On the 7th (local time), Delta Air Lines captured the spotlight at CES 2025, the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition. If Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, evoked a pilgrimage-like march with his keynote the day before, Delta was praised for letting ordinary people experience and enjoy the changes in aviation through cutting-edge technology in a party-like atmosphere.

To attend Delta's keynote scheduled for 5 p.m. that day, those who had received tickets in advance lined up and headed to the 'Sphere.' Already, the exterior of the Sphere was displaying images of Delta airplanes flying. The Sphere, a sphere-shaped performance venue, has become a new landmark in Las Vegas. Delta made the right choice by selecting this venue, where superstars like U2 and Eagles have performed, as the site for its keynote in celebration of its 100th anniversary. Curiosity about the first-ever keynote held at the Sphere heightened the excitement among CES participants.

Delta operated the venue to make attendees feel as if they were boarding an airplane. Complimentary in-flight meals and beverages were served at the concession stands inside. There were photo zones throughout the venue, and staff dressed as pilots and flight attendants guided the participants.

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The CES organizers also emphasized that this was the first keynote ever held at the Sphere, further fueling the buzz. Finally, the keynote began, and Delta CEO Ed Bastian took the stage. Throughout his speech, the visuals on the Sphere’s massive interior screens changed constantly, fully immersing the audience. Although there were some minor technical glitches during the keynote, nothing significantly detracted from the experience.

Throughout the keynote, the world's largest LED screen at the Sphere displayed scenes of airplanes leaving the hangar, simulations of actual takeoffs, and even digital fireworks, keeping eyes glued to the spectacle.

After the keynote, renowned singer and guitarist Lenny Kravitz delivered a dazzling performance. Participants sang along, feeling as if they were enjoying nightlife at a travel destination reached by plane.

After the event, a journalist commented, "Regardless of the content, the event itself was impressive." While Huang’s keynote focused on technology, Delta won praise for its emotional appeal.

On the 7th, after the Delta Air Lines keynote held at the iconic venue 'The Sphere' in Las Vegas, singer and guitarist Lenny Kravitz's performance was presented as if he were in a recording studio. Photo by Baek Jongmin

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On this day, Delta announced plans to integrate an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant feature into its mobile application and revealed an upgrade to its in-flight entertainment system through collaboration with YouTube. The airline also unveiled a partnership with ride-sharing company Uber, allowing customers to earn mileage points when using taxi or food delivery services. Delta showcased the experience of traveling from home to the airport using an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft from Joby Aviation. The company also emphasized its commitment to expanding sustainability and advancing aircraft development technology through collaboration with Airbus.

The key takeaway from the event was that Delta successfully established itself as a leader in aviation innovation. Whether the announced features will actually be implemented seemed less important. Ed Bastian, Delta CEO, stated, "Our job is not to transport people, but to bring people together."

The approximately 18,000 attendees wrapped up the first day of CES with Bastian’s words lingering in their minds. It was a night that left a lasting impression.