How Delta and its global airline partners are making it even easier to connect between carriers

As we welcome our customers back to the skies, Delta, alongside our global airline partners, is focused on making travel easier at every part of the journey. A tight connection from a Delta flight to one operated by a partner airline can be a high-pressure moment for customers. Where’s the next departure gate? Is it in another terminal? How much time will it take to get there? 

That’s why Delta has been working to co-locate its operations in the same terminal as our partners in key U.S. and international airports, so connections are as seamless as possible. Delta is co-located in the same terminal with our partner airlines at 18 U.S. and 11 of our key international hub airports. Over the next 12 months, Delta will be increasing partner co-location in key airports such as Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston, as well as Santiago, Chile.

“Being in the same terminal, and at adjacent departure gates, means customers can quickly and easily move from one aircraft to another, with our teams on hand to support if needed,” said Alain Bellemare, E.V.P and President-International. “No one wants to rush to an onward connecting flight in another terminal, so we’re working closely with our partners to identify new opportunities to co-locate our operations so customers can sit back, relax and enjoy their journey.”

Here’s what this means for customers:

• Having Delta check-in counters, customer service desks and departure gates next to a partner airline in the same terminal not only provides an opportunity for more effective signage and improved wayfinding for customers when connecting from one plane to another, it also ensures that there are teams on hand to assist if needed.

• From an operational standpoint, having the airlines co-located in the same airport terminal with adjacent departure gates means that teams can work more closely together to improve the connection co-ordination for customers and their bags, if a flight is delayed.

• The minimum connecting time for passengers is reduced when the two airlines are in the same terminal, providing more onward flight options. For example, at Incheon International Airport, Seoul, Delta is in the state-of-the-art Terminal 2 with Korean Air, Air France and KLM, allowing a customer to connect within 45 minutes to over 80 onward destinations in Asia.

Co-location is just one piece of the puzzle as the airlines work closely to create an effortless journey when connecting between a Delta flight and a partner airline.  Together, the airlines are looking at all aspects of current and future travel – on the ground and in the air – to ensure a seamless experience for all customers.  To learn more, visit our Alliances page on delta.com.