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Delta Airlines

Delta Air Lines, one of the largest airlines globally, operates a fleet of over 900 aircraft, serving approximately 4,000 daily flights to more than 275 destinations across six continents. With a workforce of over 17,300 pilots and domiciles in key hubs such as Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle, Delta maintains a robust operational presence. The airline has its roots in crop-dusting operations in 1925 and has grown through mergers, including its significant merger with Northwest Airlines in 2008. As a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta continues to expand, with hundreds of narrowbody and widebody aircraft on order, including the Airbus A321neo and A350-1000, to support its growth initiatives.

Airline Notes

  • The pilots of Delta Air Lines, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), operate under a Pilot Working Agreement (PWA) that is amendable on December 31, 2026. 

  • Delta was the first major legacy airline to sign a new contract, setting industry standards for pay scales and other provisions that other airlines have since followed. 

  • ALPA and Delta plan to reopen Section 6 negotiations for the PWA in early 2026. 

  • Delta’s entire fleet is equipped with free high-speed WiFi, and its pilots utilize iPad Pro devices for operational efficiency. 

  • Delta continues to modernize its fleet, with 45 A220-100s already delivered and orders for 100 A220-300s. 

  • Additionally, the airline has taken delivery of 37 A330-900 NEOs since 2019, with 64 A350-900/1000s on order through 2029, including 20 firm A350-1000 orders starting in 2026. It also has 125 A321NEOs on order through 2027 and 100 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft with deliveries yet to be scheduled. 

  • A new training facility in Salt Lake City, focused on Continuing Qualification (CQ), is set to open in 2025. 

  • The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and has been a leader in employee profit-sharing, with pre-COVID payouts as high as 16.6% in 2019 and post-COVID payouts of 10.4% in 2024. 

  • New hire pilots benefit from company-paid hotels during training, paid uniforms, and an ongoing pilot uniform refresh. 

  • Identified by its IATA code "DL," ICAO code "DAL," and ATC callsign "Delta," the airline continues to expand with 284 narrowbody and 48 widebody aircraft on order for future delivery.

General Requirements


Flight Time Requirements:

  • Minimum of 1,500 hours of total documented flight time.

  • 1,000 hours of fixed-wing turbine time preferred (A minimum of 500 turbine hours must be in a non-powered lift airplane).

  • Minimum of 250 hours PIC or SIC as defined in 14 CFR §61.159(a)(5) in an airplane category.

  • Minimum of 50 hours of multi-engine airplane time.

  • When evaluating the flight time of applicants meeting the basic qualifications, consideration will be given to, among other things, quality, quantity, recency, and verifiability of training; complexity of aircraft flown; types of flight operations; and hours flown as PIC in turbine powered aircraft.

General Requirements:

  • At least 23 years of age.

  • Must be legally authorized to work in the US without sponsorship currently and not require future sponsorship for employment.

  • High school diploma or GED equivalent.

  • Current passport or other travel documents enabling the bearer to freely exit and re-enter the U.S. (multiple reentry status) and be legally eligible to work in the U.S. (possess proper working documents).

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Graduate of a four-year degree program from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Dept. of Education recognized accrediting organization is highly preferred. Degrees obtained from a non-U.S. institution must be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. degrees by a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

FAA Requirements:

  • FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument - Airplane.

  • Current FAA First Class Medical Certificate.

  • All aeronautical experience requirements for an ATP, Airplane category rating, as set forth in 14 CFR §61.159.

  • Current ATP written exam.

Other Requirements:

  • Applicants invited to interview must provide appropriate documentation of all flight hours, FAA pilot certificates, FAA medical certificate and college transcripts.

  • FCC Radiotelephone Operator's Permit.

  • DOT required pre-employment drug test.

  • International Certificate of Vaccination (Yellow Card) for Yellow Fever. This requirement may be waived only for legitimate medical or other limited reasons.

  • TSA required fingerprint based Criminal History Records Check and a Delta background check.

Incorrect Information?

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Airline Type

Legacy

Number of Pilots

17300

Number of Aircraft in Fleet

900

Number of Domiciles

7

Union

ALPA

Fleet

A221: 45
A223: 24
A319: 57
A320: 61
A321: 127
A321neo: 55
A332: 11
A333: 31
A339: 27
B717: 88
B738: 77
B739ER: 163
B752: 100
B753: 16
B757-200 VIP: 11
B763ER: 44
B764ER: 21

Domiciles

LAX
MSP
NYC
SEA
SLC
ATL
DTW

Airline Notes

  • The pilots of Delta Air Lines, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA), operate under a Pilot Working Agreement (PWA) that is amendable on December 31, 2026. 

  • Delta was the first major legacy airline to sign a new contract, setting industry standards for pay scales and other provisions that other airlines have since followed. 

  • ALPA and Delta plan to reopen Section 6 negotiations for the PWA in early 2026. 

  • Delta’s entire fleet is equipped with free high-speed WiFi, and its pilots utilize iPad Pro devices for operational efficiency. 

  • Delta continues to modernize its fleet, with 45 A220-100s already delivered and orders for 100 A220-300s. 

  • Additionally, the airline has taken delivery of 37 A330-900 NEOs since 2019, with 64 A350-900/1000s on order through 2029, including 20 firm A350-1000 orders starting in 2026. It also has 125 A321NEOs on order through 2027 and 100 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft with deliveries yet to be scheduled. 

  • A new training facility in Salt Lake City, focused on Continuing Qualification (CQ), is set to open in 2025. 

  • The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and has been a leader in employee profit-sharing, with pre-COVID payouts as high as 16.6% in 2019 and post-COVID payouts of 10.4% in 2024. 

  • New hire pilots benefit from company-paid hotels during training, paid uniforms, and an ongoing pilot uniform refresh. 

  • Identified by its IATA code "DL," ICAO code "DAL," and ATC callsign "Delta," the airline continues to expand with 284 narrowbody and 48 widebody aircraft on order for future delivery.

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