Delta Air Lines is a major American airline founded in 1924. It began operating in 1929 as part of the aviation boom in the United Stated in the 1920s. In 2009, Delta's main hub is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Including Northwest Airlines, which merged with Delta in 2008, Delta is the world's largest commercial airline.
Delta Air Lines bears several distinctions. It is the only American airline to offer service to all six inhabited continents. Additionally, Delta is the only major American airline with regular service to destinations in Africa. In all, Delta flies to 3,675 destinations in 2009. The airline operates a fleet of over 1,000 aircraft.
Delta carries more passengers across the Atlantic Ocean than any other airline. Its Atlanta hub, where many of the transatlantic flights originate, is the busiest airline hub in the world. Due to its size, Delta also operates smaller hubs in New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport, Salt Lake City and Cincinnati.
Delta was founded by a group of businessmen in 1924 as a crop-dusting company. The name "Delta" was first used in 1928 in reference to the Mississippi River delta region where the airline operated.
In 1941 Delta took up permanent headquarters in Atlanta. The airline soon became a major competitor to rival American Airlines in cities like Miami and Chicago. Delta acquired Chicago and Southern Airlines in 1953, thus enlarging its fleet and beginning a history of growth.
Delta was a major player in the so-called "widebody era," purchasing a fleet of Boeing 747s in 1970. However, the planes proved too large for Delta's needs and were sold off shortly after being introduced. Delta eventually purchased new Lockheed TriStars as replacements in 1973. These planes were instrumental in Delta's growth as a major transatlantic carrier.
In 1972, Delta bought Northeast Airlines. The move allowed Delta to expand to the northeast United States where its presence had been limited. This acquisition also brought the Boeing 727 to Delta, where it would remain in service for many years.
Delta's growth continued with the 1975 introduction of Delta Air Express shipping service. In 1981, Delta was among the first airlines to offer a frequent-flyer program. A 1987 merger brought Western Airlines under the Delta heading, establishing a presence on America's West Coast.
Financial troubles, which included rising prices for jet fuel in the 1990s and early-2000s, led Delta to cut jobs and reduce its flight offerings in an effort to save money. Pilot salaries were also reduced and passenger fares rose. In 2005, Delta sold off its Atlantic Southeast branch. Despite these efforts, Delta Air Lines filed for federal bankruptcy protection in the fall of 2005.
Under bankruptcy, Delta reorganized its labor practices and restructured its services. Major hubs, especially Atlanta, would receive more traffic and smaller hubs would receive less. Delta's stated goal was to return to profitability by 2007. By 2006, Delta began hiring back pilots and flight crew that had previously been cut.
Late in 2006, US Airways proposed a takeover of Delta, but reluctance on the part of Delta's main creditors and lackluster support from employees forced a cancellation of takeover proceedings. Delta emerged from bankruptcy in 2007 on schedule. Delta continued an aggressive policy of continued expansion.
Delta's continued expansion led to a merger with Northwest Airlines in 2008. The new airline, known as Delta and worth over $17 billion, became the largest commercial carrier in the world. The US Department of Justice reviewed the merger to ensure that it did not violate antitrust laws. Ultimately the deal was approved, since Delta and Northwest served different regions, thus not taking away options from customers in most locations. Throughout 2008, the merger cleared additional hurdles including approval of Northwest stockholders and European regulatory bodies. Final approval came in October 2008 with a long-term plan of incorporating Northwest aircraft and facilities into Delta throughout 2009 and 2010.
