Delta links US air travel with national park conservation

International

New partnership with the National Park Foundation gives SkyMiles members, customers and employees new ways to support parks across the United States

Image Credit: © AI generated illustration

Delta Air Lines has entered into a partnership with the National Park Foundation to connect travel more closely with the protection of U.S. national parks. The cooperation combines destination access with fundraising and volunteering, while also creating new opportunities for travelers to engage with the parks before, during and after their trips.

The initiative builds on Delta’s extensive domestic network. Many major national parks, including Grand Teton, Glacier, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Great Smoky Mountains, are within a three-hour drive of an airport served by the airline. Together, U.S. national parks receive more than 323 million visits annually.

From airport gateways to outdoor destinations

For Delta, the partnership also highlights the role of air connectivity in nature-based tourism. Flights provide gateways to some of the country’s best-known outdoor destinations, while Delta Vacations already markets national park trips as part of its leisure portfolio.

“National parks are places that bring people together, spark a sense of wonder and create lasting connections to the earth around us,” said Amelia DeLuca, Delta’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “That spirit of connection is at the heart of Delta, and it’s why this partnership feels so natural. We’re proud to support the National Park Foundation and help ensure that sense of awe and wonder remains part of the experience for generations to come.”

SkyMiles donations and volunteer projects

As a first step, SkyMiles members can donate miles to the National Park Foundation through Delta’s SkyWish programme. The foundation will use the donated miles to support its work protecting national parks and connecting people with them.

Further initiatives are planned. Delta intends to introduce national park-related experiences at airports, while customers and employees will be offered opportunities to participate in volunteer projects benefiting parks and surrounding communities.

“National parks belong to all of us, and protecting them for the future requires all of us to play a role,” said Dawn Rodney, Chief External Affairs Officer at the National Park Foundation. “Our partnership with Delta creates an exciting opportunity to connect people with national parks through unforgettable experiences, inspiring park support and building a lasting sense of stewardship that ensures these places are cared for today and far into the future.”

Tourism and conservation brought closer together

The cooperation extends Delta’s sustainability activities beyond airline operations and into destinations served by its network. The carrier’s broader environmental strategy focuses on fleet efficiency, sustainable aviation fuel and technologies designed to improve operational efficiency.

For the travel industry, the partnership also illustrates how airlines can combine destination marketing with conservation initiatives, particularly in the growing market for outdoor and nature-based travel.