may vary depending on financing decisions.
In May 2022, the introduction of the A321neo, our most fuel-efficient aircraft, will help boost progress toward emissions intensity improvements. Over the next several years, Delta expects to continue to invest in growing our other fuel-efficient fleets, like the A220 family, the A350-900s and A330-900s.
Small narrowbody gal/ASM/fuel
Large narrowbody gal/ASM/fuel
Widebody gal/ASM/fuel
Small narrowbody
Large narrowbody
Widebody
0
Number of next-gen aircraft Delta received in 2021
0%
more fuel efficient per seat than retired aircraft
SAF Progress
Since the beginning of 2021, we have made numerous strides in our efforts to meet our 10% SAF consumption goal by the end of 2030.
10% SAF by the end of 2030*
SAF Agreements*
Neste: 1M gallons from 2021/2022
Aemetis: 10M gallons starting in 2024
GEVO: 75M gallons per year starting in 2025
NWABF: 60M gallons per year starting 2026
*Subject to timely third-party investment
and facility development.
734
metric tons of CO2
reduced through this co-processing pilot
In support of feedstock- and technology-neutral SAF in order to bring SAF to market as quickly as possible, Delta purchased from Chevron a batch of co-processed fuel made from a feedstock of soybean oil.
Currently, ASTM (formerly known as American Society for Testing and Materials) only allows for co-processing of 5% renewable product into existing refinery infrastructures in order to yield a lower carbon fuel.
On a mass balance approach, the renewable content of Chevron’s jet fuel yielded a life cycle emissions reduction of 59% when compared with conventional jet fuel, under the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
1,747
metric tons of CO2
through the corporate
SAF program
Delta is working in partnership with corporate customers to increase demand for SAF and help address the significant price premiums that result from short supply.
Many of Delta’s corporate customers have set aggressive climate targets that often include Scope 3 emissions associated with business travel.
In an effort to reduce emissions from flying and to take steps together to scale SAF, Delta has signed agreements with 35 corporate customers and travel agencies as of March 2022 to fund SAF that will be applied towards GHG emissions from their business travel on Delta.
Operational Initiatives Progress
Ongoing initiatives that contribute to fuel savings are key to meeting our climate goals.
Installing split-scimitar winglets. In 2021, we concluded a 5½ year project to reduce the fuel burn of our 737-900ER fleet in support of Delta’s broader environmental sustainability goals. All 130 Delta 737-900ER aircraft are now equipped with split-scimitar winglets. This aerodynamic enhancement improves fuel efficiency by reducing lift-induced drag. For this fleet type, these winglets are expected to yield an annual fuel savings of 8M gallons.
Delta is also participating in the rollout of streamlined landing procedures at some of our key hubs. In LAX, Delta is utilizing “EoR,” which is an improved, instrument approach system that allows ATC to clear aircraft for landing with shorter flight paths. This system takes advantage of the FAA’s NextGen airspace modernization initiative and can shorten flight times by 3-5 minutes. By reducing overall flight time, this system drives both fuel savings and can help customers reach their destination more quickly. This system could drive an estimated one million gallons in fuel savings annually at LAX alone once fully utilized.
Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Progress
In an effort to reduce fuel burned from GSE that service aircraft between flights, Delta has invested to achieve a 25% electric GSE (eGSE) fleet by the end of 2022 and 50% by the end of 2025.
In 2021, Delta retired and replaced over 460 pieces of equipment with zero-emissions eGSE. As of April 2022, 19% of Delta's ground support equipment has been electrified. Expansion of eGSE depends, in part, on adequate supply of electric alternative equipment and airport investment in charging infrastructure. Delta plans to continue working closely with our business partners to test, develop and encourage more eGSE options. Future investment efforts will center around airports that are eGSE ready and have adequate charging capabilities.
Offsets Progress
While our primary focus is on decarbonizing aviation and reaching net zero by 2050, we invested $137 million in offsets for 2021 to balance 27 million metric tons of currently unavoidable carbon emissions in support of our goal to spend $1 billion through 2030 toward airline carbon neutrality. Going forward we expect much of the remaining spend in support of this goal to be focused on solutions other than offsets as we seek to advance our decarbonization pathway.
Our 2021 carbon offset portfolio included projects such as renewable energy, landfill gas and preventing deforestation. In order to achieve our net zero goal in 2050, we intend to utilize removal-based projects that will help propel the development and execution of direct air capture and carbon sequestration technologies.
12M
Delta purchased nearly 12M metric tons of offsets dedicated to preventing deforestation
To develop our offset portfolio, we undertake a thorough due diligence process to determine appropriate projects.
Offsets Purchasing & Due-diligence Process:
Request projects that adhere to Delta’s guidelines and principles
Use input from our participation in the LEAF Coalition and the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets (TSVCM)
Vet offsets through external vendors and ratings providers before purchasing
Pursue continued monitoring of projects by ratings providers post purchase
2021 Offset Project Types
(by Quantity Purchased, MT CO2e)
REMOVAL
(Carbon Capture
and Storage (CCS)
& Afforestation )
AVOIDANCE
REDUCTION
Offset Project Types
Avoidance
Includes projects that work to avoid the release of emissions, e.g. protecting forests
- REDD+: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
- LULUCF: Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry
Reduction
Includes technologies or projects that increase the availability of renewable energy and convert waste into energy
- Energy Capture
- Renewable Energy: projects like solar- and wind-generated power installations
Removal
Involves projects to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it
- Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
- Afforestation