ATLANTA, Oct. 15, 2007 – This month, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) continues its efforts to raise awareness and funds in support of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding innovative clinical and genetic research to find ways to prevent and cure breast cancer. 

Through the fund-raising efforts of Delta’s Force for Global Good, the airline’s program that unites its employees and customers in philanthropic and social responsibility efforts throughout the world, and The Delta Foundation, Delta’s charitable Delta's pink planeorganization which supports communities where Delta customers and employees live and work worldwide under the DFFGG umbrella, Delta is contributing to the funding of a dedicated research team including co-researchers, Dr. Ian Smith and Dr. Mitch Dowsett of The Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research in London, England.  The aim of Drs. Smith and Dowsett's work is to identify more accurately which patients are most likely to benefit from (or be resistant to) a group of hormone-blocking agents known as aromatase inhibitors, which have been used as a hormone treatment of choice for postmenopausal women with early stage breast cancer.

In addition, throughout this month, Delta is selling its signature pink product, pink lemonade, to customers on-board all Delta flights worldwide for $2 each glass. Delta flight attendants and airport customer service agents are also purchasing and donning pink ties, scarves, decorative pocket squares and T-shirts this month to raise awareness for the cause. Net proceeds from these pink lemonade and product purchases will benefit BCRF.  Delta employees also have the option to wear jeans, along with the specially-designed Delta and BCRF signature T-shirt for a $5 donation each weekend during October with all proceeds benefiting BCRF. 

During the first two weeks of October Delta employees and customers have already contributed thousands of dollars to the cause. 

“This year marks the third year Delta and its nearly 50,000 employees worldwide continue support of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, an organization that works tirelessly toward their mission of achieving prevention and finding a cure for breast cancer,” said Tim Mapes, Delta’s vice president of Marketing and president of The Delta Foundation.  “This disease affects many of our customers and employees, as well as their families and friends, and we remain deeply committed to helping raise both awareness and funds toward the fight against breast cancer which will, one day, lead to a cure.”

Since 2005, when the Pink Plane first took flight, Delta has raised more than $450,000 for BCRF through donations from customers, employees and The Delta Foundation.  Delta's pink and white Boeing 757 flies throughout the year to continue to create awareness for the cause.  The aircraft features BCRF's trademarked pink ribbon logo on the tail of the aircraft and adjacent to the boarding door. 

In addition, this year BCRF is an official partner under Delta’s Force for Global Good, which  leverages Delta’s worldwide network of employees who volunteer and assets of The Delta Foundation.  BCRF is the third partner in Delta’s Force for Global Good.  Delta launched the program in December 2006 with its first partner, Habitat for Humanity International.  The airline announced its second partner, The Conservation Fund, a leading environmental nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting land and water resources, in April 2007.  In June 2007, Delta became the first U.S. airline to offers its customers the opportunity to help offset carbon emissions associated with air travel through this partnership with The Fund.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® was founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder as an independent, not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to funding innovative clinical and genetic research.  The Foundation supports scientists at top universities and academic medical centers worldwide conducting the most advanced and promising breast cancer research that will lead to prevention and a cure in our lifetime.  A minimum of 85 cents of each dollar donated to the Foundation goes directly to breast cancer research and awareness programs.  In October 2007, $32 million will be awarded to 151 scientists across the United States and in Canada, Latin America, the Middle East, and throughout Europe. Money magazine named BCRF one of America’s eight top charities.  And for the sixth consecutive year, BCRF received Charity Navigator’s highest rating, four stars, thus outperforming over 99% of the evaluated charities. The BCRF is the only breast cancer organization in the U.S. to receive this accolade. For more information, visit www.bcrfcure.org or call 1.866.FIND.A.CURE.

Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 310 destinations in 54 countries. Since 2005, Delta has added more international capacity than all other major U.S. airlines combined and is the leader across the Atlantic with flights to 36 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers more than 400 weekly flights to 53 destinations. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on nearly 15,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 475 worldwide destinations in 104 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.

Photos available at http://news.delta.com > Photos

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