THE F AMILY T REE A product of the Delta MEC Communications Committee

DELTA Air Lines post merger approval

2007 2008 In October 2008 Atlanta- 2008 based Delta Air Lines 2000 Delta acquires Northwest Airlines, acquired Northwest Airlines, creating a global airline with major making it the single-largest 2000 Delta launches SkyTeam, operations in every region of the world 2003 2000 acquires Northwest airline at that time. 2000

1997 Northwest is the fi rst major 1991 airline to deploy compact 1995 1990 Pan Am acquires Delta purchases self-service kiosks for the Transatlantic and convenience of customers using Pan Am and becomes shuttle routes 1990 a global carrier electronic ticketing. 1990

1987 1986 Northwest Airlines 1980 purchases Republic Airlines Development of computer 1987 1988 reservations systems (CRS) Delta Airlines Northwest bans smoking on in the early 1980s. acquires Western all North American fl ights, 1987 Delta launches Frequent Airlines the fi rst major U.S. airline 1985 1980 Flyer Program. to do so. 1980 1980 Republic Airlines merger North 1971 Central & Southern Airways, Northwest is honored for 1970 noise-abatement leadership 1970 1972 purchases Hughes Airwest Hughes Air West 1963 Delta has an all-jet Northeast Airlines purchased by by the National Organization passenger airplane fl eet. merges with Howard Hughes to Ensure a Sound-Controlled 1970 Boeing 747 service begins. Delta Air Lines Environment. 1970 1970

1962 1960 1961 1967 Northwest begins “fastest Delta enters the computer and Western Airlines U.S. jet service to Asia” with merges with Pacifi c Douglas DC-8 aircraft, the 1960 jet age. Flies fi rst nonstop service Northern Airlines 1960 from Atlanta to Los Angeles. airline’s fi rst “pure jet.” 1960 1963 1953 –1955 Delta Air Lines dba Delta – C&S 1958 1955 Pacifi c Air 1952 Lines name Northwest voluntarily 1953 West Coast becomes the fi rst airline to 1952 change Airlines 1955 1953 purchases operate without government Delta expands internationally, C&S Air LInes North Central Airlines name change Empire Airlines subsidy on transpacifi c and 1950 pioneers the hub-and-spoke system. Merges with Delta United States-Alaska routes. 1950 1958

1946 1941 Empire Airlines merger 1945 Zimmerly & Empire Delta offi cially Western Airlines 1944 becomes name change 1944 1948 Airline Feeder System Delta Air Lines Inc. absorbs susidiary Wisconsin The “Red Tail” acquired by Northeast Inland Air Lines 1952 Central Airlines 1949 is painted on all 1948 Southern 1946 Northwest aircraft 1940 1947 Airways West Coast for the fi rst time, Pacifi c Northern Airlines 1946 Airlines 1945 Douglas DC-2 Southwest Airways 1945 creating a trademark and DC-3 service 1936 1934 1935 name change 1947 Bonanza Air Lines that becomes introduced. Flight Mayfl ower Delta Air Lines Chicago and known worldwide 1933 Airlines restarts passenger Southern name 1944 and that continues attendants, called change 1945 Zimmerly Air Lines Boston Mainee acquired by service 1934 Pacifi c Northern Airlines 1944 in use almost 50 1945 “stewardesses,” Airways Northteast 19444 Empire Airlines 1940 added to fl ight crews. Western Air Express name change 1945 years later. 1940 1933 name change Central Vermont Pacifi c Seaboard Airways 1930 Airlines 1934 1932 Delta Air General Woodley Corporation Air Liness Airways 1938 name adopted name Zimmerly change Air Transport 19311931 193838 1934 Boston Maine 1922 Inland Air Lines Airways 1938 Pacifi c Marine Airways name change Northwest develops the fi rst purchased by Western Air 1930 Express 1928, sold 1932 practical aviation oxygen mask, Delta begins 1931 making possible high-altitude passenger service. Mid Continent fl ying over the Rocky Mountains. 1934 1930 Air Express 1930

1929 1929 1930 West Coast Air Standard Air 1930 1926 1924 Transport, sold 1931 Lines Wyoming Air Service Northwest Airways begins The Huff Daland Dusters crop-dusting service on October 1, 1926, 1928 1927 as an airmail carrier between operation, which formed the roots for Delta Air Service Colorado Airways Delta, founded in Macon, Ga. This was incorportaed Western acquires route the Twin Cities and Chicago. 1920 1928 1926 Passenger service was the fi rst commercial agricultural fl ying Northwest Airways company in existence. 1926 inaugurated in July 1927. 1920 Western Air Express incorporated 1926

24 THE WIDGET| A publication of the Delta MEC SPRING 2013 25