Delta Airlines, Inc Essay Example

2010. The company has earned numerous prestigious awards recently, including Air Transport World magazine's Airline of the Year for 2014 and recognition as one of Fortune magazine's 50 Most Admired Companies. Delta has also been named the most respected airline three times out of four. Despite past scrutiny, Delta remains a highly esteemed corporation that consistently generates significant profits. A clear strategic vision guides the growth and operations of the business.

Delta Airlines has plans for the future as their financial situation has improved. NASDAQ reported that Delta has been wise with their capital spending. Their programs will continue to improve, as generally included in a document or statement shared by all company managers, aligning with the company's vision and mission.

Delta Airlines was founded in 1924 by C.E. Woolman as a solution to the boll weevil crisis, providing aerial spraying and dusting services for crops (Lewis ; Newton, 23). Today, the company is focused on reducing costs while maintaining customer loyalty programs (such as SkyMiles), and balancing the retirement of old planes with the acquisition of new ones for a positive future outlook.

Being a first-mover, this facility initiated an innovative service, which led to the demand for airmail. In 1929, Woolman realized the significance of passenger routes and travel, resulting in the commencement of the initial flights from Dallas, Texas to Jackson, Mississippi (Lewis; Newton, 41). Unfortunately, due to the Great Depression, several travels were put on hold in 1930.

To the surprise of many, the airlines managed to survive thanks to their enduring characteristics and traditions, which were greatly influenced by Woolman's evolving managerial style (Lewis; Newton, 30). These same characteristics that helped them weather

the Great Depression have continued to keep them afloat to this day. In 1945, Delta Airlines Inc. was established.

Delta's growth has been primarily fueled by merger activity, both historically and presently. The airline's first merger was with Chicago and Southern in 1952 (Century of Flight: Delta Airlines, n.d.).

Delta has been a pioneer in the airline industry, with numerous firsts including the first flight of living plants in 1940, the first use of jets and coach/economy service in 1959, and the first transatlantic passenger flight in 1978. They were also the first to use international coding in 1993 and started their frequent flyer program in 1981, which became Sky miles in 1995. Delta experienced some financial losses in the late 80’s but regained profitability in 1994. In 2000, Delta formed the SkyTeam alliance with AeroMexico, Air France, and Korean Air. Additionally, there was a partial merger of Northwest in 1972 that was completed in full integration by 2010 (Press Kit, 2011).

After the financial loss caused by the closure of air space following 9/11, Delta found another opportunity to become a first mover with the advancement of technology. Delta introduced kiosks for check-in, improved gate information systems, and offered virtual check-in online in 2002. However, the corporation filed for bankruptcy in September 2005 and had to recover through expansion. This led to pay cuts and loss of benefits for employees, which were addressed in 2008 when Delta offered 15% of stock to them.