Endeavor Air is a regional airline that flies routes for Delta Air Lines

Endeavor Air is a regional carrier owned by Delta Air Lines. It operates short and medium-distance flights under the Delta Connection brand, meaning the planes carry Delta flight numbers even though Endeavor Air employs the pilots and crew. If you book a Delta flight on a smaller aircraft — especially to or from smaller cities — you are likely flying on an Endeavor Air plane.

Endeavor Air was created in 2012 when Delta merged its two regional subsidiaries. Today it operates hundreds of daily flights across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, using turboprop and regional jet aircraft. The airline is based in Atlanta, Georgia, where Delta's main hub is located.

Key Takeaways

  • Endeavor Air flights appear on your ticket as Delta Connection flights with Delta flight numbers, even though Endeavor Air operates the aircraft and employs the crew.
  • The airline uses smaller planes — typically 50 to 76 seats — to serve routes that larger aircraft would not fill profitably.
  • Baggage policies, frequent flyer benefits, and ticket rules follow Delta's standards, not separate Endeavor Air policies.
  • You cannot book directly with Endeavor Air; all reservations go through Delta's website, app, or ticket agents.

The difference between Endeavor Air and Delta Air Lines

Delta owns Endeavor Air outright, but they operate as separate companies. Delta handles reservations, customer service, and ticket sales. Endeavor Air handles the actual flight operations — hiring pilots and flight attendants, maintaining aircraft, and managing the day-to-day work of flying the plane.

From a passenger's perspective, this separation rarely matters. Your ticket says Delta, your frequent flyer miles go to Delta SkyMiles, and you check in through Delta's systems. If you have a question about your flight, you contact Delta, not Endeavor Air. The arrangement exists because regional carriers can operate smaller aircraft more cheaply than Delta's mainline fleet can, so Delta uses Endeavor Air to serve smaller markets and feed passengers into its major hubs.

What aircraft Endeavor Air operates

Endeavor Air flies two main types of aircraft: the Bombardier CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 regional jets, and the Bombardier Q400 turboprop. The regional jets carry 64 to 76 passengers and fly routes of 500 to 1,500 miles. The Q400 turboprop carries 76 passengers and typically flies shorter routes under 500 miles.

These smaller aircraft are the reason Endeavor Air exists. A Delta Boeing 737 or Airbus A220 carries 150 to 180 passengers, which makes sense for busy routes between major cities. But a flight from Atlanta to a smaller city like Chattanooga or Savannah might not fill a large plane. Endeavor Air's smaller aircraft can operate that route profitably with fewer passengers, and they can also land at smaller regional airports that do not have the infrastructure for larger jets.

How to book an Endeavor Air flight

You cannot book directly with Endeavor Air. All reservations go through Delta Air Lines. When you search for flights on Delta's website or app, the system shows you all available flights, including those operated by Endeavor Air. The flight number will start with "DL" (Delta's airline code), and the aircraft type will be listed — usually as "CRJ" for the regional jets or "Q4" for the turboprop.

If you have a preference to avoid smaller aircraft, you can filter search results by aircraft type on Delta's website. However, on many routes, Endeavor Air may be your only option, or the only option at a particular time. In that case, you either book the Endeavor Air flight or choose a different time or routing.

Baggage, seating, and amenities on Endeavor Air flights

Baggage allowances follow Delta's standard policy, not a separate Endeavor Air policy. You get one carry-on bag and one personal item for free on all Delta Connection flights, and checked baggage fees are the same as on Delta's larger aircraft. If you are a Delta frequent flyer or hold certain Delta credit cards, baggage benefits explore to Endeavor Air flights just as they do to mainline Delta flights.

Seating on Endeavor Air aircraft is tighter than on larger planes. The CRJ regional jets have a single aisle with seats in a 2-2 configuration (two seats on each side). The Q400 turboprop also has a single aisle. Overhead bin space is more limited than on larger aircraft, so checked baggage is more common on these flights. Seat width and pitch (the distance between rows) are narrower than on Delta's mainline fleet, which some passengers find uncomfortable on longer flights.

Amenities are minimal. Endeavor Air does not offer in-flight entertainment, meal service, or premium cabin seating on most flights. On longer regional routes, Delta may offer a beverage and snack, but this varies by flight length and time of day. If you are flying on a ticket that includes a meal (such as a first-class or premium economy ticket), the meal service may be limited or unavailable on Endeavor Air aircraft.

Frequent flyer miles and elite status on Endeavor Air

All miles earned on Endeavor Air flights go into your Delta SkyMiles account. The earning rate is the same as on Delta's mainline flights — you earn miles based on the distance flown or the fare paid, depending on your ticket type and elite status. If you are a Delta elite member, you earn elite may have access to miles (EQMs) on Endeavor Air flights, and these count toward maintaining or reaching elite status.

Endeavor Air flights also earn elite may have access to dollars (EQDs) if you hold a Delta credit card or pay for a premium cabin ticket. The rules are identical to those for Delta's larger aircraft. From a frequent flyer perspective, flying on Endeavor Air is no different from flying on a Delta 737 or A220.

What to expect if your flight is delayed or cancelled

Endeavor Air operates under Delta's policies for delays and cancellations. If your flight is delayed, you are may have access to to the same rebooking and compensation options as passengers on any Delta flight. If the delay is caused by weather or other circumstances outside the airline's control, you will not receive cash compensation, but Delta will rebook you on the next available flight at no charge.

If an Endeavor Air flight is cancelled, Delta will rebook you on another flight — which may be another Endeavor Air flight, a Delta mainline flight, or a flight on a partner airline, depending on availability. You can also choose to receive a refund of your ticket price if you no longer want to travel. Contact Delta customer service for rebooking; Endeavor Air does not handle passenger rebooking directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Endeavor Air a budget airline?

No. Endeavor Air is a regional carrier owned by Delta Air Lines, not a low-cost airline. You pay the same fares as you would for a Delta mainline flight on the same route, and you receive the same baggage policies and frequent flyer benefits. The smaller aircraft exist because the route does not have enough demand to fill a larger plane profitably.

Will I be charged extra for flying on an Endeavor Air aircraft?

No. Your ticket price is the same whether you fly on a Delta 737 or an Endeavor Air regional jet. The aircraft type does not affect the fare. However, if you want to avoid smaller aircraft, you may need to choose a different flight time or routing, which could have a different price.

Can I change my flight if I do not want to fly on Endeavor Air?

Yes, you can change your flight through Delta's website, app, or by calling Delta customer service. However, if all flights on your route are operated by Endeavor Air, or if the only alternative flights are at different times with higher fares, you may not have a better option. Change fees depend on your ticket type and the price difference between flights.

What happens if an Endeavor Air flight is overbooked?

Endeavor Air follows Delta's oversale policy. If the flight is overbooked, Delta will ask for volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for compensation and a rebooking on a later flight. If not enough passengers volunteer, Delta will involuntarily bump passengers according to its policy. Compensation for involuntary bumping is based on the length of the delay caused by the rebooking.

Do Endeavor Air pilots have the same training as Delta pilots?

Endeavor Air pilots are employed by Endeavor Air, not Delta, but they meet the same federal training and certification standards as all commercial airline pilots in the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets these standards, and all airlines must comply. Endeavor Air pilots undergo the same type rating training and recurrent training as pilots at any other airline.