Delta reveals Olympics livery as it takes official Team USA sponsorship from United
So long to the friendly skies; now it's time to keep climbing.
After almost 40 years of flying United Airlines, the U.S. Olympics team passed the torch to Delta Air Lines for at least the next eight years, a deal reportedly worth $400 million.
With fewer than 50 days until the 2022 Olympics begin in Beijing, Delta kicked off its new charter mission by revealing an Airbus A330-900 with a special Olympics-themed livery on Friday.
The airline held a ceremony and livery reveal at its Atlanta Tech Ops base, which was attended by past and present Olympians and Paralympians, as well as Delta employees, CEO Ed Bastian, and crews from NBC's Today Show, which broadcast the event live.
Hosted by past Olympians Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir, the event was an early one to coincide with the Today Show broadcast, kicking off just before 8 a.m.
The event also featured a panel discussion with Olympians Vonetta Flowers, Amber Glenn and Apollo Ohno, as well as Paralympians Dan Cnossen and Mallory Weggemann.
Delta employees were invited, although only a limited number were able to attend due to space. Still, the crowd was full of Olympics fans.
After a short video showing a time-lapse of the painting process, the hangar door was opened and a curtain was opened, finally revealing the livery (thanks to a logistical change in the event, some of the guests had already seen the aircraft as they arrived, but still, who doesn't love a dramatic reveal?).
Being the first year of the partnership, Delta decided to go with something bold, rather than a subtle or understated design.
In person, the Team USA plane — an Airbus A330neo — looked undeniably sharp. It was designed by Shane Edwards, who is Delta's product and experimental design manager. Edwards worked with the in-house creative team at Delta — known as Window Seat — rather than outsourcing to a design firm.
"The team opted for a clean, classic design to promote the partnership between Team USA and Delta," Edwards said in a statement. "The Team USA logo is prominently featured, along with a blue gradient that represents the sky and 'rise to the top; with a grounding red element representing the resilience needed to get there."
Inside, the plane looks like any other A330-900 — the one exception was small towels custom-printed for the sponsorship that the airline put on each headrest instead of the usual cloth.
It features 29 business class seats — the latest Delta One suites with sliding doors — as well as 28 premium economy seats in the "Premium Select" cabin. There are 224 coach seats, including 56 extra-legroom Delta Comfort+ seats.
It may not be the actual plane to carry the Olympians — that will likely be a larger Airbus A350, a Delta spokesperson said during the event.
Instead, you can catch the plane flying on transatlantic and transpacific routes starting on Dec. 18. Delta plans to use the A330neo to replace its less-efficient Boeing 767s, the airline said.
More: A Suite Ride to China: Delta One on the Brand-New A330-900neo
The partnership between Delta and Team USA is set to cover Beijing 2022, Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028, but could always be extended. Who knows; maybe the next 40 years will belong to Delta.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees