SEATTLE- Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines (DL) announced that it plans to seek approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to operate a new flight between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
This initiative follows the recently enacted Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill, which authorizes five new beyond-perimeter flights at DCA.
Delta Seattle to Taipei Flight
Delta President Glen Hauenstein made this announcement in Seattle during a Port of Seattle press conference, where Delta also launched its inaugural nonstop flight DL69 to Taipei (TPE), marking the airline’s first operation to TPE since 2017.
“Seattle is a crucial hub for Delta,” said Hauenstein. “With today’s Taipei launch, we are further solidifying Seattle’s role as our leading Pacific gateway. By adding a direct flight to our nation’s capital in Washington, D.C., Seattle customers will gain the additional competition and choice they deserve.”
Due to the federal perimeter rule at DCA, airlines are generally prohibited from flying beyond 1,250 miles, with very few exceptions. SEA is the largest beyond-perimeter market, currently served by only one carrier providing service to DCA.
Delta is eligible to apply for one of the new slot pairs, which will be awarded through a formal application process administered by the DOT.
“The success and health of Washington State’s communities heavily depend on our relationship with the other Washington,” said Seattle Port Commissioner Toshiko Grace Hasegawa in a recent Port blog. “I look forward to working with community leaders to take advantage of this significant opportunity.”
90th Anniversary at Seattle
Delta celebrated its 90th anniversary in Seattle in December 2023, a history that began with the operations of Northwest Airways (later Northwest Airlines) in 1933.
Today, the airline employs 3,000 Seattle-based staff and operates nearly 170 peak-day departures from SEA to over 50 destinations worldwide, including Amsterdam (AMS), Tokyo (HND), and Cancun (CUN).
Delta is America’s most-awarded airline, having received the Global Viewpoint’s Airline of Choice in Seattle Award for 2023.
The Port of Seattle also recently recognized Delta through its Sustainable Century Awards program for having the highest percentage of fuel-efficient aircraft in use at SEA in 2023.
The airline plans to build on its momentum in SEA with new routes: twice-daily service to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) starting July 8, and daily service to Miami (MIA) beginning December 21.
Loose Ceiling Incident
A video from a Delta Air Lines Boeing 767 has surfaced online, capturing a distressing mid-air incident.
A passenger traveling from Honolulu to Minneapolis filmed the moment a ceiling panel dislodged, prompting the crew to swiftly address the situation. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The concerned passenger captioned the clip, “I’m not an expert, but this doesn’t look great.”
The footage shows two Delta crew members arriving quickly and attempting to reattach the dislodged panel. Throughout the video, they are seen trying to adjust the panel back into place.
The incident left viewers on social media alarmed, with many joking about Boeing’s recent headlines. Some users offered explanations for the occurrence. Since being posted, the video has garnered over 2 million views.
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