ATLANTA – Delta Air Lines is celebrating its 70th anniversary in Atlanta.
“Delta Air Lines and Atlanta have a unique partnership that has been inextricably linked to the success and prosperity of our city and our airport for nearly three quarters of a century,” Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said in a news release. “The strong relationships among companies such as Delta, state and local elected officials and civic organizations are what make Atlanta not only a global, dynamic city, but a great place to live and do business.”
As part of the 70th anniversary celebration, Delta is christening a Boeing 777-200LR airplane as the “Spirit of Atlanta.”
“The success of Delta and the city of Atlanta have been intertwined for seven decades, and it’s hard to argue with the results,” Richard Anderson, Delta’s chief executive, said in a news release. “Atlanta has grown into a major international city while Delta built the world’s largest hub at the city’s airport. Central to this success has been the historic partnership between Delta, the city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia and our thousands of Atlanta-based employees and customers.”
Delta traces its history to 1924, and in 1941, the company relocated its corporate headquarters from Monroe, La., to Atlanta. Today, the company has 24,000 employees and brings in $24 billion to the local economy, according to the airline.
“As Georgians, we are all proud to be recognizing Delta’s 70th anniversary as our hometown airline,” U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., said in a news release. “Over the past seven decades, Delta has become an integral part of the community, bringing jobs, businesses and great opportunities to the state of Georgia by connecting us to cities across the country and the world.”