Although they are often unseen by customers, Delta’s catering partners have always followed the industry’s cleaning standards and are consistently inspected by government agencies including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
As we adjust for travel now and in the future, here’s what we’re doing behind the scenes with our catering partners to keep customers and crews safe and at ease.
Before you board
All inbound international catering equipment and trucks are cleaned and sanitized with a food-safe disinfectant using electrostatic sprayers throughout the day. Delta teams are currently testing an expansion of this process for all flights.
Our crews also use electrostatic sprayers to sanitize aircraft cabins, including tray tables, seatback screens, armrests and other high-touch surfaces and common areas.
In our catering facilities
Our kitchens are held to the highest standards for cleanliness, and our catering partners follow HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) food safety regulations.
Before walking through the doors of our kitchen facilities, catering employees and visitors are temperature-checked and asked to complete a health questionnaire. Catering employees follow social distancing protocols and wear personal protective gear, including face coverings and gloves, according to their work area.
We have also added additional cleaning staff to help with enhanced sanitizing processes that focus on high traffic and high-touch areas:
All food contact surfaces are sanitized throughout the day and are verified for cleanliness before food production.
After being unloaded, food carts are taken to a cart wash area to be rinsed and sanitized, while crockery and utensils are washed and sanitized using high-heat, industrial dishwashing machines.
All catering products are sanitized before food carts are provisioned for our customers.
One provisioned with food and beverages, carts are given a second cleanse before they are loaded onto our aircraft.
In the air
To lessen touch points on board, we have temporarily moved to essential food and beverage offerings on board on all U.S. domestic and short-haul international flights. Customers in all cabins receive their own personal snack bags on domestic flights.
Customers flying on long-haul international routes are also receiving temporarily streamlined in-flight services and meal choices, along with a full selection of beverage offerings.
Our commitment to protecting customers
From offering change-fee waivers for impacted and upcoming travel to supporting social distancing on board, Delta is committed to taking steps to ensure we’re protecting customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve made numerous key changes to ensure safe travel including requiring face coverings for employees and customers, encouraging and expanding social distancing efforts, reducing touchpoints on board, extending Medallion status and offering support for SkyMiles members, leading the industry to deliver a new standard of clean and more.
We will continue evaluating and adjusting while staying in close coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and local health organizations to ensure your safety.
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