AUSTIN, Texas — Cities and businesses across Texas are gearing up and making plans for April 8's total solar eclipse, but now, Delta Airlines is giving skywatchers a chance to view the rare event from a new angle, high up in the sky themselves.
A special flight offered by Delta on April 8 will take passengers from Austin, TX to Detroit, MI during the eclipse, with the intent of letting those on board spend as much time in the direct path of totality as possible.
The airline said Delta flight 1218 will be specifically operated on an A220-300, which they say will offer "especially premium viewing" due to the plane's "extra-large" windows.
The flight will leave from Austin at 12:15 p.m. Central Time and land in Detroit at 4:20 p.m. Eastern Time, according to Delta. The airline says the time was chosen to give passengers the best chance at viewing the eclipse at its peak.
“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.”
For those who are not able to make it to the flight, Delta said travelers will still have opportunities to view the eclipse on five other flights:
- DL 5699, DTW (Detroit)-HPN (Westchester County, New York), 2:59 p.m. EST departure, ERJ-175
- DL 924, LAX (Los Angeles)-DFW (Dallas), 8:40 a.m. PST departure, A320
- DL 2869, LAX-SAT (San Antonio), 9:00 a.m. PST departure, A319
- DL 1001, SLC (Salt Lake City)-SAT, 10:08 a.m. MST departure, A220-300
- DL 1683, SLC-AUS (Austin), 9:55 a.m. MST departure, A320
Passengers on these flights are encouraged to bring their eclipse glasses to safely view the rare event.
Delta added a disclaimer that while their flight plans have been designed for maximum time in the path of totality, it is subject to change due to factors outside Delta's control, such as weather or air traffic control, which could impact timing and aircraft.
For more information, visit delta.com.
For more information on the eclipse, visit KCENTV.com/eclipse.
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