Delta: 100 Years and Climbing

Delta: 100 Years and Climbing commemorates Delta Air Lines’ extraordinary journey from a humble crop-dusting venture in 1925 to one of the world’s leading global carriers. Delta is the first U.S. carrier to turn one hundred years old, and this title highlights how the airline has taken to the skies, broken barriers, and proven what it takes to be the best.

Authored by New York–based journalist Mark Ellwood, the book explores the airline decade by decade—taking readers on a journey from Delta’s first passenger flight in 1929 and the debut of stewardesses in 1940, to the arrival of the beloved Bisco! cookie in 1986 and the introduction of premium amenities in the 2000s that redefined comfort the skies, like in-flight Wi-Fi and Delta One suites. The evolution of Delta’s fleet, route expansions, and branding milestones are interwoven with personal stories that define each era. Each chapter celebrates the moments and people that shaped Delta’s enduring legacy.