Planes mimicking migrating geese to save energy. Aviation fuel made of cooking oil or downed timber waste. Aircraft wings that can change shape during flight to maximize efficiency. These are some of the ideas Delta Air Lines thinks could help it reach its 2050 net zero emissions goal, outlined during the Atlanta company's appearance at the CES tech show in Las Vegas this week, also billed as the start to its 100th year celebration. "For us, it's just become part of the business. Every business decision that we're making at this point is taking sustainability into consideration," Chief Sustainability Officer Amelia DeLuca said in an interview.

That's in large part because its biggest driver of emissions, jet fuel, is also one of its biggest costs. But the changes are also key as the company plots future global growth, as outlined by CEO Ed Bastian this week. "I firmly believe our next century of flight will be about connecting the world," he said Tuesday. In a later interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bastian said he believes the company's international business will ultimately become 50% of revenue, up from one-third today. Those international flights demand bigger planes, longer routes and more energy, DeLuca pointed out, making energy efficiency advancements all the more important.

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