Delta Air Lines History: From Crop Dusting to Today – Airline Employee Shop

Delta Air Lines History

Delta Air Lines began as a crop dusting company in the cotton fields of the South and grew into a global airline based in Atlanta. Here's a short history of Delta, plus the Delta Air Lines collection that celebrates it.

From crop dusters to passengers (1925-1940)

Delta's predecessor, Huff Daland Dusters, was founded in Macon, Georgia, in 1925 and moved to Monroe, Louisiana, a few months later. Delta calls it the first commercial agricultural flying company. In 1928 C. E. Woolman led a group that bought the business, and Delta Air Service was incorporated on December 3, 1928. In 1929 Delta flew its first passengers from Dallas to Jackson, Mississippi, with stops in Shreveport and Monroe.

Atlanta and growth (1941-1958)

In 1941 Delta moved its headquarters from Monroe to Atlanta. In 1953 it merged with Chicago and Southern Air Lines, which brought Delta its first international routes to the Caribbean and Caracas. Delta says it pioneered the hub-and-spoke system in 1955.

Jets and mergers (1959-1991)

In 1959 Delta became the first airline to fly the Douglas DC-8, and it introduced its red, white and blue triangle "widget" logo, shaped like a jet's swept wings. Northeast Airlines joined Delta in 1972. In August 1979 Delta became the first airline to board one million passengers in one city in one month, at Atlanta. In 1987 Delta merged with Western Airlines. In 1991 it bought nearly all of Pan Am's transatlantic routes and the Pan Am Shuttle.

A worldwide airline (2000-today)

In 2000 Delta joined Aeromexico, Air France and Korean Air to form the SkyTeam alliance. In 2008 Delta acquired Northwest Airlines. That same year it was the first US airline to announce Wi-Fi for its whole domestic mainline fleet.

A few things collectors love

  • In 1982 Delta employees raised $30 million through payroll deductions to buy the airline's first Boeing 767, named "The Spirit of Delta."
  • The widget logo dates to 1959. A modern version arrived in 2000, and Delta returned to the traditional widget in 2004.
  • The Spirit of Delta was repainted in an Olympic color scheme in 1995.

Shop Delta Air Lines

Browse Delta Air Lines logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the Delta Air Lines collection. Add an airline bag tag or key tag for the frequent flyer in your life.

AirlineEmployeeShop.com is an independent retailer of airline memorabilia. This page is for historical interest and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Delta Air Lines.