People & Culture
Delta First Officer Amanda Vogt’s family history is deeply rooted in farming, crop dusting and aviation, so it's only fitting that the Seattle-based A220 pilot joined Delta in August 2023, nearly 100 years after the airline’s own humble start as a crop-dusting operation.
In February 2022, two strangers checked into the Salt Lake City Delta Sky Club. What happened next? The ultimate Delta meet cute.
An Atlanta-based mother and daughter duo with nearly 30 years of combined experience at Delta started their own version of a holiday tradition, finding ways to spend holidays together while working.
Customers passing through San Juan airport may notice some young Delta helpers as they wait to board their next flight as part of a special initiative to inspire excitement about aviation.
As a Delta A350 captain, Barry Behnfeldt is no stranger to flying. However, setting a Guinness World record for flying to 48 states in 48 hours is uncharted territory for the seasoned pilot. Follow along his race against time with help from fellow Delta people along the way.
After leaving Detroit for her honeymoon cruise, newlywed Lawryn Fellwock came to a horrible realization: She’d left her passport at home – necessary for her to board the ship. Luckily, Delta people came to the rescue with a plan to whisk the document to Lawryn in time for her voyage.
Delta has partnered with Operation HOPE and Fidelity Investments to help employees earn $1,000 in rainy day funds.
The Journal reported that Delta’s network completion factor ranked first among the nine U.S. carriers evaluated, and Delta Connection (No. 2 among regional competitors) contributed strongly to the airline’s performance throughout the year, with a 100% completion factor for 116 straight days.
For Delta Air Lines customer Jeff Harper, one note made all the difference during one of the most challenging flights he’s ever faced.
A 20-year veteran of Delta, Joanne Smith is responsible for supporting the airline's unique culture of positive engagement with its more than 80,000 employees. She oversees talent management and development, recruitment, HR service delivery, diversity and inclusion, HR policies and programs.
Underpinning Delta’s 95-year history is a culture of service – for our people and our customers – and a spirit of never-ending improvement. It’s ingrained in our DNA. “Keep Climbing” isn’t just a slogan – it’s a call to action.
As leaders, we commit ourselves to high standards when it comes to caring for our people. Humble gratitude is something I carry with me each day in my work as Chief People Officer, just one facet of my dedication to Delta’s core value of servant-leadership.
When we’re recognized by an institution like Forbes as one of the World’s Best Employers for 2022, it’s a meaningful affirmation of the ways we listen – and act – when our people share with us their unique needs and goals. It is also a reminder that our work acting upon the feedback from our employees is an ongoing journey.
Delta ranked No. 6 on Forbes’ list, which was based on independent surveys of roughly 150,000 employees in more than 55 countries around the world. Participants were asked to rate employers according to various topics such as image, trust, gender equality, corporate social responsibility, culture, and benefits. Over 1 million data points were analyzed.
Our people-focused culture includes a profit-sharing model that is fundamental to our business. When the company does well, a portion of those profits are shared with employees each Feb. 14 on Employee Appreciation Day -- Valentine’s Day. We expect 2022 to mark a return to meaningful profitability, and we’re excited for next year’s employee appreciation events.
But profit-sharing is only part of our story. What I believe makes life at Delta so special is our culture of caring for one another. Our people are actively involved in helping each other, and Delta, to continuously improve. For example, about one-quarter of our employees belong to one of our many business resource groups.
As leaders, it's our job to care for our people and help them be their best – from hire to retirement. Active listening and two-way dialogue are key. At Delta, we focus on forging personal connections between leaders and employees. We do this through regular one-on-ones, station visits and town halls. We use robust listening tools like our employee engagement and wellbeing surveys to gather feedback. And when we listen and act on that feedback in meaningful, tangible ways, we deepen and strengthen those connections.
For 2023, employee feedback is fueling our largest-ever investments in the total wellbeing of our people.
We’ve heard about the challenges of saving for a rainy day amid the rising costs of everyday living, driven by the global pandemic from which we are emerging. And we know that financial wellbeing plays a major role in our overall health and wellbeing. That’s why we’re giving every employee an opportunity to earn $1,000 when they contribute to an emergency savings account and complete a financial education/coaching program.
Delta hired roughly 20,000 new employees in the last year, representing nearly a quarter of our 80,000-strong workforce. We know that everyone comes to us in a different season of their lives, none more important than another, whether they’re expanding their families, preparing to send children to college or caring for aging loved ones – sometimes all the above. New family building, parental leave and caregiving benefits ensure they can bring their whole selves to work without worrying about the ones they care for most.
These benefits are wide-ranging, covering everything from fertility support and surrogacy and adoption assistance to expanded leave options for new parents. In addition to extended paid leave, all new parents can also take up to a year-long leave of absence to bond with newborn or newly adopted children.
Meanwhile, Delta people will not see any increases to medical premiums for the 2023 plan year for a fifth straight year.
Our people are our most worthy investment. We believe in a virtuous circle: When we take the best care of our people, our people will take the best care of our customers -- who will then continue to make Delta their airline of choice.
The Ojeda family has flown more than 600 flights with Delta Air Lines as they travel from their home in California to Florida. Eleven-year-old Billy is participating in medical clinical trials with his parents and sisters by his side. On every trip, the family says they’ve experienced “best-in-class” service and kindness.
Delta agents in Tallahassee, Florida, worked hard to send a couple to South Korea to bring home their adopted son – and make sure a warm welcome awaited him in the U.S.