Delta Air Lines has partnered with Maeve Aerospace, which has joined Delta's Sustainable Skies Lab, to advance the development of Maeve's hybrid electric aircraft for regional flights, Delta announced Wednesday.
The Atlanta-based carrier will "lend its operational expertise" to support the development of the Maeve jet, which is designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, according to Delta. The narrowbody aircraft has a five-abreast, single-aisle seat configuration.
Delta also has partnered with Green Taxi Aerospace through its Sustainable Skies Lab "to develop electric aircraft taxiing technology that aims to reduce fuel use, operating costs, taxi time and carbon emissions."
In addition, Delta this month partnered with Shell and Portland International Airport to take delivery of more than 400,000 gallons of blended sustainable aviation fuel, making it the first commercial-scale SAF uplift at the Oregon airport, according to the carrier.
The blended SAF batch was produced by Montana Renewables in the U.S. from waste-derived feedstock. Shell then supplied the SAF shipment to Zenith Terminal in Portland, where it was blended with traditional jet fuel, then delivered to the Portland airport via barge, truck and pipeline and entered the airports fuel supply system, according to Delta.