Delta Air Lines is a major U.S.-based global airline that provides scheduled passenger and cargo air transportation, aircraft maintenance and repair services, and related travel products. Its operations include mainline domestic and international passenger services, a branded regional network operating under the Delta Connection name, dedicated air cargo carriage, and in-house maintenance, repair and overhaul through Delta TechOps. Delta offers a range of cabin products for different customer segments, including premium business-class service on long-haul routes and tiered economy offerings on domestic and international flights, and it markets customer loyalty benefits through the SkyMiles frequent-flyer program.
The carrier operates a mixed fleet of narrow- and wide-body aircraft from multiple U.S. hubs, serving a global route network that links cities across the Americas, Europe, Asia and other international markets. Delta is a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance and participates in commercial joint ventures and partnerships that coordinate transatlantic and transpacific services with other major carriers to expand connectivity, scheduling and frequent-flyer reciprocity for customers.
Delta traces its roots to a crop-dusting company founded in 1924 that began passenger service as Delta Air Service in 1929. In the 21st century the airline underwent significant restructuring, including a Chapter 11 reorganization in 2005 and a large-scale consolidation with Northwest Airlines that was completed in 2010, creating one of the world’s largest airlines by network size. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and is led by chief executive officer Edward H. (Ed) Bastian, who has served as CEO since 2016.