Source: Delta Air Lines

  • Delta IAD station leaders including Faiz, ACS field director, Elizabeth Dickinson and Delta’s S.V.P for Government Affairs, Heather Wingate hosted TRANSCOM deputy commander, Vice Admiral Dee Mewbourne for an airport tour.

The Delta difference is clearly on display across the operation as we continue our mission of bringing thousands of Afghan evacuees to the U.S. –  and that especially goes for our dedicated leaders at Dulles International Airport where we’ve already completed nearly 20 flights since last week.

“Very quickly it became clear that the processing of hundreds of evacuees at a time coming in on multiple flights was causing a logjam with Customs and Border Protection,” said IAD station manager, Faiz Syed. “Sadly, aircraft full of evacuees and Delta crew were sitting on the tarmac for hours after landing, some as long as 12 hours. This was not the experience we envisioned for these exhausted evacuees who had just flown hours across the Atlantic to reach their new homes.”

In order to make some headway in process improvements, Delta IAD station leaders including Faiz, ACS field director, Elizabeth Dickinson and Delta’s S.V.P for Government Affairs, Heather Wingate hosted TRANSCOM deputy commander, Vice Admiral Dee Mewbourne for an airport tour. The Vice Admiral was escorted around the airport by our team for a nearly three hour visit where they pointed out and explained in great detail to Vice Admiral the operational challenges Delta and other CRAF carriers were experiencing.

“It was an honor to show Vice Admiral Mewbourne around the airport, in particular the tarmac area where several of our planes had been idling for hours with hundreds of evacuees on board,” said Dickinson. “With the Vice Admiral’s help, we are now able to move people off planes in a quicker fashion and into an airport holding facility, where they can stretch their legs, get medical treatment and for many, reunite with friends and family members.”

6 p.m. ET Aug. 31: What it’s like on board a Delta flight bringing Afghanistan evacuees to America

When “Nick” (Delta is using an alias to protect the evacuee’s identity) boarded Delta’s A350-900 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, he arrived ready to serve the flight crew and his countrymen: The medical professional was prepared to jump in and help with translations or medical assistance if needed during the journey.

Nick was among about 300 passengers aboard the Delta flight operating in support of the U.S. government’s activation of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet. The flight brought people from Ramstein to Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. — a connection to the U.S. for those escaping a precarious situation in Afghanistan.

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6 p.m. ET Aug. 31: Delta’s CRAF support evolves

Delta is continuing its support of the federal government’s CRAF activation with updates the aircraft serving international routes and preparing to support flying passengers to military installations within the United States.

Starting Wednesday (Sept. 1) all of Delta’s international CRAF missions will be operated using A330 aircraft. The Boeing 767ER and A350 aircraft that operated as part of the mission thus far will return to the commercial service.

Delta will primarily operate CRAF missions between Ramstein Air Force Base in western German and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

Also starting Wednesday (Sept. 1), Delta will operate domestic CRAF flights moving Afghanistan evacuees between Dulles and military bases in Wisconsin and New Mexico.

Delta will begin flying evacuees from Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) on Sept. 4.

12:15 p.m. Miles4Migrants: How to Donate Miles to Help Afghan Evacuees

SkyMiles is partnering with Miles4Migrants to support their mission to help refugee community members – including Afghan evacuees – reach safe homes.

Now through Sept. 30, Delta will match up to 10 million miles donated through this page. Customers can select the mileage amount they would like to donate, and all miles will be used to help fund Delta flights for refugees in need of airfare to relocate and reunite families around the world.

11:30 a.m. ET Aug. 31: CRAF missions continue

Delta people are continuing their efforts to operate flights in support of the federal government’s activation of a Civil Reserve Air Fleet. As of Tuesday morning, the airline has accomplished the following:

  • 18 – Fights completed
  • 4,551 – Passengers carried
  • 17 – Flights remaining

Delta Community Engagement and Cargo teams have also supported the American Red Cross by moving 40,000 pounds of comfort kits from its Pennsylvania warehouse to locations supporting CRAF missions overseas. Those items are being given the evacuees from Afghanistan as they continue their journey.

Delta Cargo has further supported the missions by shipping an additional 21,000 pounds of supplies for provisioning flights and other relief supplies.