Accra-New York- Accra: Experiencing the past, now and future of Delta Airlines

Although I have flown Delta Airlines many times within the US, I had my first experience of traveling from Accra to US on Delta in February. It came at a time when there had been some bad press for the airline. Sarkodie missed a show because of an emergency landing in September, 2023 and just around that period, my mum’s flight arrived without her luggage from Ghana.
So when I had the invitation to go on a familiarisation trip with Delta, I was excited about it; and I looked forward to getting a first-hand experience on the route, and as well get feedback for what seemed to be operational challenges from afar.
Delta gave us a VIP treat in Delta One from Accra to New York and New York to Atlanta, where they’re headquartered. As one of the most exclusive cabins in the sky, Delta One offers spacious lie-flat seats, aisle access, full meal service with drinks, pre-departure beverage, sustainable amenity kits, and bedding made from recycled plastic bottles. It also comes with complimentary access to Delta Sky Club and the use of Sky Priority services.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ameyaw Kissi Debrah (@ameyaw112)


In Accra I used the Sanbra Priority lounge (my first time at Terminal 3, Kotoka International Airport) to relax, eat, and do some last-minute work before the long trip. We didn’t use the Delta Sky Club in New York but on my return to Ghana, I sure did!

Read Also: Delta Airlines is focused on being reliable with its business in Ghana

When we arrived in Atlanta, we checked into the Loews Atlanta Hotel in the heart of Midtown Atlanta. Loews Atlanta Hotel fuses southern hospitality with sophisticated style in the city’s vibrant arts district. The contemporary glass building towers 26 storeys amid Midtown’s architectural skyline. During our stay, we enjoyed delicious fresh meals and drinks at Saltwood Charcuterie & Bar.

We had two days of visits to the Delta HQ and other centers, and interacted with various executives to understand the operations of Delta in general, and in Ghana in particular! This year marks Delta’s 18 years of continuous service between Ghana and the U.S since December 2006. Delta has operated a nonstop service from Accra to New York-JFK since December 2006 and currently operates a daily flight that has transported more than 1,350,000 customers between Ghana and the United States since 2006.

Delta operates the Boeing 767, a globally certified and safe aircraft, which in addition to serving Ghana, also provides air service between the U.S. and a wide variety of countries in Europe and Asia (including the UK, Ireland, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Japan and French Polynesia). In addition to the services I experienced in the Delta One cabin, the flight also has Delta Premium Select which comes with wider seats, deeper recline and an adjustable footrests and leg rests, larger IFE screens with noise-cancelling headphones, blanket, and memory foam pillow.

Delta Comfort+ comes with more legroom and recline than Main Cabin, blanket, amenity kit. Main Cabin: Choice of meal, blanket, amenity kit with headphones. Throughout the aircraft, there is on-demand Wi-Fi with free mobile messaging, IFE on seat back screens or via personal devices, as well as in-seat power and USB ports.

Delta has a strong local team; all management and staff are Ghanaian nationals. The JFK ACC service contributes significantly to Ghana’s economy. It supports business travels and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) tourism.

Ghana media team with Tad Hutcheson, Community Engagement

Delta has a demonstrated commitment to supporting Ghana by supporting several projects. This includes long-standing commitment to organisations such as Breast Care International (BCI). Delta has partnered with BCI since 2017, funding vital screening services and education programs for people living in rural communities. With this support, BCI’s education programs have reached more than 150,000 people. Of the more than 20,000 people screened 2,000 suspected cases of breast cancer have been identified that might have gone undiagnosed. in 2023, Delta supported the charity’s annual ‘Walk for the Cure’ event, where over 2,000 people walked through Accra to raise awareness.

Delta also sponsors regular ‘Innovation Camps’ for young people in Ghana, helping to spark a passion for business skills in partnership with Junior Achievement Africa.

A visit to Delta Operations Control Center (OCC)

After our tour of the Operations Control Center (OCC) and Delta TechOps (Technical Operations), Delta’s commitment to safety and security at every stage of the travel journey became clearer to me. The Operations and Customer Center acts as Delta’s mission control, where they can monitor all of their flights.It is manned by over 1,000 total employees. It’s a 24/7 operation. The building is divided into different operational teams. A dispatcher typically works a 10-hour shift. Sometimes monitoring up to 40 flights within their shift. Delta uses its own proprietary software to monitor all of their planes. The center makes flight decisions based on weather and potentially dangerous current events. They monitor the news on giant screens. They even have their own meteorology team.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ameyaw Kissi Debrah (@ameyaw112)


Delta TechOps (DTO) is the largest airline maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider in North America. In addition to supplying maintenance and engineering support for Delta Air Lines’ large fleet of aircraft, it also provides high-quality service to more than 150 other aviation and airline customers around the world. DTO specialises in high-skill work such as engines, components, hangar and line maintenance, employing thousands of aviation maintenance professionals.

Ghana Media team in front of the Delta Flight Museum

In March 2025, Delta will celebrate 100 years since it was founded. It was amazing to experience a bit of the history of the airline at the Delta Flight Museum. Since 1995, the Delta Flight Museum has allowed visitors from around the world to explore aviation history, celebrate the story, and people of Delta, and discover the future of flight. Standing in the heart of Delta’s Atlanta headquarters, the 68,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art attraction makes a perfect outing for family, friends, school groups and more.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ameyaw Kissi Debrah (@ameyaw112)


On my return flight to Ghana, I reflected on the learnings from the familiarisation trip, looking forward to what the future of Delta in Ghana would be. As I relaxed in the Delta Club lounge in New York, I listened in on the conversations of some passengers when our delayed flight arrived from Los Angeles to load us for Accra. It became clear that if Delta is able to upgrade from the current Boeing 767 to the state-of-the-art Airbus A330-900 NEO as has been rumoured, a lot of their customers would be happy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ameyaw Kissi Debrah (@ameyaw112)


I also waited to see if I could pick up on any of the reported bad customer service from New York, as I have observed in comments on social media. However, i didn’t see any. I was only disappointed when passengers caused some chaos at the gate when asked to board according to the zones on the passes.
With a new flight time coming up for ACC-JKF-ACC from the ending of March, I will certainly keep a keen eye on future events of Delta!