Delta Airlines announced Monday that they will be offering a unique opportunity for sky watching enthusiasts to take an eclipse-chasing flight during the upcoming 2024 total solar eclipse on April 8th.
Delta flight 2018 will depart Austin, TX and land in Detroit, effectively following the path of totality during the eclipse.
Delta said they will be operating an Airbus A220 flight, taking advantage of that aircraft’s larger windows. The flight is timed to give passengers their nest chance and viewing the eclipse at it’s peak, departing Austin at 12:15PM CT and landing in Detroit at 4:20PM ET. The flight is expected to cruise in the vicinity of 30,000 feet, however the specifics are always subject to deviation because of weather or ATC requirements.
“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.”
If Detroit is not for you, Delta said there will also be prime eclipse viewing opportunities on five other flights:
- 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 eclipse we’ll see over North America until 2044,” said Warren Weston, Delta Air Lines Lead Meteorologist. “This eclipse will last more than twice as long as the one that occurred in 2017, and the path is nearly twice as wide.”
For eclipse-chasing booking information, visit delta.com.
