Deltas giving its in-flight screens a major 4K HDR upgradeDeltas giving its in-flight screens a major 4K HDR upgrade / Your in-flight movie is about to look a lot better. By Andrew J. Hawkins, transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State. Jan 8, 2025, 1:10 AM UTCShare this story Image: DeltaDelta Air Lines announced plans to install new 4K HDR QLED screens in its commercial airplanes, so passengers can experience ultra high-definition entertainment at ultra-high altitudes. The news came as part of Deltas CES keynote at the Sphere in Las Vegas, where it also planned to celebrate its centennial with a musical performance by Lenny Kravitz. The airline announced a raft of new features for air travelers, including new partnerships with YouTube and Uber as well as a new AI-powered chatbot for customer service. But the decision to add 4K screens to its airplanes is one thats sure to tickle the fancy of any air traveler whos ever balked at the middling quality of the current crop of seat-back displays.The news came as part of Deltas CES keynote at the Sphere in Las VegasDelta says its working with Thales Avionics, an in-flight technology company that is also helping to install high-definition screens in Emirates Airbus A350-900s. But dont go looking for the new screens just yet: Delta says it wont start delivering the upgrades in aircraft until 2026.Who actually gets access to the screens, though, will answer the question of whether Delta sees this as technology for all passengers or just the ones in first class. A spokesperson for Delta did not immediately respond to questions about access. Delta has also been testing out Bluetooth connectivity for its in-flight entertainment for several years and has even started quietly rolling it out to some planes, as discovered by a TikTok user. Now, the airline says it plans to offer Bluetooth in all cabins so travelers can pair their personal wireless devices though it didnt offer any specifics beyond that. Deltas in-flight entertainment will also feature an advanced recommendation engine tailored to each passengers unique taste. Again, were lacking details about whats powering this engine and how it will know your particular taste. But in late 2025, were getting improved connectivity through a partnership with Wi-Fi provider Hughes, which replaced Intelsat in 2023. Delta says this will allow for multi-network connectivity for more reliable and stable in-flight internet. That surely will help when streaming YouTube, which SkyMiles members will be able to do ad-free, thanks to the platforms new partnership with Delta. And a new Do Not Disturb mode for their seat-back screen will ensure passengers can sleep without disturbance. Delta is revamping its app to include an AI-powered Concierge chatbot as well as a multi-modal feature that will include Uber and, eventually, air taxis from Joby. The Concierge feature will use the travelers location and arrival and departure information to suggest more efficient routes and will notify users about upcoming passport expirations or visa requirements. And in the years to come, Delta says the feature will be able to make more specific recommendations around packing and weather planning. Delta is also offering SkyMiles customers the ability to link their Uber account to earn miles and other perks. These include: SkyMiles Members can earn 1 mile per dollar spent on UberX rides to and from airports, 2 miles per dollar on premium rides and 3 miles per dollar on Uber Reserve rides. Plus, 1 mile per dollar spent on eligible restaurant and grocery orders.And lastly, Delta says its working with Airbus to design more fuel-efficient airplanes. Delta has said its goal is for sustainable aviation fuel to make up at least 95 percent of its fuel consumption by 2050. But achieving net-zero emissions will be a tall task for an airline and will require rethinking every part of the business. Now, Delta says it will work with Airbus to scale the use of sustainable aviation fuel, which is mostly biofuels made from plant or animal material. And the two companies will collaborate on hydrogen-powered flight projects as well as new designs, like more fuel-efficient wings or new formations to drive wake energy retrieval, Delta says.Most PopularMost Popular