Delta Air Lines is offering a unique flight path that will give passengers an ideal view of the April 8 solar eclipse.
The flight will allow people to admire the eclipse for “as much time as possible” in the path of totality, the track of the moon’s shadow across the surface of the Earth.
“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. … Thanks to teams across the company, the idea of viewing a total eclipse from the air will become a reality for our customers,” Eric Beck, Managing Director of Domestic Network Planning, said, per the Delta News Hub website.
Delta Flight 1218 is set to leave Austin at 12:15 p.m. CT and arrive in Detroit at 4:20 p.m. ET. The route selected is designed to maximize eclipse viewing and remain on the path of totality as much as possible. The special flight on an Airbus A220-300 costs $579 for the one-way route.
Eclipse chasers, also known as umbraphiles, will have other opportunities to catch the eclipse 30,000 feet above sea level. In addition to this particular flight, Delta announced five other routes on April 8 that will have exceptional eclipse-viewing opportunities.
- DL 5699, DTW-HPN, 2:59 p.m. EST departure, ERJ-175
- DL 924, LAX-DFW, 8:40 a.m. PST departure, A320
- DL 2869, LAX-SAT, 9:00 a.m. PST departure, A319
- DL 1001, SLC-SAT, 10:08 a.m. MST departure, A220-300
- DL 1683, SLC-AUS, 9:55 a.m. MST departure, A320
Southwest Airlines similarly has three flights that will line up with the path of totality.
- SWA 1252 – DAL-PIT, 12:45 p.m. CT departure
- SWA 1721 – AUS-IND, 12:50 p.m. CT departure
- SWA 1910 – STL-HOU, 1:20 p.m.. CT departure
After April 8, the next total eclipse that will cross most of North America isn’t expected for two decades (2044).