At the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Uber announced a multi-year exclusive partnership with Delta Air Lines, enabling SkyMiles members to earn miles when they ride with Uber or order delivery through Uber Eats in the United States. This deal marks the end of Delta's partnership with Lyft, which was formed in 2018 and will expire on April 7, 2025.

The partnership, set to launch in the spring, will provide Uber customers with access to improved pickup and drop-off experiences at Delta hubs. While an Uber spokesperson declined to elaborate on what this means, the partnership is expected to enhance the overall travel experience for customers.

Lyft, meanwhile, has been expanding its horizons by partnering with major brands like Alaska Airlines, Chase, DoorDash, Mastercard, Hilton, Disney, and Bilt. The company stated that it will continue to focus on customer obsession, but the loss of the Delta partnership is a significant blow.

Under the new partnership, Uber customers with linked Delta Skymiles memberships will earn 1 mile per dollar spent on $40+ restaurant and grocery orders with Uber Eats and on UberX rides to and from the airport. Premium Rides, such as Uber Comfort or Uber Black, will earn users 2 miles per dollar spent, while riders who reserve in advance can earn 3 miles per dollar spent.

The tie-up with Delta may also be a step towards connecting the airline and Uber with Joby Aviation, an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) startup that has separate partnerships with both Uber and Delta. Joby's partnership with Delta means that Delta customers will eventually have access to Joby's electric air taxi service, starting in New York City.

Uber's partnership with Joby is more involved, with Joby acquiring Uber Elevate, Uber's urban air mobility unit, in 2020. As part of that deal, the companies agreed to integrate their respective services into each other's apps, enabling a more seamless connection between ground and air travel. Joby's air taxi software, ElevateOS, promises to enable on-demand mobility similar to hailing an Uber ride.

Last October, the three companies held an event in New York City, where they spoke about a vision of connected mobility, stopping just shy of announcing a full-blown, three-way partnership. While spokespeople for Uber, Joby, and Delta declined to share any advancements in what appears to be an obvious alliance, the partnership between Uber and Delta is a significant step towards realizing this vision.

Joby, backed by both Uber and Delta, still needs to obtain the necessary certifications to operate an electric air taxi service, but is aiming to launch in 2025. As the company moves closer to achieving this goal, the partnership between Uber and Delta could play a crucial role in shaping the future of electric air taxi services.

In conclusion, the partnership between Uber and Delta marks a significant shift in the transportation technology landscape, with potential implications for the future of electric air taxi services. As the companies continue to work towards their vision of connected mobility, it will be interesting to see how this partnership evolves and what it means for customers.