The 80 Year History and Merger of Delta and Northwest Airlines

Delta and Northwest Airlines publicly announced their merger on April 14, 2008, and as a result, this decision would create the world's largest airline. This video was made to share the history, through photographs and video clips, of these two great airlines, and to show how far they both have come over the last more than 80 years of their existence. From Delta's humble beginnings in Monroe, LA as Huff Daland Dusters in 1924, and Northwest's history originating back to 1926, I hope you enjoy this nostalgic journey as we take a brief look back, highlighting just some of their many individual historic events and corporate milestones.

(I thought this song by Kenny Loggins was quite fitting, given the subject of the video.)

Disclaimer: I personally have never been employed by either Delta Airlines or Northwest Airlines. All Logos, Slogans, and most (except those I have taken) individual clips have been publicly provided by Delta and Northwest Airlines prior to the making of this video. All photographs belong to their original owners, including those from my own collection that I have taken personally.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Delta Airlines
• Northwest Airlines
• Northwest Orient
• merger
• 2008
• airplanes
• commercial aviation
• pilots
• Atlanta
• Detroit
• Minneapolis
• crop dusters
• widget
• 1920s
• 1930s
• 1940s
• 1950s
• 1960s
• 1970s
• 1980s
• 1990s
• 2000s
• tribute
• commercial clips
• fan video
• one global airline
• history
• historical
• nostalgic
• remembering

[dragonflyspring]

Thank you all for the kind comments! ( I haven't had the opportunity to log on in a while.)

[TennisChamp59]

Wow! Very, very nice video! But where did you get all of the old videos?

[dragonflyspring]

Most are from Delta and Northwest, others are tidbits from commercials, and some are from my own personal collection. The pictures include postcards, old timetables, magazine articles / advertisements, and those from my personal collection.

[rightsidenov]

THE best non-professional DL/NW video on YouTube since the merger. Hands down!

[dragonflyspring]

Thank you very much! Trust me - it took a long time to put together too! I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I truly appreciate your comment. Thanks again!

[TheRealAdamHenry]

NORTH WEST WAS BETTER!

[Floridian99]

Wow this video is good. It must of taken forever to produce something this great.! I am going to add this to my favorites!!!

[bhvghchgc]

@reward415 Delta was around a few years before NWA, but NWA was still transporting passengers a few years before Delta, and International long before Delta, and you are right on Delta not even crossing an Ocean until 1978 by that time NWA had been crossing the Pacific 31 years!. The younger airline was 1st to carry passengers, go International and even crossing an Ocean. NWA got the short end of the stick on this 'merger' and NWA was clearly the more dominant and pioneering airline.

[bhvghchgc]

Delta was slow to do everything, Delta began carrying passengers in late 1929 and its first international routes (to the Caribbean and Caracas) in 1953. NWA began transporting passengers in 1927 and it's first international routes in 1928.

It took Delta a total of 29 years to go from a crop duster to an international airline.

It took NWA 2 years to go from transporting US mail to an international airline. NWA crossed the Pacific 1947, Delta finally crossed the Atlantic in 1978. NWA spanked them!

[johneddy98033]

One of the pictures in the video was the Convair 880, the fastest commercial airplane in the world at the time of its introduction. Delta used it the longest. Type in "introduction to a champion" on YouTube search for a great film about the 880.

[fmagloire1]

Nicely done-great soundtrack!

[reward415]

This video was produced by Delta for employee use. They forgot many NW firsts, such as being (1947) the first US carrier to serve Japan (using the "Great Circle Route" cutting hours off flight time via Hawaii), the first to develop clear-air turbulence forecasting. NW was flying Boeing Stratrocruisers across the country and across the Pacific when DL was hopping on DC-3s from Shreveport to Batron Rouge. DL didn't cross an ocean until 1978. RIP Northwest! You are not forgotten.

[aviator147]

@mtdew123456789 ..then we'd have almost no airlines left :P

[mtdew123456789]

Delta should merge with United-Continental (they merged) then Delta would be the biggest

[GirlCookin]

@rightsidenov This was the first youtube video that I looked at,

do u mind if I use it for my blog?