Delta Air Lines, founded in 1924, operates over 5,400 daily flights to 325 destinations worldwide. It is a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance and has 90,000 employees. With nine hubs, Atlanta is its largest.
Delta Air Service, later known as Delta Air Lines, was founded as a crop-dusting operation in 1924. It eventually grew into a global airline serving over 275 destinations on six continents.
On March 2, 1925, Delta Air Lines was founded as Huff Daland Dusters, marking the world's first aerial crop-dusting company.
Western Air Express was incorporated on July 13, 1925. It later became a part of the history of Delta Air Lines through mergers and acquisitions.
In 1927, Huff Daland extended its dusting services to Peru, marking an expansion of its operations.
C.E. Woolman leads the movement to buy Huff Daland Dusters and renames it Delta Air Service for the Mississippi Delta region it served. The new airline is incorporated on Dec. 3, 1928.
On June 17, 1929, Delta Air Service departed from Dallas, Texas, and made scheduled stops at Shreveport and Monroe, Louisiana, before landing at Jackson, Mississippi. This 427-mile flight took 5 hours and included a half-hour stop for lunch in Monroe. Delta pioneered this route, becoming the first airline to offer air service between Dallas and Jackson.
Delta's first westbound flight took place on June 18, 1929, departing from Jackson, Miss., and making scheduled stops at Monroe and Shreveport, La., on its way to Dallas. The flight marked the proposed extension of air service from Birmingham, Ala., and Atlanta.
W.C. Walsh, a factory representative for Dodge Brothers motor cars, became Delta's first paying passenger on a flight from Monroe to Jackson with the returning Jackson group.
On August 26, 1929, Delta extended its original route east from Jackson to Meridian, Miss., and Birmingham, Ala. A 10-minute stop between those cities at Tuscaloosa, Ala. was announced on September 3, 1929.
On October 19, 1929, Delta's first charter flight took place, carrying ten Monroe football fans and supporters of Louisiana State University to and from Jackson, Miss. to watch a game. Each plane carried a pilot and five passengers, with the flight expected to take one hour and 15 minutes.
On January 20, 1930, Delta increased its service to two daily flights except Sundays between Dallas and Monroe, making air travel more affordable and convenient for its customers. Fares were reduced by almost fifty percent, and Delta adjusted its schedule to connect with north-south rail service and overnight Pullman service.
In April 1930, Delta began its service to Tyler, Texas, expanding its network. This move contributed to the airline's growth and accessibility to more regions.
On April 9, 1930, the western terminus of Delta's route extended from Dallas to Fort Worth, marking a significant expansion of the airline's network. This expansion allowed Delta to offer daily service over its entire route and coordinate flights with other airlines, enhancing connectivity for passengers.
Delta Air Lines started its service in Atlanta on June 12, 1930, and regular service commenced on June 18. It initially targeted businessmen as its primary customers.
Delta secretly launched a new service from Dallas to Jackson, and publicly announced it on June 16, 1930. The airline moved quickly to launch the service first to maintain a competitive advantage.
The inaugural return flight from Jackson to Dallas took place the day after the public announcement. Jackson officials were picked up on the last stop for the return flight to Dallas.
Regular service of Delta Air Lines in Atlanta started on June 18, 1930, after a few days of trial runs. The airline primarily catered to businessmen as its main customer base.
Delta Air Corporation was incorporated on December 31, 1930, and later adopted the name Delta Air Lines, Inc. It initially engaged in agricultural dusting operations and later progressed to transporting passengers and cargo throughout the United States and overseas.
Delta Air Lines merged with Chicago & Southern Air Lines in 1953, expanding its route network and fleet.
On July 4, 1934, Delta Air Corporation started its first mail service using tri-motor Stinson Model T planes. This marked the beginning of Delta Air Lines' mail service, and passenger service resumed on August 5 with the name 'Delta Air Lines' painted on the sides of planes.
Delta offers its first night service with the Stinson Model A, which was the first Delta aircraft with two pilots.
In March 1940, DC-2s started flying with a new crew member, the flight attendants, marking a significant milestone in the history of commercial aviation.
On March 1, 1941, Delta Air Lines moved its headquarters from Monroe, La., to Atlanta.
Delta contributes to the war effort by modifying over 1,000 aircraft, overhauling engines and instruments, and training Army pilots and mechanics.
In 1945, Delta Air Lines, Inc. was recognized by the National Safety Council for achieving more than 300 million passenger miles and 10 years of flight without a passenger or crew fatality. Woolman served as President and General Manager during this time. Additionally, Delta became the first airline to fly living vegetable plants, specifically 160,000 tomato plants.
C.E. Woolman was a key leader who played a significant role in the development and success of Delta Air Lines.
In 1947, Delta's fleet totaled 644 available seats, and the company received the National Safety Award for achieving more than one-half billion passenger miles without a fatality.
In 1949, Delta Air Lines introduced its first coach service, offering discounted-fare night flights between Chicago and Miami.
In 1953, Delta Air Lines merged with Chicago and Southern Air Lines, which brought Delta its first international routes to the Caribbean and Caracas. The airline operated under the name Delta-C&S for the next two years.
In 1955, Delta Air Lines pioneered the use of the hub and spoke system, where scheduled airplanes brought passengers to a hub airport for connecting to other Delta flights. Additionally, Delta won the Atlanta to New York route during this time.
In 1956, Delta installed radar on all of its aircraft, which significantly improved the safety of flying.
On April 17, 1957, Delta Air Lines' stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
Delta added jet airliners to its fleet in the 1960s, with the Douglas DC-8 entering service in September 1959, signifying a significant advancement in the company's aircraft technology.
In 1960, Delta achieved another milestone by becoming the first airline to launch Convair 880 jet service. This further expanded Delta's jet service offerings, providing passengers with faster and more efficient travel options.
In 1961, Delta made history by flying the first nonstop service from Atlanta to Los Angeles. This achievement marked a significant advancement in air travel, reducing travel time and providing passengers with more convenient flight options.
On March 8, 1962, the Delta DC-8 became the first commercial plane to fly from Los Angeles to Atlanta in less than 3 hours, with a record time of 02:57:11.
In 1964, Delta introduced the Deltamatic reservation system, utilizing IBM 7074 computers. This marked a significant technological advancement in airline reservation systems, improving efficiency and accuracy in managing flight bookings.
In 1965, Delta became the first airline to launch Douglas DC-9 service, further expanding its fleet and enhancing its flight offerings. This introduction of the DC-9 aircraft represented a significant advancement in Delta's operational capabilities.
In 1966, Delta celebrated its 50th anniversary and introduced trans-Pacific service, marking a significant milestone in the airline's history. This expansion into trans-Pacific routes enhanced Delta's global presence.
In June 1967, Delta merged with Delaware Airlines and officially adopted the name Delta Air Lines, marking a significant milestone in its corporate history.
In 1970, Delta commenced its Boeing 747 service, introducing a new era in long-haul air travel for the airline.
In 1971, W.T. Beebe assumed the role of Chairman and CEO of Delta, bringing new leadership to the airline. Additionally, Delta Dash, a cargo service for small packages, was initiated.
On August 1, 1972, Northeast Airlines merged with Delta, making Delta a major carrier in New York and Boston.
In 1975, Delta became the first airline to offer its own air express service, introducing a high priority, guaranteed cargo service known as Delta Air Express.
Comair began services in March 1977 and was headquartered at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Delta commenced its trans-Atlantic service in 1978 with the first nonstop flights from Atlanta to London, marking a significant expansion in its international operations.
In 1979, Delta celebrated its 50th year of service and expanded its global reach by commencing flights to Frankfurt, West Germany. Additionally, Delta achieved a significant milestone by being the first airline to board 1 million passengers in one city in one month.
On August 3, 1981, the Atlanta City Council approved the annexation of 141 acres of land, including the Delta headquarters. This led to a legal dispute between Delta and the city over the constitutionality of the annexation.
In 1982, following financial losses, Delta's employees raised $30 million in payroll deductions to purchase the first Boeing 767, named 'The Spirit of Delta,' showcasing their dedication and commitment to the airline.
Delta strengthens ties to regional airline partners through its Delta Connection program, expanding its network and services.
On April 1, 1987, Delta Air Lines merged with Western Airlines, becoming the fourth largest U.S. carrier and fifth largest in the world.
In 1990, Delta became the first airline in the United States to fly McDonnell Douglas MD-11 jets, showcasing its commitment to technological advancement in aviation.
On November 1, 1991, Delta Air Lines purchased substantially all of Pan Am's trans-Atlantic routes and the Pan Am Shuttle.
In 1995, Delta made history by becoming the first U.S. carrier to voluntarily ban smoking on all flights, setting a new standard for air travel and passenger health.
Delta Express began service in October 1996 in an attempt by Delta to compete with low cost airlines on leisure-oriented routes.
In 1997, Delta Airlines became the first airline to board more than 100 million passengers in a single year, marking a significant milestone in the airline industry.
Delta became the first airline to equip all its aircraft with automatic defibrillators in 1998, enhancing onboard medical emergency response capabilities.
Comair was acquired by Delta in October 1999.
In 2000, Delta partnered with AeroMéxico, Air France, and Korean Air to form SkyTeam, a global alliance, which later became the second largest airline alliance in the world.
The last Lockheed L-1011 (N728DA) was retired on 31 July 2001, concluding the era of the workhorse of Delta's international network, which was replaced with the Boeing 767–400.
On November 27, 2001, Delta Air Lines launched the SkyBonus program, targeting small-to-medium businesses spending between $5,000 and $500,000 annually on air travel, offering points toward free travel, upgrades, and memberships.
Delta sponsored the 2002 Olympic Winter Games held at its Salt Lake City hub. The company also introduced technological advances such as kiosks at check-in, expanded gate information systems, and virtual check-in on delta.com to enhance customer convenience.
On February 6, 2003, Delta Air Lines announced pay cuts for top executives.
Song began service on 15 April 2003 as a single-class airline operated by Delta to compete directly with JetBlue Airways from both airlines' hub at New York–JFK.
On April 30, 2003, Delta Air Lines proposed a 22 percent pay cut for pilots and the canceling of pilot pay raises due over the next year.
Delta operated its last MD-11 flight on 1 January 2004, concluding the relatively short service of MD-11 aircraft in the fleet, which were replaced with Boeing 777-200ERs.
On May 10, 2004, Delta Air Lines warned in a regulatory filing that it may file for bankruptcy if it doesn't get deep concessions from pilots.
On September 8, 2004, Delta Air Lines announced it would cut up to 7,000 more jobs over an 18-month period and shed its Dallas-Fort Worth hub.
On October 27, 2004, Delta Air Lines and its pilots reached a tentative agreement on pay cuts and other concessions that would save the airline $1 billion a year.
On January 20, 2005, Delta Air Lines blamed persistently high fuel prices for a $2.2 billion fourth-quarter loss.
On July 26, 2005, Delta Air Lines' CEO stated that the current transformation plan, which included cutting annual costs by $5 billion by the end of 2006, was not enough to save the struggling carrier.
On 15 August 2005, Delta finalized a deal to sell Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) for $425 million in cash to SkyWest Airlines in an effort to obtain money to avoid bankruptcy.
Delta sought protection from its creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on 14 September 2005, with liabilities including some $28.27 billion of total debt.
On 24 February 2006, Delta, along with Continental Airlines and FedEx Express, faced severe disruption to their operations to Venezuela due to President Hugo Chávez's restrictions on flights from the United States.
On April 14, 2006, Delta Air Lines' pilots reached a tentative agreement with management on a second round of pay and benefit cuts, averting a threatened strike by the pilots.
On April 30, 2006, Song, a subsidiary of Delta, operates its last flight, marking the end of an era for this airline brand.
On 1 May 2006, Song was folded into the Delta mainline brand.
On September 2, 2006, Delta Air Lines terminated the defined benefit pension plan for its pilots.
On 9 November 2006, Delta recalled 1,000 flight attendants who were previously laid off and began accepting pilot applications for the first time in 5 years, indicating a positive shift in its workforce management.
US Airways Group proposed a takeover of Delta for $8 billion in cash and stock, which was met with skepticism from Delta employees and management.
Delta rejected US Airways Group's proposed merger and launched a media campaign against it, citing reasons such as worse customer service and possible layoffs.
US Airways raised its bid by 20% to $10.2 billion, but Delta responded by claiming that the revised proposal did not address significant concerns and would increase the debt burden of the combined company.
Delta's creditors rejected US Airways' hostile takeover attempt, and US Airways withdrew its offer to buy Delta.
Delta Air Lines' bankruptcy plan was approved by the bankruptcy court.
Delta defeats a hostile takeover attempt by US Airways and completes its restructuring plan ahead of schedule, emerging from bankruptcy on April 30 and relisting on the New York Stock Exchange on May 3. It also leads all network carriers in on-time performance for the year and announces a trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France.
Delta's new shares began trading normally on Thursday, 3 May 2007, after the 'when issued' basis. The starting price was around $20.00 a share.
Delta began a partnership with US Helicopter on 10 May 2007, providing service from John F. Kennedy International Airport to several helipads in downtown Manhattan.
On 12 July 2007, Delta and its SkyTeam partners forfeited slots in the European Union to relieve antitrust concerns.
On 21 August 2007, Delta named Richard Anderson, former CEO of Northwest Airlines and executive at UnitedHealth Group, as a replacement for outgoing CEO Gerald Grinstein. Anderson assumed the post on 1 September.
On 14 November 2007, Pardus Capital Management LP, a hedge fund that owns 7 million shares of Delta and 5.6 million shares of United, called for the two carriers to merge. This action sent shares of both airlines up, but the two airlines quickly denied official talks of any merger.
On 14 April 2008, Delta and Northwest Airlines announced their merger, creating the world's largest airline under the Delta name. The merger formed the largest commercial airline in the world, with 786 aircraft and an enterprise value of $17.7 billion. The agreement also included an extension of the collective bargaining agreement for Delta pilots.
On 7 August 2008, the merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest received regulatory approval from the European Union, marking a significant milestone in the merger process.
On 29 October 2008, the United States Department of Justice approved the merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest, further solidifying the merger's legal standing.
On 11 September 2009, Japan's NHK reported that Japan Airlines (JAL) was seriously considering allowing Delta to become a majority shareholder, aiming to expand Delta's Tokyo hub operations at Narita International Airport after the merger with Northwest.
Northwest WorldPerks was merged into Delta SkyMiles on 1 October 2009, as part of the integration process following the Delta and Northwest Airlines merger.
The operating certificates of Delta and Northwest Airlines were merged on 31 December 2009, as part of the integration process following the merger.
On 4 January 2010, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported that JAL and the Japanese government-backed Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation of Japan would likely choose to form a business and capital tie-up with Delta, and that JAL would enter the SkyTeam alliance as part of the deal.
Yomiuri reported, on 16 January 2010, that Delta had reached an agreement with JAL on a tie-up consisting mostly of code-sharing flight services. JAL and Delta intended to sign the agreement after JAL's bankruptcy protection proceedings began, and both airlines would apply for antitrust immunity with the United States Department of Transportation.
The reservations systems of Delta and Northwest Airlines were merged on 31 January 2010, officially retiring the Northwest brand as part of the integration process following the merger.
On 8 February 2010, Japan Airlines chose to remain partners with American Airlines and stay in Oneworld, ending talks with Delta.
In 2011, Delta became the first airline to offer mobile bag tracking through the Fly Delta app, providing passengers with enhanced convenience and peace of mind regarding their luggage.
Comair ceased operations on 29 September 2012, and was folded into Delta Connection operations.
Delta acquires a 49 percent stake in U.K. airline Virgin Atlantic, forming a partnership that enhances Delta's access to the important London and trans-Atlantic markets.
Joanne Smith took on the role of Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at Delta Air Lines on October 1, 2014, succeeding Mike Campbell.
In 2015, Delta Airlines acquired a 3.5% stake in China Eastern, expanding its presence and customer choice in Asia's largest market, marking a significant strategic move for the airline.
Ed Bastian assumed the position of chief executive officer of Delta Air Lines on May 2, 2016.
On July 20, 2016, the event 'A State of Innovation: Delta Air Lines' took place. It likely focused on the innovative initiatives and programs undertaken by Delta Air Lines, showcasing its impact on the aviation industry and possibly Georgia's business history.
The first delivery of the Airbus A350 fleet with Delta One Suites took place in July 2017, marking the initial rollout of the enhanced business class product.
In September 2017, Delta flight 431 from San Juan to New York's JFK became famous for fleeing Category 5 Hurricane Irma just before it made landfall on the island of Puerto Rico, showcasing the airline's commitment to passenger safety.
On December 21, 2018, Delta Air Lines divested majority ownership of DAL Global Services to Argenbright Holdings.
As of January 2019, Delta stopped offering single-day passes for its Sky Club lounges, and introduced new ways to access the lounges, including exclusive access for international passengers traveling in Delta One class and a more exclusive level of Sky Club lounge for high-spending travelers.
In July 2019, Delta began featuring Delta One Suites on its Airbus A330-900, further expanding the availability of this premium business class offering.
In September 2019, Delta announced a partnership with LATAM Airlines Group, acquiring a 20% share in LATAM for $1.9 billion and investing $350 million in the partnership to help LATAM unwind its ties with Oneworld, reshaping the competitive landscape in the Latin American aviation market.
On January 31, 2020, Delta Private Jets was merged with Wheels Up.
Due to the decrease in air travel demand caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, Delta Air Lines declared a 40 percent reduction in its flight capacity on March 13, 2020. Additionally, the company planned to defer deliveries, cut capital costs by $2 billion, and park up to 600 aircraft.
On June 2, 2020, all MD-88 and MD-90 aircraft were retired from service.
On July 23, 2021, WestJet's CEO Ed Sims announced that Delta Air Lines and WestJet were proceeding with a new and revised joint venture application.
In 2022, Delta Air Lines purchased 9.7 million metric tonnes of carbon offsets, demonstrating its commitment to environmental sustainability. This investment aimed to reduce the company's carbon footprint, although the company was in the process of moving away from such investments by focusing on reducing emissions from its operations.
In May 2023, Delta Air Lines faced a consumer class action lawsuit filed in Central California U.S. District Court over marketing claims that the company is the world's first carbon neutral airline. This legal challenge highlighted the scrutiny and legal implications associated with environmental claims made by companies.