Cool recycling: credit card from airplane metal
When an aircraft is retired, the challenge is to make sure no piece of material goes to waste. For aircraft that end up in an aviation scrap yard, there is hope – Delta Air Lines and American Express have developed a cool way to recycle airplane metal, by turning it into credit cards!
By Delta Air Lines
SkyTeam member Delta and American Express have launched their first-ever credit card made from airplane metal. This summer, new customers could apply for a limited-edition, first-of-its-kind airplane metal card, with a design dedicated to the magic, history and innovation of the Boeing 747 aka ‘Queen of the Skies’. Following Delta’s 747’s retirement in 2017, Delta introduced the Airbus A350 into its fleet, which is one of the most advanced and fuel-efficient long-haul planes to date.
It took a year of research to find out if airplane metal could actually serve as a material for a credit card that stands up to daily wear and tear. When the green light had been given, a team of metal workers began disassembling a 747-aircraft at a ‘boneyard’ in Arizona. They then prepped the aluminum exterior so the material could be cleaned, processed and rolled into thin sheets to preserve its authenticity. The Boeing 747 Card is made with 25% airplane metal and has layers of polymer print to protect the aluminum as well as an antenna that enables contactless payments.
