Video above: How to watch a total solar eclipse safely
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Delta Air Lines has created a special flight that will allow passengers to spend “as much time as possible” in the path of totality for the April 8 solar eclipse.
Delta Flight 1218 will depart from Austin, Texas (AUS), at 12:15 p.m. CT and will arrive in Detroit (DTW) at 4:20 p.m. ET, according to the airline.
The flight was designed to follow as close to the path of totality as possible. The flight will be on an Airbus A220-300, which the airline said has extra-large windows.
Tickets for the flight can be purchased through the Delta website. As of Monday, a one-way ticket costs $579.
“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,” Managing Director of Domestic Network Planning Eric Beck said in a statement. “Thanks to teams across the company, the idea of viewing a total eclipse from the air will become a reality for our customers.”
Delta noted the flight path could change due to weather or air traffic control.
Five other Delta flights that day will also have opportunities to view the eclipse from up in the air.
- DL 5699 — DTW-HPN, 2:59 p.m. ET departure
- DL 927 — LAX-DFW, 8:40 a.m. PT departure
- DL 2869 — LAX-SAT, 9 a.m. PT departure
- DL 1001 — SLC-SAT, 10:08 a.m. MT departure
- DL 1683 — SLC-AUS, 9:55 a.m. MT departure
In addition to Delta, Southwest also has three flights directly in the path of totality.
- SWA 1252 — DAL-PIT, 12:45 p.m. CT departure
- SWA 1721 — AUS-IND, 12:50 p.m. CT departure
- SWA 1910 — STL-HOU, 1:20 p.m.. CT departure
The next total eclipse to cross a majority of North America isn’t until 2045.