1920's-1930's

Through the Decades: 1920's

Delta begins crop dusting and flying passengers

1925

The Huff Daland Dusters crop-dusting operation, which formed the roots for Delta, begins in Macon, Ga. This was the first commercial aerial agricultural company in existence. For more information, see Founding.

Huff Daland Duster’s headquarters moves to Monroe, La. Huff Daland’s 18 planes are the largest privately-owned fleet in the world. Operations range south to Florida, north to Arkansas, and west to California and Mexico.

1927

Huff Daland extends dusting services to Peru. Operates the first international mail and passenger route on the west coast of South America (Lima to Talara) for Pan Am subsidiary Peruvian Airways in 1928.

1928

C.E. Woolman leads movement to buy Huff Daland Dusters. Renamed “Delta Air Service” for the Mississippi River Delta region it served. D.Y. Smith, president; C.E. Woolman, vice president. For more information, see Founding.

1929

CE Woolman Delta operates first passenger flights over route stretching from Dallas, Texas to Jackson, Mississippi, via Shreveport and Monroe, Louisiana. Travel Air S-6000-B airplanes carry five passengers and one pilot.

Through the Decades: 1930's

Delta begins mail service

1930

Service begins to Atlanta on June 12. Lack of mail contract forces suspension of all passenger service on October 1. Company renamed Delta Air Corporation.

1934

Delta receives Air Mail Route 24 (Ft. Worth, Texas to Charleston, South Carolina) from Post Office. Starts first mail service on July 4 with Stinson Model T planes; resumes passenger service on August 5. Begins operating as Delta Air Lines. Clarence E. Faulk becomes President.

1935

Offers first night service with the Stinson Model A; first Delta aircraft with two pilots and reclining seats.

1936

In-flight meal service begins with the 14-passenger Lockheed 10 Electra. Co-pilots serve box lunches and coffee.

1938

Airline operations begin earning more than crop-dusting services.