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93-522: Delta Air Lines is a major airline in the United States headquartered in Atlanta , Georgia . It is the United States' oldest operating airline and the seventh-oldest operating worldwide . Delta, along with its regional subsidiaries and contractors operating under the brand name Delta Connection , operate over 5,400 flights daily and serve 325 destinations in 52 countries on six continents. Delta

186-576: A VIP configuration, one by Saudia Royal Flight for members of the Royal family, and one by Mid East Jet for ASACO Aviation; both are now stored. Lufthansa Cargo retired their last MD-11 on October 17, 2021. As of March 2024, the MD-11 has been involved in 49 aviation incidents , including ten hull-loss accidents with 244 fatalities. The MD-11 had problems with its flight control systems that have resulted in multiple accidents and incidents since

279-441: A neutral stability design and one of the first commercial designs to employ a computer-assisted pitch/longitudinal stability augmentation system (LSAS) that featured a fuel ballast tank in the tailplane, and a partly computer-driven horizontal stabilizer, to compensate for the comparatively short horizontal stabilizer. Updates to the software package made the airplane's handling characteristics in manual flight similar to those of

372-500: A range of up to 7,130 nautical miles [nmi] (13,200 km; 8,210 mi). It features a glass cockpit that eliminates the need for a flight engineer . The MD-11 failed to meet its range and fuel burn targets, which resulted in the aircraft selling poorly, with only 200 examples built, of which roughly a quarter were freight aircraft . After retirement from passenger service (last flight being by KLM in November 2014), many of

465-433: A DC-10-30 stretched by 30 feet (9.1 m). The latter version would have been capable of transporting up to 340 passengers in a multi-class configuration, or 277 passengers and their luggage over 5,300 nautical miles (9,800 km; 6,100 mi). At the same time, the manufacturer was seeking to reduce wing and engine drag on the trijet. Another version of the aircraft was also envisaged, the "DC-10 global", aimed to counter

558-694: A chef that would feature an open kitchen. The move represented a shift away from a standard offering to something closer to a unique experience for each airport and the city in which the lounge was located. On November 27, 2001, Delta Air Lines launched SkyBonus, a program aimed toward small-to-medium businesses spending between $ 5,000 and $ 500,000 annually on air travel. Businesses can earn points toward free travel and upgrades, as well as Sky Club memberships and SkyMiles Silver Medallion status. Points are earned on paid travel based on various fare amounts paid, booking codes, and place origin or destination. While enrolled businesses are able to earn points toward free travel,

651-591: A different buy-on-board program between 2003 and 2005. The previous program had items from differing providers, depending on the origin and destination of the flight. Prices ranged up to $ 10 ($ 16.13 when adjusted for inflation). The airline started the service on a few selected flights in July 2003, and the meal service was initially offered on 400 flights. Delta ended this buy-on-board program in 2005; instead, Delta began offering snacks at no extra charge on flights over 90 minutes to most U.S. domestic flights and some flights to

744-652: A downturn in the airline industry, all work on the Super 60 was stopped. In August 1981, a Continental Airlines DC-10-10 (registration number N68048) was leased to conduct more research, particularly on the effects the newly designed winglets would have on aircraft performance. Different types of winglets were tested during that time in conjunction with NASA at the McDonnell Douglas flight test facility in Yuma, Arizona and Edwards Air Force Base . McDonnell Douglas

837-489: A full payload. In 1990, McDonnell Douglas, along with Pratt & Whitney and General Electric began a modification program known as the Performance Improvement Program (PIP) to improve the aircraft's weight, fuel capacity, engine performance, and aerodynamics. McDonnell Douglas worked with NASA's Langley Research Center to study aerodynamic improvements. The PIP lasted until 1995 and recovered

930-597: A fuselage stretch of 40 feet (12 m) over the earlier DC-10 models, enabling it to carry 390 passengers in a mixed class or 550 passengers in an all-economy layout, similar to Boeing 's later 777-300 and Airbus A340-600 . Like the DC-8 , the series 62 was proposed for long-range routes. It would feature a more modest fuselage stretch of 26 ft 7 in (8.10 m), along with an increased wingspan and fuel capacity. It would be capable of carrying up to 350 passengers (mixed class) or 440 passengers (all-economy), similar to

1023-632: A lack of sales, resulting from internal competition from the Boeing 767 and 777 , as well as external competition from the Airbus A330 / A340 . McDonnell Douglas originally had projected that it would sell more than 300 MD-11 aircraft, but only 200 were built. The MD-11 assembly plant in Long Beach, California later became Boeing's facility. The MD-11 is a medium- to long-range widebody airliner, with two engines mounted on underwing pylons and

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1116-512: A mixed-class layout, and a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi). As more orders for the DC-10 were received, McDonnell Douglas used the time gained before the end of DC-10 production to consult with potential customers and to refine the proposed new trijet. In July 1985, the board of directors authorized the Long Beach plant to offer the MD-11 to potential customers. At

1209-1052: A new premium service. Delta introduced it on its new Airbus A350 , first delivered in fall 2017, to be followed by the now-retired Boeing 777 . In October 2018, Delta announced that it would be selling first class seats on domestically configured Boeing 757 aircraft flying transatlantic routes as Premium Select. Delta's A330-900, delivered in 2019, also offers Premium Select. In 2021, Delta began retrofitting many of its 767-300ER and older A330 aircraft with Premium Select. Delta Comfort+ seats are installed on all aircraft and feature 34–36 inches (860–910 mm) of pitch; on all Delta One configured aircraft, 35–36 inches (890–910 mm) of pitch and 50 percent more recline over standard Main Cabin seats. Additional amenities include: priority boarding, dedicated overhead space, complimentary beer, wine, and spirits on flights 250 miles (400 km) or more, and complimentary premium snacks on flights 900 miles (1,400 km) or more. Complimentary premium entertainment

1302-457: A new, more exclusive or premium level of Sky Club lounge aimed at high-spending travellers. The first would be at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, followed by those in Boston's Logan International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport later in the year. In addition to wellness areas, the lounge would offer a full-service brasserie and a marketplace influenced or assisted by

1395-533: A range of 6,800 nautical miles (12,600 km; 7,800 mi). Other versions, such as a shortened ER with a range of 7,500 nautical miles (13,900 km; 8,600 mi), an all-cargo offering a maximum payload of 200,970 pounds (91,160 kg), and a Combi with a provision for ten freight pallets on the main deck, were proposed. Further growth of the aircraft was also foreseen, such as the MD-11 Advanced. The lack of innovation from McDonnell Douglas during

1488-468: A result of the COVID-19 pandemic , Delta Air Lines announced that it would be cutting 1,941 pilot job positions if it could not conclude a cost reduction deal with its union. In January 2021, Delta said that, thanks to the federal support, it will be able to bring back 400 pilots in full time. Delta Global Staffing (DGS) was a temporary employment firm located in Atlanta, Georgia . Delta Global Staffing

1581-589: A result, as of 2023, Delta flies the second-oldest fleet among the legacy carriers , and the average fleet age has been reduced to 15.3 years. Delta underwent a cabin branding upgrade in 2015. Availability and exact details vary by route and aircraft type. Delta One is the airline's premier business class product, available on long-haul international flights, as well as transcontinental service from New York–Kennedy to Los Angeles and San Francisco . Delta One features lie-flat seating on all aircraft types and direct aisle access from every seat on all types except

1674-401: A third engine at the base of the vertical stabilizer , which has a two-segment rudder for directional control. It is based on the DC-10 but features a stretched fuselage, increased wingspan winglets, refined airfoils on the wing and tailplane resulting in a reduced wetted area and form drag , new engines, and increased use of composites. The most significant change in the tail section is

1767-561: A two-crew cockpit that incorporates six 8-inch interchangeable cathode-ray tube (CRT) display units and advanced Honeywell VIA 2000 computers. The cockpit design is called Advanced Common Flightdeck (ACF) and is shared with the Boeing 717 . Flight deck features include an Electronic Instrument System , a dual Flight Management System , a Central Fault Display System, and a Global Positioning System . Category IIIB automatic landing capability for bad-weather operations and Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS) are available. The MD-11 had

1860-467: A white fuselage with the company's name in blue lettering and a widget on the vertical stabilizer. Delta introduced its current livery in 2007 as part of a re-branding after it emerged from bankruptcy. The new livery consists of four colors, while the old one (called "colors in motion") uses eight. This meant the switch saved the airline money by removing one day from each aircraft's painting cycle. The airline took four years to repaint all of its aircraft into

1953-603: A wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta until December 31, 2009, when the Northwest Airlines operating certificate was merged into that of Delta. Delta completed integration with Northwest on January 31, 2010, when their computer reservations system and websites were combined, and the Northwest Airlines brand was officially retired. In July 2024, The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) opened an investigation into Delta Air Lines, after receiving hundreds of complaints over cancelled and delayed flights that started following

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2046-564: A wider variety of free snacks compared to Main Cabin, as well as free drinks and alcohol, and full meal service on flights 900 miles (1,400 km) and longer. Certain aircraft also feature power ports at each seat and free entertainment products from Delta Studio. First Class passengers are also eligible for priority boarding. In April 2016, Delta CEO Ed Bastian announced that a new Premium Economy cabin would be added. Since renamed to Premium Select, this cabin will feature extra legroom; adjustable leg rests; extra seat pitch, width, and recline; and

2139-477: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . McDonnell Douglas MD-11 It retains the basic trijet configuration of the DC-10 with updated GE CF6 -80C2 or PW4000 turbofan engines. Its wingspan is slightly larger than the DC-10 and it has winglets . Its maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is increased by 14% to 630,500 lb (286 t). Its fuselage is stretched by 11% to 202 ft (61.6 m) to accommodate 298 passengers in three classes over

2232-486: Is a basic version of Main Cabin, offering the same services with fewer flexibility options for a lower price. Examples of fewer flexibility options include no ticket changes, no paid or complimentary upgrades regardless of frequent-flier status, and only having a seat assigned at check-in. As of December 2021, Basic Economy travelers no longer earn award miles (used for redeeming free travel, for example) or medallion qualifying miles (which count towards elite status). SkyMiles

2325-553: Is a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance . As of the end of 2023, it had 100,000 employees. Delta has nine hubs, with Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport being its largest in terms of total passengers and number of departures. It is ranked second among the world's largest airlines by number of passengers carried, passenger miles flown, and fleet size. It is ranked first by revenue for commercially owned airline companies as well as in brand value, and 113th on

2418-483: Is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and has codeshare agreements with the following airlines: As of 25 November 2024, the Delta Air Lines fleet consists of 992 mainline aircraft, making it one of the two largest commercial airline fleets in the world, along with United Airlines. Delta Air Lines operates a fleet manufactured by Airbus and Boeing . Delta operates the world's largest fleets of

2511-597: Is also the home of Delta TechOps , the airline's primary maintenance, repair, and overhaul arm and the largest full-service airline MRO in North America, specializing in engines, components, airframe, and line maintenance. Delta maintains a large presence in the Twin Cities , with over 12,000 employees in the region as well as significant corporate support functions housed in the Minneapolis area, including

2604-638: Is available via Delta Studio, with free headsets available on most flights. On transcontinental flights between JFK-LAX/SFO, Delta Comfort+ passengers also get Luvo snack wraps. Certain Medallion members can upgrade from Main Cabin to Comfort+ for free right after booking, while other customers can upgrade for a fee or with SkyMiles. Main Cabin (Economy Class) is available on all aircraft with seats ranging from 17 to 18.6 inches (43 to 47 cm) wide and 30 to 33 inches (76 to 84 cm) of pitch. The main cabin on some aircraft has an articulating seat bottom where

2697-478: Is located on a corporate campus on the northern boundary of Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, within the city limits of Atlanta. This location has served as Delta's headquarters since 1941, when the company relocated its corporate offices from Monroe, Louisiana , to Greater Atlanta . The crop dusting division of Delta remained headquartered in Monroe until Delta ceased crop dusting in 1966. Before 1981,

2790-991: Is the frequent flyer program for Delta Air Lines. Miles do not expire but accounts may be deactivated by Delta in certain cases, such as the death of a program member or fraudulent activity. Delta Sky Club is the branding name of Delta's airport lounges. Membership is available through an annual membership that can be purchased with either money or miles. International passengers travelling in Delta One class get free access. Membership can also be granted through top-level Delta status or by being an American Express cardholder with certain exceptions. As of January 2019, Delta no longer offered single-day passes. Originally, Delta's membership-based airport clubs were called Crown Room lounges, with Northwest's called WorldClubs. Exclusive Delta One Clubs for customers travelling in business class are slated to open at New York–Kennedy , Los Angeles , and Boston in 2024. In February 2024, Delta announced

2883-480: Is the current chief executive officer and has served in this position since May 2, 2016. Joanne Smith is Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer responsible for the oversight and support of personnel needs at Delta. She was appointed on October 1, 2014, replacing Mike Campbell. Delta's 14,500 mainline pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International and are

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2976-579: The Fortune 500 . Delta was ranked first in the annual rankings of top airlines by The Wall Street Journal in 2022, 2023, and 2024 and ranked first in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards of Best Airlines in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler . The history of Delta Air Lines began with the world's first aerial crop dusting operation called Huff Daland Dusters , Inc. The company was founded on March 2, 1925, in Macon, Georgia , before moving to Monroe, Louisiana , in

3069-659: The Airbus A220 , Boeing 717 , and Boeing 757 , the largest passenger fleet of the Boeing 767 , and the largest Airbus A330 fleet of any US airline. Delta has historically preferred purchasing or leasing used aircraft or using older-generation models to keep initial acquisition costs down. To support this business model, Delta has also invested in an extensive MRO ( maintenance, repair, and overhaul ) organization called TechOps . However, Delta has acquired lower-priced newer aircraft via discounts on slower-selling models and as aircraft manufacturers transition to newer designs. As

3162-459: The CrowdStrike outage caused technological chaos worldwide. Delta and its worldwide alliance partners operate more than 15,000 flights per day. Delta is the only U.S. carrier that flies to Dakar , and along with competitors United Airlines and American Airlines , are the only two U.S. carriers that fly to Stockholm and Copenhagen , respectively. Delta currently has nine hubs: Delta

3255-577: The Airbus A330 cabins, Delta One features the Cirrus flat-bed sleeper suite by Zodiac Seats U.S. , configured in a reverse herringbone pattern. All seats are also equipped with a personal, on-demand in-flight-entertainment (IFE) system, universal power-ports, a movable reading light, and a folding work table. Passengers also receive meals, alcoholic beverages, an amenity kit, bedding, and pre-flight Delta Sky Club access. In August 2016, Delta announced

3348-485: The Airbus A330/A340 and Boeing 777. As a trijet, the MD-11 was less fuel-efficient but had a greater range than its mid-size widebody contemporaries which were twinjets (the existing Boeing 767 and the upcoming Airbus A330 and Boeing 777). Aerospace consultant Scott Hamilton, in a 2014 article, said that the MD-11 was "classically ill-timed" as "it came at the end of the three- or four-engine era, just ahead of

3441-465: The Boeing 757-200 (in which only a special sub-fleet of approximately 20 aircraft feature lie-flats) and in their 'type 35L' ex-LATAM A350s (which use a 2-2-2 layout). The Boeing 767-300ER seats, designed by James Thompson , feature a space-saving design whereby the seats are staggered such that when in the fully flat position, the foot of each bed extends under the armrests of the seat in front of it. On

3534-579: The Caribbean and Latin America. Beginning in mid-March 2005 the airline planned to stop providing pillows on flights within the 48 contiguous U.S. states, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America. In addition, the airline increased the price of alcoholic beverages on Delta mainline flights from $ 4 ($ 6.24 when adjusted for inflation) to $ 5 ($ 7.8 when adjusted for inflation); the increase in alcohol prices did not occur on Song flights. Basic Economy

3627-569: The City of Atlanta in taxes. In September 1981, the airline sued the city, challenging the annexation on the basis of the constitutionality of the 1960 City of Atlanta annexation of the Hartsfield old terminal. The City of Atlanta was only permitted to annex areas that are adjacent to areas already in the Atlanta city limits. In addition to hosting Delta's corporate headquarters, Hartsfield–Jackson

3720-399: The DC-10 were received. The production line was kept active thanks to earlier orders from the U.S. Air Force for 60 KC-10A tankers. McDonnell Douglas was still convinced that a new derivative for the DC-10 was needed, as shown by the second-hand market for their Series 30 and the heavier DC-10-30ER version. Thus, in 1984 a new derivative aircraft version of the DC-10 was designated MD-11. From

3813-468: The DC-10, despite a smaller tailplane to reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency. The MD-11 incorporates hydraulic fuses not included in the initial DC-10 design, to prevent catastrophic loss of control in the event of a hydraulic failure such as that which occurred on United Airlines Flight 232 . The MD-11 was manufactured in five variants. Note: Some or all the features of the MD-11ER, including

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3906-533: The Delta corporate campus, an 80-acre (32 ha) plot of land in proximity to the old Hartsfield Airport terminal, was outside the City of Atlanta limits in unincorporated Fulton County . On August 3, 1981, the Atlanta City Council approved the annexation of 141 acres (57 ha) of land, an area containing the Delta headquarters. As of 1981 Delta would have had to begin paying $ 200,000 annually to

3999-705: The Deltamatic reservation systems using computers in the IBM 7070 series. In 1965, Delta was the first airline to fly the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 . By 1970, Delta had an all-jet fleet, and in 1972 it acquired Northeast Airlines . Trans-Atlantic service began in 1978 with the first nonstop flights from Atlanta to London . In 1981, Delta launched a frequent-flyer program . In 1987, it acquired Western Airlines , and that same year Delta began trans-Pacific service (Atlanta-Portland, Oregon-Tokyo). In 1990, Delta

4092-559: The MD-11 could not operate on the airline's long-haul routes. Pre-flight estimates indicated that the P&;W-powered MD-11 was to have a 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) range with 61,000 pounds (28 t) of payload. With the Phase 1 drag reduction in place, the aircraft could only achieve its full range with 48,500 pounds (22.0 t) of payload, or a reduced range of 6,493 nautical miles (12,025 km; 7,472 mi) with

4185-499: The MD-11 passenger fleet were converted into freighter specification, many of which are still in service today. The last of 200 aircraft was built in October 2000 after Boeing merged with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Although the MD-11 program was launched in 1986, McDonnell Douglas had started to search for a DC-10 derivative as early as 1976. Two versions were considered then: a DC-10-10 with a fuselage stretch of 40 feet (12 m) and

4278-460: The MD-11's center of gravity to be much farther aft than that of other commercial aircraft. There was also a fuel-ballast tank in the MD-11's horizontal stabilizer since its tailplane was smaller than the DC-10's to improve fuel efficiency, but this was found to inhibit the MD-11's crosswind performance. These design features, coupled with standard landing speeds 20–30 knots (35–55 km/h) faster than those of comparable aircraft, significantly reduce

4371-400: The MD-11's design had been attributed to the company's declining cash flow, as it struggled with problems with its military contracts and declining orders for its commercial jets. Limited company resources resulted in the MD-11 being developed as a refinement of the existing DC-10, in contrast to rivals Airbus and Boeing who during this period developed all-new aircraft designs that would become

4464-456: The MD-11's horizontal tail being 30% smaller than that of the DC-10-30. The horizontal tail area on the DC-10 is 1,338 square feet (120 square meters), while on the MD-11, it's reduced to 920 square feet (82.8 square meters). The MD11's winglets are credited with improving fuel efficiency by about 2.5%. The MD-11 has a smaller empennage than the DC-10 it is based upon. The MD-11 features

4557-488: The MD-11, and previously for DC-10, KC-10 were built by General Dynamics' Convair Division in San Diego, which were transported by barge to Long Beach Harbor and then by truck to the assembly plant. The following months of 1989 were used to prepare the prototype for its maiden flight, which finally happened on January 10, 1990. The first two aircraft manufactured were intended for FedEx and thus, were already fitted with

4650-691: The McDonnell Douglas Corporation, with the nose subassembly produced in St. Louis, Missouri , control surface assembly in Tulsa, Oklahoma , and structural rings fabricated in Torrance, California . The wings were manufactured by McDonnell Douglas Canada in Malton, Ontario , near Toronto's Lester B Pearson International Airport , before being shipped to Long Beach. Main fuselage sections for

4743-475: The Series 10, having an airframe shorter by 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) compared to the DC-10 and seating up to 270 passengers in a mixed-class configuration; and the Series 20, incorporating a fuselage stretch of 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m) over the DC-10 and able to seat up to 333 passengers in the same kind of configuration as the Series 10. Both versions could be powered by the same engine families as

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4836-572: The United States The United States Department of Transportation defines a major carrier or major airline carrier as a U.S.-based airline that posts more than $ 1 billion in revenue during a fiscal year , grouped accordingly as "Group III". According to FY2024 revenues, 19 major carriers meet the requirement for Group III status. (*) - considered one of the "Big 4" major U.S. national airlines This article about an aviation -related organization

4929-474: The actual MD-11 plus the RB.211-600. However, the situation for the manufacturer, and the airline industry in general, did not look bright. No new DC-10 orders were received, and many observers and customers doubted that the manufacturer would stay in business much longer. Thus, the board of directors decided in November 1983 to once again cease all work on the projected new trijet. The following year no new orders for

5022-461: The aircraft's introduction. The initial design of the slat/flap lever in the cockpit left it prone to being accidentally dislodged by a crew in flight. The defect has been corrected since 1992. In the early 2000s, Boeing improved the flight control software at the urging of the FAA to reduce the possibility of violent unintentional pitch movements. To improve fuel efficiency, McDonnell Douglas designed

5115-517: The airline and aviation industries. DGS now supports customers in major US metropolitan areas. Delta Global Staffing provided contract workers for short and long term assignments, VMS partnering, VOP on-site management, temp-to-hire, direct placements, and payroll services. DGS services markets such as call centers, customer services and administrative placements, IT & professional recruiting, logistics, finance & accounting, hospitality, and aviation/airline industry. Delta's corporate headquarters

5208-644: The airline in July 2019, also features Delta One Suites. Also in July 2019, Delta began retrofitting a new seat on the 767-400ER , which featured increased privacy and design similar to Delta One Suites, though without a privacy door. These seats lack a door due to the 767's smaller cabin width. First Class is offered on mainline domestic flights (except those featuring Delta One service), select short- and medium-haul international flights, and Delta Connection aircraft. Seats range from 18.5 to 20.75 inches (47.0 to 52.7 cm) wide and have between 37 and 40 inches (94 and 102 cm) of pitch. Passengers in this class receive

5301-707: The airmail contract for the route Delta had pioneered was awarded to another airline, which purchased the assets of Delta Air Service. Local banker Travis Oliver, acting as a trustee, C.E. Woolman, and other local investors purchased back the crop-dusting assets of Delta Air Service and incorporated as Delta Air Corporation on December 31, 1930. Delta Air Corporation secured an airmail contract in 1934, and began doing business as Delta Air Lines over Mail Route 24, stretching from Fort Worth, Texas, to Charleston, South Carolina. Delta moved its headquarters from Monroe, Louisiana, to its current location in Atlanta in 1941. The company name officially became Delta Air Lines in 1945. In 1946,

5394-473: The company commenced regularly scheduled freight transport . In 1949, the company launched the first discounted fares between Chicago and Miami . In 1953, the company launched its first international routes after the acquisition of Chicago and Southern Air Lines . In 1959, it was the first airline to fly the Douglas DC-8 . In 1960, it was the first airline to fly Convair 880 jets. In 1964, it launched

5487-588: The company launched Song , a low-cost carrier . On September 14, 2005, the company filed for bankruptcy , citing rising fuel costs. It emerged from bankruptcy in April 2007 after fending off a hostile takeover from US Airways and its shares were re-listed on the New York Stock Exchange . The acquisition of Northwest Airlines was announced on April 14, 2008. It was approved and consummated on October 29, 2008. Northwest continued to operate as

5580-595: The company's information technology divisional offices. Delta's logo, often called the "widget", was originally unveiled in 1959. Its triangle shape is taken from the Greek letter delta , and recalls the airline's origins in the Mississippi Delta . It is also said to be reminiscent of the swept-wing design of the DC-8, Delta's first jet aircraft. Delta's current livery is called "Upward & Onward". It features

5673-712: The current scheme, including aircraft inherited from Northwest Airlines. In 2008, Delta Air Lines was given an award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency 's Design for the Environment (DfE) program for its use of PreKote, a more environmentally friendly, non-hexavalent chromium surface pretreatment on its aircraft, replacing hazardous chemicals formerly used to improve paint adhesion and prevent corrosion. In addition, PreKote reduces water usage by two-thirds and reduces wastewater treatment. Major airlines of

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5766-667: The financial investment was too large for the company. As of September 2024, 82 of the 200 aircraft built are operational, serving three different cargo operators worldwide. Most of the airlines that ordered the MD-11 for their long-haul passenger flights had replaced it with Airbus A330, A340, and Boeing 777 aircraft by the end of 2004. Some carriers converted their MD-11s to freighters such as China Eastern Airlines and Korean Air . Korean Air announced as early as December 1994 its intention to convert its five passenger MD-11s to freighters for medium-range cargo routes. In 1995, American Airlines agreed to sell its 19 aircraft to FedEx, with

5859-511: The first MD-11 being transferred in 1996. Japan Airlines (JAL) announced the replacement of its 10 MD-11s in 2000; these aircraft were being converted into freighters and sold to UPS in 2004. In February 2007, TAM Linhas Aéreas began operating the first of three leased passenger MD-11s, in a deal arranged by Boeing as an interim solution for TAM to quickly be able to operate newly granted intercontinental routes while waiting for four Boeing 777-300ERs to be delivered from late 2008. The last MD-11

5952-547: The first customer of the MD-11. Three aircraft were manufactured but were never delivered due to the Yugoslav Wars. The first MD-11 was delivered to Finnair on December 7, 1990, and it accomplished the first revenue service by an MD-11 on December 20, 1990, carrying passengers from Helsinki to Tenerife in the Canary Islands . MD-11 service in the U.S. was inaugurated by Delta Air Lines the following year. It

6045-529: The forward side cargo door. They remained with the manufacturer as test aircraft until 1991 before being completely converted to freighters and delivered to their customer. FAA certification was achieved on November 8, 1990, while the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) certified the MD-11 on October 17, 1991, after approximately 200 separate issues were resolved. Yugoslav Airlines , already flying several DC-10s, became

6138-473: The freighter variant. In 1998, Boeing announced it would end MD-11 production after filling orders on hand due to lack of sufficient market demand. The last passenger MD-11 built was delivered to Sabena in April 1998. Assembly of the last two MD-11s were completed in August and October 2000; they were delivered to Lufthansa Cargo on February 22 and January 25, 2001, respectively. Production ended because of

6231-539: The higher MTOW of 630,500 pounds (286.0 t), part or all of the PIPs aerodynamic improvements packages and composite panels were fitted to later-built MD-11s (except the extra fuel tank), and could be retrofitted to any of the variants, except for the PIP Phase IIIB larger aft-engine intake. Some airlines, such as Finnair, Martinair, and FedEx have made the structural changes required to allow their aircraft to have

6324-651: The higher MTOW. Swissair's 16 newest aircraft were retrofitted with all the features except for the extra fuel tank and were so-designated MD-11AH for Advanced Heavy. After McDonnell Douglas did the KDC-10 conversion for the Royal Netherlands Air Force in 1992, they proposed a tanker/transport version of the MD-11CF which had the in-house designation KMD-11. McDD offered either conversion of second-hand aircraft (KMD-11) or new built aircraft (KC-10B),

6417-460: The introduction of Delta One Suites on select widebody fleets. The suites will feature a door to the aisle for enhanced privacy, as well as improved storage space, a larger IFE screen, and an updated design. The suites rolled out on the Airbus A350 fleet, first delivered in July 2017, followed by installation within the Boeing 777 fleet. Delta's Airbus A330-900 , which began revenue service for

6510-546: The later Boeing 777-200 or the Airbus A330-300 / A340-300/500 . Finally, the series 63 would have incorporated the same fuselage as the DC-10-61 as well as the larger wing of the -62. After high-profile accidents in the 1970s, such as Turkish Airlines Flight 981 and American Airlines Flight 191 , the trijet's reputation was seriously damaged by doubts regarding its structural integrity. For these reasons, and due to

6603-522: The mating of the fuselage with wings occurred in October of that year. The first flight was originally planned to occur in March 1989, but numerous problems with the manufacturing, delays with suppliers producing essential components, and labor industrial actions delayed the ceremonial rollout of the prototype until September of that year. Parts for the MD-11 were sourced from a global network of subcontractors and suppliers. Subassembly tasks were spread across

6696-475: The merger with Boeing, a presentation was made pitching an MD-11 twin with a new Boeing wing to fill the gap between the 767 and the 777, but again the proposal came to nothing. After ending the MD-12 program, McDonnell Douglas focused on 300–400-seat MD-11 derivatives. At the 1996 Farnborough International Air Show , the company presented plans for a new tri-jet with high seating and long range named "MD-XX". It

6789-407: The program life, MDC took a pre-tax charge of $ 1.838 billion (~$ 3.36 billion in 2023 ) for deferred production costs and for reduced support and tooling value. In 1999, the unit cost was $ 132-$ 147.5 million (equivalent to $ 227-$ 253.7 million in 2023 dollars) . Assembly of the first MD-11 began on March 9, 1988 at McDonnell Douglas's Douglas Products Division in Long Beach, California , and

6882-485: The program was to cost $ 1.5 billion (equivalent to $ 3.45 billion in 2023 ) with $ 500 million for development and almost $ 1 billion for tooling and inventory . The first 52 firm orders totaled $ 5 billion, or $ 95 million each, while the A340 sold for $ 67 million. At certification in 1990, $ 2.5 billion were invested in initial production inventory, and $ 700 million for engineering , tools, and flight testing . While it

6975-634: The proposed KMD-11 offered 35,000 lbs more cargo capacity and 8,400 lbs more transferable fuel than the KC-10A. It was offered to the RNAF and Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) in the 1990s and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in the early 2000s. In 1993, 1995, and again in 1996, McDonnell Douglas performed studies on the feasibility of a twin-engine jet using MD-11 components, but nothing came of any of them. In August 1997, just after

7068-520: The range for the aircraft. However, by this point, sales of the MD-11 had already been significantly impacted. In 1995, American Airlines sold its 19 MD-11s to FedEx, as the PIP program was not sufficient for the aircraft to fly the Dallas–Fort Worth - Hong Kong route. After McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing in 1997, the unified company decided that MD-11 production would continue exclusively with

7161-788: The real move to ETOPS with the 777". McDonnell Douglas's initiative to "outsource everything but design, final assembly, and flight testing and sales of the MD-11" was also seen as contributing to the end of their commercial airline business. On December 30, 1986, McDonnell Douglas launched the MD-11 with commitments for 52 firm orders and 40 options in three different versions (passenger, combi and freighter) from ten airlines ( Alitalia , British Caledonian , Dragonair , Federal Express , Finnair , Korean Air , Scandinavian Airlines , Swissair , Thai Airways International , and VARIG ) and two leasing companies ( Guinness Peat Aviation and Mitsui ). Orders from Dragonair, Scandinavian, and UTA , an undisclosed customer, were canceled by 1988. In 1987,

7254-418: The risks of loss of orders for the DC-10-30 that the Boeing 747SP and its range were causing. The DC-10 global would have incorporated more fuel tanks. While continuing their research for a new aircraft, McDonnell Douglas designated the program DC-10 Super 60, previously known for a short time as DC-10 Super 50. The Super 60 was to be an intercontinental aircraft incorporating many aerodynamic improvements in

7347-676: The seat bottom moves forward in addition to the seat back tilting backwards when reclining. Main Cabin passengers receive complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic drinks on all flights 250 miles (400 km) or longer. Alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase. Complimentary meals and alcoholic drinks are provided on long-haul international flights as well as selected transcontinental domestic flights, such as between New York–JFK and Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. As part of Delta's Flight Fuel buy on board program, meals are available for purchase on other North American flights 900 miles (1,400 km) or longer. Delta operated

7440-408: The second would carry 331 passengers over 6,900 nautical miles (12,800 km; 7,900 mi). A year later, as several airlines had committed to the MD-11, the situation was looking optimistic. The aircraft was now a 320-seater baseline and defined as an 18 ft 7 in (5.66 m) stretch over the DC-10-30 powered by the new advanced turbofans offered by the major engine manufacturers giving it

7533-654: The summer of 1925. It flew a Huff-Daland Duster, the first true crop duster, designed to combat the boll weevil infestation of cotton crops. C.E. Woolman , general manager and later Delta's first CEO, led a group of local investors to acquire the company's assets. Delta Air Service was incorporated on December 3, 1928, and was named after the Mississippi Delta region. Passenger operations began on June 17, 1929, from Dallas, Texas , to Jackson, Mississippi , with stops at Shreveport and Monroe, Louisiana. By June 1930, service had extended east to Atlanta and west to Fort Worth, Texas . Passenger service ceased in October 1930 when

7626-453: The time, the aircraft was still proposed in two versions, both with the same fuselage length, a stretch of 22 ft 3 in (6.78 m) over the DC-10 airframe, as well as the same engine choice as the MD-11X. One version would have a range of 4,780 nautical miles (8,850 km; 5,500 mi) with a gross weight of 500,000 pounds (230,000 kg) and transport up to 337 passengers, while

7719-406: The travelling passenger is still eligible to earn SkyMiles during his or her travel. In early 2010, Delta Air Lines merged its SkyBonus program with Northwest's similar Biz Perks program. The key trends for Delta Air Lines are (as of the financial year ending 31 December): size Between its mainline operation and subsidiaries, and as of March 2015, Delta employs nearly 80,000 people. Ed Bastian

7812-531: The union's largest pilot group. The company's approximately 180 flight dispatchers are represented by the Professional Airline Flight Control Association (PAFCA). Not counting the pilots and flight dispatchers, Delta is the only one of the five largest airlines in the United States , and one of only two in the top 9 (the other being JetBlue), whose non-pilot USA domestic staff is entirely non-union. In August 2020, as

7905-444: The very beginning, the MD-11X was conceived in two different versions. The MD-11X-10, based on a DC-10-30 airframe, offered a range of 6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) with passengers. That first version would have had a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 580,000 pounds (260,000 kg) and would have used CF6-80C2 or PW4000 engines. The MD-11X-20 was to have a longer fuselage, accommodating up to 331 passengers in

7998-466: The wings, and a fuselage lengthened by 26 feet 8 inches (8.13 m) to allow for up to 350 passengers to be seated in a mixed-class layout, compared to 275 in the same configuration of the DC-10. Following more refinements, in 1979 the DC-10 Super 60 was proposed in three distinct versions like the DC-8. The DC-10-61 was designed to be a high-capacity medium-range aircraft. It would have

8091-458: Was a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, Inc., and a division of the internal company DAL Global Services . Delta Air Lines sold majority ownership of DAL Global Services to Argenbright Holdings on December 21, 2018. As part of the sale, Delta dissolved the staffing division of DGS. It was founded in 1995 as a provider of temporary staffing for Delta primarily in Atlanta. DGS has since expanded to include customers and businesses outside

8184-520: Was again planning new DC-10 versions that could incorporate winglets and more efficient engines developed at the time by Pratt & Whitney ( PW2037 ) and Rolls-Royce ( RB.211-535F4 ). The manufacturer finally rationalized all these studies under the MD-EEE (Ecology-Economy-Efficiency) designation, which was later modified to the MD-100 following some more changes. The MD-100 was proposed in two versions:

8277-450: Was during this period that flaws in the MD-11's performance became apparent. It failed to meet its targets for range and fuel burn. American Airlines in particular was unimpressed with the 19 MD-11s that it received, as was Singapore Airlines who canceled their order for 20 MD-11s and instead ordered 20 Airbus A340 -300s. American Airlines cited problems with the performance of the engines and airframe, while Singapore Airlines stated that

8370-564: Was offered in the MD-XX Stretch and MD-XX LR versions. The MD-XX Stretch version was to have a longer fuselage than the MD-11 and seat 375 in a typical three-class arrangement. The MD-XX LR was to have a longer range and be the same length as the MD-11; it was to have typical three-class seating for 309. However, the MDC board of directors decided to end the MD-XX program in October 1996, because

8463-627: Was retired from TAM's fleet in July 2009, which ended its use by Brazilian airlines ( Varig , VASP , and TAM). In May 2007, Finnair announced the sale of their last two MD-11s to Aeroflot-Cargo to become part of the Russian airline cargo fleet in 2008 and 2009. KLM was the last airline to operate scheduled passenger flights with the passenger version of the MD-11. The final scheduled flight took place on October 26, 2014, from Montréal to Amsterdam , followed by three special roundtrip flights on November 11, 2014. Two MD-11s were also operated in

8556-455: Was selling for $ 100 million, the initial MD-11 jets cost $ 120 to $ 150 million to produce but this was to reduce to $ 90 million with manufacturing experience over the program life for an 11% gross profit margin , less than the 15% to 20% Boeing obtains. In 1992, the $ 1.7 billion development cost was to be spread over the first 301 aircraft produced for $ 100 million each. In 1995, because costs and revenues could not be reasonably estimated over

8649-652: Was the first airline in the United States to fly McDonnell Douglas MD-11 jets. In 1991, it acquired substantially all of Pan Am 's trans-Atlantic routes and the Pan Am Shuttle, rebranded as the Delta Shuttle . Delta was now the leading airline across the Atlantic. In 1997, Delta was the first airline to board more than 100 million passengers in a calendar year. Also that year, Delta began an expansion of its international routes into Latin America . In 2003,

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