Delta Partners With Uber, Joby Aviation for Hyper-Personalized Travel at CES 2025

Delta Air Lines announced it is rolling out a generative AI-powered multi-modal travel concierge service in partnership with partners Uber and flying taxi company Joby Aviation at CES 2025.

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Other innovations announced at the event included an extended partnership with Airbus aiming to transform the future of air travel and a personalized onboard entertainment experience delivered with YouTube.

In a first for CES, CEO Ed Bastian launched Delta’s 100th-anniversary celebrations with a keynote address delivered in Las Vegas’s Sphere immersive arena, highlighting the airline’s history of innovation.

Personal Travel Assistant

Bastian introduced Delta Concierge, a generative AI-powered digital assistant built into the Fly Delta app that aims to make multi-modal transport seamless for travelers via partnerships with Uber and Joby Aviation.  

Delta Concierge is designed to provide personalized, real-time assistance throughout a traveler's journey. The tool uses generative AI to anticipate customer needs, offer contextual guidance and perform actions on behalf of users. This could include notifications about passport expirations, visa requirements and destination-specific updates such as weather conditions to aid in packing and preparedness. The assistant will also facilitate navigation within airports by providing directions to bag drop locations, Delta Sky Clubs and departure gates.

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A new collaboration with Uber will let SkyMiles members link their Uber accounts to earn miles on eligible rides and deliveries. This integration aims to streamline the travel experience from home to destination.

Delta Concierge will also connect with Joby’s electric air taxi service to offer future home-to-airport transportation, though no time frame for this service was provided. 

Delta and Joby first announced their partnership in 2022 and expect to begin operating at Delta’s New York and Los Angeles hubs pending sign-off from federal and local authorities.

“Delta is thinking differently about how we blend the digital and physical experiences, starting with the Fly Delta app,” said Bastian. “Our vision for Delta Concierge is that it will serve as an AI-powered personal assistant that combines the context of who our customers are and how they like to travel, with the deep knowledge and insights we’ve built as the world’s most reliable airline.”  

Airbus Partnership

Delta also announced an expanded partnership with Airbus focusing on advancing next-generation technologies and promoting sustainable air travel.

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In collaboration with Airbus's UpNext innovation lab, Delta will explore advancements in wing performance, fuel efficiency, superconductivity and advanced aircraft assistance. Delta plans to actively participate in designing aspects of certain experiments, observing test runs and potentially testing early-stage features on its fleet. 

Delta plans to test Airbus's "fello'fly" technique, inspired by migrating geese. This method involves pairing flights so that the leading aircraft creates an uplift, enhancing fuel efficiency for the following plane through wake energy retrieval. Delta's participation in the next flight test phase is scheduled for the latter half of 2025.

In a move to further sustainable aviation, Airbus has also committed to joining the Minnesota SAF Hub, a coalition dedicated to scaling the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This initiative aligns with Delta's goal to decarbonize the airline industry, recognizing SAF as a crucial element in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Bastian emphasized the airline's responsibility to increase global access to travel, saying: "We live in a divided world, which is why what we do at Delta is so important. Our job isn’t to transport people. It’s to bring them together."

Hyper-Personalized In-Flight Entertainment

Delta also announced a partnership with YouTube to enhance in-flight entertainment for SkyMiles Members. Beginning in 2025, logged-in members will enjoy ad-free access to their favorite creators, podcasts and music artists during flights.

This collaboration is part of Delta's new cloud-based in-flight entertainment system, developed with Thales Avionics, which aims to deliver personalized and accessible experiences across digital channels. The next-generation Delta Sync seatback experience is expected to debut on select new aircraft starting in 2026, offering state-of-the-art hardware and software for a more engaging journey.

“Technology has the power to transform travel and create moments for our customers to enjoy the journey as much as the destination,” said Bastian.

“Whether through fast, free Wi-Fi, our industry-leading seatback screens or any of the other personalized channels in Delta’s digital ecosystem, we’re committed to creating a seamless and enriching experience for our SkyMiles Members.”