Delta Air Lines has introduced the first contactless credit cards made of recycled aircraft aluminium for its passengers in the USA. The Boeing 747 cards have a composition of 25 per cent aeroplane metal and layers of polymers as a protection to the aluminium, along with saving the gateway antenna that ensures contactless payments.
The biggest paradox faced by the company was how could they dismantle the aircraft’s main body, the fuselage and mould it into an alloy to be given a credit card’s shape.
After a study and development process of one year, Delta was sure the aeroplane metal could supplement a credit card’s founding material in durability and texture so, a team of metal smiths began dismembering the aircraft. Soon, they transformed the aluminium exterior into a material that could be processed, cleaned and rolled into thin sheets intact with its non-ferrous composition.
Travellers can apply until August 3 for Delta’s limited edition SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business American Express cards comprised of 25 per cent metal from an abandoned Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet – Delta Ship #6307. These cards accompany a ‘welcome kit’ educating customers by unlocking an ‘augmented reality experience’ about the history of the aircraft and the card’s production.
Delta authorities claimed: “To begin with the transformation from ‘wings to wallet’, Delta teams reached out to the team at the boneyard in Arizona, where the 747 was moved after retirement.”
Delta Air Lines remains at an eminent position in the hearts of a majority of US customers since the company has catered for men and women of service, evacuating many of them from Florida during Hurricane Irma, saving a lot of precious lives.
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