On February 19, 2025, a Delta Air Lines Airbus A350-900 with a special livery was seen. The aircraft’s design marks Delta’s centennial year in 2025, featuring silver and gold accents. It is common for legacy airlines to use special liveries for significant milestones like a 100th anniversary. The aircraft has the registration MSN720.
This is not Delta’s first celebratory livery for its centennial. An Airbus A321neo recently left the manufacturer’s Hamburg factory with an identical design. This livery highlights the airline’s milestone and offers a distinctive appearance at airports worldwide.
Delta Air Lines is marking its 100th anniversary by focusing on innovation, sustainability, and enhancing passenger experiences. Celebrations began with a keynote address in Las Vegas by CEO Ed Bastian. Delta introduced “Delta Concierge,” an AI digital assistant in their mobile app to assist passengers.
The airline announced a partnership with Uber, allowing SkyMiles members to earn miles on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders. Passengers can also book electric air taxi services through Joby Aviation. Additionally, Delta expanded its inflight entertainment options through a partnership with YouTube.
The airline will continue investing in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). CEO Bastian emphasized the mission of making air travel accessible while monitoring carbon emissions. Celebrations included a performance by Lenny Kravitz as part of a year-long series of events.
Delta Air Lines’ history began as Huff Daland Dusters in 1925, America’s first commercial crop-dusting business. In 1928, C.E. Woolman transformed it into Delta Air Service, which launched its first passenger flight in 1929. After securing another U.S. mail contract in 1934, it became Delta Air Lines and expanded its network.
International expansion started in 1953, followed by introducing jet-powered aircraft like the Douglas DC-8 and Boeing 747 in 1959. Through mergers and acquisitions such as Northeast Airlines in 1972, Western Airlines in 1987, and Northwest Airlines in 2008, Delta grew significantly.
In 1981, Delta launched the SkyMiles loyalty program according to their website. Enhancements continued with onboard Wi-Fi starting in 2008 and partnerships with Virgin Atlantic and Aeromexico to improve customer experiences further.
With commitments to sustainability and technological advancement, Delta remains one of the world’s leading airlines frequently recognized as the best U.S.-based carrier regarding quality.
