Delta Air Lines is to operate a second special service enabling customers to view the upcoming April 8 solar eclipse from the air, allowing passengers to ‘spend as much time as possible directly within the path of totality’.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the sun and the earth, completely blocking out the star’s light. ‘People viewing the eclipse where the Moon’s shadow completely covers the sun – known as the path of totality – will experience a total solar eclipse,’ explains NASA, with viewers along the path of totality able to see the Sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere.
After selling out its first flight in less than 24 hours, with searches for flights from Austin to Detroit spiking by more than 1,500%, the airline is to give a second group of passengers the opportunity to see the solar spectacle from the sky.
The previously announced Flight 1218 will be specifically operated on an A220-300, owing additional viewing opportunities due to the aircraft’s larger than average windows. The flight will depart from Austin at 12:15 CT and land in Detroit at 16:20 ET, timed to give passengers the best chance of viewing the phenomenon at its peak; the last total eclipse to occur over North America before 2044. Delta Air Lines lead meteorologist Warren Weston added that the eclipse “will last more than twice as long as the one that occurred in 2017, and the path is nearly twice as wide”.
“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.
A second service, Flight 1010, is now set to operate on the larger A321neo; departing and arriving alongside the previously sold-out service. Both flights have an estimated duration of just over three hours and tickets are available from $1,099.