Delta Air Lines said its flight attendants will sell meals to passengers and get information about customers’ frequent flier status on handheld “phablet” devices starting in October.

The Nokia Lumia 1520 with a six-inch screen — a cross between a phone and a tablet — will also include the on-board manual required to be carried by Delta’s more than 20,000 flight attendants. The airline said that will save more than $1 million annually in printing costs and fuel from carrying the five-pound manuals with more than 500 pages.

The phablets will replace smaller Nokia Lumia 820 devices that Delta flight attendants use. The airline also last year announced its pilots would get Surface 2 tablets to replace paper navigational charts and manuals.

Delta chief executive Richard Anderson said the company is making a “huge investment in technology,” and one aim is to get better information into the hands of employees.

“Ultimately you want every employee at Delta to operate with a handheld device,” Anderson said during remarks at the Rutberg Global Summit in Atlanta last month.

About the Author

Keep Reading

CBS News Atlanta debuted its first newscast at WUPA-TV on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, featuring Jobina Fortson-Evans as the station's first anchor. (CBS News Atlanta)

Credit: CBS ATLANTA SCREENGRAB

Featured

In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com