Delta Air Lines at CES 2025: AI Assistant & Free Entertainment

Delta Air Lines Unveils New Tech at CES 2025

For several years, Delta Air Lines has been a prominent participant at CES, consistently presenting notable announcements. This year, the airline utilized the Sphere venue to reveal its latest advancements. These updates encompass an AI-powered assistant integrated within their mobile application, alongside enhancements to the in-flight entertainment system featuring 4K HDR displays and Bluetooth capabilities.

SkyMiles Benefits and AI Integration

Delta’s SkyMiles members are set to receive complimentary access to both YouTube Premium and YouTube Music during flights. These announcements were made at CES 2025, signaling a commitment to enhancing the passenger experience.

The newly developed AI assistant, named Delta Concierge, will be implemented throughout the year. Passengers will be able to interact with it through both voice commands and text input.

Proactive Travel Assistance

While the use of large language models isn't novel, Delta aims to provide proactive support and guidance to travelers. Initially, this will include alerts regarding expiring passports and necessary visa requirements.

Future iterations of the service will offer destination-specific information, such as local weather forecasts.

Navigating the Airport with Delta Concierge

The Delta Concierge will also assist passengers with directions to baggage drop-off locations, Delta Sky Clubs, and their designated departure gates.

Although these features are beneficial, they may not represent groundbreaking innovation. Basic tasks like passport expiration checks or gate information don't necessarily require AI.

Upgraded In-Flight Entertainment

Delta’s new seatback entertainment system, described as “the first cloud-based in-flight entertainment system,” is scheduled for rollout in 2026. This system promises significant improvements over current offerings.

Key Features of the New System

• 4K HDR QLED displays
• Bluetooth connectivity
• A substantial 96-terabyte onboard storage capacity

The storage will house a wide range of content, including movies, television shows, and music.

Competition and Connectivity

Delta’s upgrades appear to be a response to competitors. United Airlines is already implementing 4K displays and Bluetooth connectivity in its fleet. While Delta’s system is cloud-based, the value of this feature to passengers remains uncertain, particularly with United’s planned Starlink integration.

Furthermore, United does not currently offer complimentary YouTube Premium and Music access.

Fello’fly Project and Future Concepts

In line with the tradition of CES keynotes, Delta also announced a long-term project: collaboration with Airbus on the next phase of the fello’fly project. This initiative explores the possibility of aircraft flying in formation, mimicking bird flocks, to conserve fuel.

This project has been under development for several years. While conceptually interesting, significant regulatory hurdles must be overcome before it can become a practical reality.