Delta Air Lines vs Southwest Airlines: Founders, CEOs and History
Delta Air Lines was founded in 1924 by Collett Everman Woolman and is led by Ed Bastian. Southwest Airlines was founded in 1967 by Herb Kelleher, Rollin King and is led by Bob Jordan.
Company facts
Delta Air Lines
- Founded
- 1924
- Headquarters
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Current CEO
- Ed Bastian
- Employees
- 103,000
Southwest Airlines
- Founded
- 1967
- Headquarters
- Dallas, Texas
- Current CEO
- Bob Jordan
- Employees
- 72,790
Founders
Delta Air Lines
Collett Everman Woolman
C.E. Woolman did not start Huff Daland Dusters, but he made it into Delta. Huff Daland Dusters began crop dusting in Macon, Georgia, in 1924 as a unit of aircraft maker Huff Daland, using planes to spread calcium arsenate against the boll weevil.
Southwest Airlines
Herb Kelleher
Herb Kelleher was an absolutely legendary American corporate attorney, fiercely visionary aviation pioneer, and the profoundly influential CEO and founding patriarch fundamentally responsible for architecting the massively dominant Southwest Airlines empire.
Rollin King
Rollin King's contribution to Southwest Airlines is often overshadowed by Herb Kelleher's larger-than-life personality, but King was the conceptual originator of the airline.
CEOs and their tenures
Delta Air Lines
- Leo Mullin1997–2004
Former Chief Executive Officer
Mullin led Delta through the collapse in air travel after September 11, 2001, with deep cost cuts and layoffs. The alliance model he began became the basis for Delta's later joint ventures.
Source - Gerald Grinstein2004–2007
Former Chief Executive Officer
Grinstein brought Delta out of bankruptcy as an independent airline in April 2007 with a lower cost base, setting up the Northwest merger under his successor.
Source - Richard Anderson2007–2016
Former Chief Executive Officer
Anderson turned post-bankruptcy Delta into a consistently profitable carrier, built joint ventures with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic, and introduced fare segmentation from Basic Economy to Delta One.
Source - Ed Bastian2016–present
Chief Executive Officer
Bastian led Delta through COVID-19, record FY2025 results ($63.4B GAAP revenue, $4.6B free cash flow), and the July 2024 CrowdStrike meltdown. He has also kept the profit-sharing culture central to Delta's labor model.
Source
Southwest Airlines
- Herb Kelleher1982–2001
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Herb Kelleher is the defining figure of Southwest Airlines' history and arguably the most influential airline executive in American aviation.
Source - Gary Kelly2004–2022
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman
Gary Kelly served as Southwest's CEO for nearly two decades, overseeing the airline's expansion to national scale, the transformative AirTran acquisition, the Wright Amendment repeal, and the industry-wide challenges of the post-9/11 recovery, the 2008 financi…
Source - Bob Jordan2022–present
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Vice Chairman
Jordan, a Southwest employee since 1988, became CEO in February 2022. He leads the transformation plan that added bag fees, basic economy and assigned seating, and he reported record Q2 2026 revenue of $8.4B.
Source
Timeline: Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines side by side
1924Delta Air Lines
Huff Daland Dusters Established
The crop-dusting enterprise that would eventually become Delta Air Lines is founded in Macon, Georgia, as Huff Daland Dusters, operating modified military surplus biplanes over cotton fields in the Deep South.
1928Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Service Formed
C.E. Woolman and a group of Monroe, Louisiana investors buy the crop-dusting assets of Huff Daland Dusters and form Delta Air Service, named after the Mississippi Delta. Its first passenger flight, from Dallas to Jackson, Mississippi, follows on June 17, 1929.
1934Delta Air Lines
Air Mail Route 24 Awarded
After losing a 1930 airmail bid and suspending passenger flights, Delta wins Air Mail Route 24 between Dallas and Charleston, South Carolina, via Atlanta. The contract gives the airline steady income during the Depression and lets it resume passenger service.
1941Delta Air Lines
Headquarters Relocated to Atlanta
Delta moves its corporate headquarters from Monroe, Louisiana to Atlanta, Georgia, recognizing Atlanta's growing importance as the transportation hub of the American Southeast.
1959Delta Air Lines
Jet Age Entry with Douglas DC-8
Delta takes delivery of its first jet aircraft, the Douglas DC-8, marking the airline's entry into the jet age and beginning a fleet modernization program that would transform passenger capacity, speed, and comfort on its route network.
1967Southwest Airlines
Company Founded
Herb Kelleher and Rollin King incorporate Air Southwest Co. In Texas with the vision of operating low-cost, high-frequency intrastate air service connecting Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
1971Southwest Airlines
First Commercial Flights
After a four-year legal battle against incumbent carriers, Southwest Airlines begins commercial operations on June 18, 1971, flying Boeing 737-200s from Dallas Love Field to San Antonio and Houston Hobby Airport at thirteen-dollar one-way fares.
1972Delta Air Lines
Northeast Airlines Acquisition
Delta acquires Northeast Airlines, a regional carrier operating in the northeastern United States, significantly expanding Delta's geographic footprint beyond its Southeastern stronghold and adding important routes serving New York, Boston, and other major nor…
1973Southwest Airlines
First Full-Year Profit
Southwest posts its first annual profit in 1973, beginning a 47-consecutive-year streak of profitability that would become the defining statistic of its financial history and remain leading by any other major U.S. Airline.
1977Southwest Airlines
NYSE Listing Under LUV
Southwest Airlines lists on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol LUV, a deliberate reference to its Dallas Love Field home airport that also signals the airline's distinctive customer-first culture.
1979Southwest Airlines
Wright Amendment Enacted
Congress passes the Wright Amendment, restricting Southwest's Love Field operations to Texas and four surrounding states, limiting the airline's expansion from its Dallas home base for the next three decades.
1982Southwest Airlines
Herb Kelleher Becomes CEO
Herb Kelleher assumes the CEO role, beginning a tenure that will transform Southwest from a regional Texas carrier into a national airline and cement the cultural identity that defines the company to this day.
1991Delta Air Lines
Pan Am Routes Acquisition
As Pan American World Airways collapses into bankruptcy, Delta acquires Pan Am's transatlantic route portfolio, Frankfurt hub operations, and the Pan Am shuttle service for approximately 1.4 billion dollars.
1993Southwest Airlines
Morris Air Acquisition
Southwest acquires Morris Air Corporation for approximately 130 million dollars, marking one of the few acquisitions in its history and integrating Morris Air's Salt Lake City-based operations into the Southwest network.
2005Delta Air Lines
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing
Delta files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 14, 2005, citing high fuel costs, pension obligations, and low-cost competition. The roughly 19-month reorganization restructures labor contracts, debt, and the cost base.
2007Delta Air Lines
Emergence from Bankruptcy
Delta emerges from Chapter 11 on April 30, 2007, as an independent company after rejecting a hostile takeover bid from US Airways. It leaves bankruptcy with a lower cost base and restructured pension obligations.
2008Delta Air Lines
Northwest Airlines Acquisition
Delta completes its all-stock acquisition of Northwest Airlines in October 2008, creating what was then the world's largest airline by passenger traffic. The deal adds Northwest's Detroit and Minneapolis-St. Paul hubs and its Pacific network.
2011Southwest Airlines
AirTran Airways Acquisition
Southwest completes the acquisition of AirTran Airways for approximately 1.4 billion dollars, significantly expanding its network into Atlanta and other markets where Southwest previously had limited or no presence, and inheriting AirTran's international route…
2014Southwest Airlines
Wright Amendment Fully Repealed
The final restrictions of the Wright Amendment are lifted in October 2014, allowing Southwest to offer nonstop service from Dallas Love Field to any domestic destination for the first time in its 43-year history.
2016Delta Air Lines
Ed Bastian Named CEO
Ed Bastian, who served as Delta's Chief Financial Officer during both the bankruptcy reorganization and the Northwest merger integration, is named Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Richard Anderson.
2019Delta Air Lines
American Express Partnership Extended to 2029
Delta and American Express extend their co-branded SkyMiles card agreement through 2029. The payments grow to $8.2B in 2025, and Delta targets $10B a year over the long term.
2019Southwest Airlines
End of 47-Year Profit Streak Looms
Southwest posts its last year of the 47-consecutive-year profit streak in 2019, generating net income of approximately 2.3 billion dollars, before the COVID-19 pandemic erases profitability across the entire aviation industry in 2020.
2022Southwest Airlines
December Operational Meltdown
Winter Storm Elliott triggers a catastrophic operational failure in which Southwest cancels more than 16,700 flights over ten days, stranding approximately 2 million passengers and ultimately costing the airline over 800 million dollars in direct costs plus a…
2024Southwest Airlines
Elliott Advisors Activist Campaign and Strategic Transformation Announced
Elliott Advisors discloses a roughly 10 percent economic interest in Southwest worth approximately 1.9 billion dollars and launches a public campaign for leadership and strategic changes, prompting Southwest to announce its most comprehensive transformation pl…
2025Delta Air Lines
Record Revenue and Free Cash Flow in Centennial Year
During its centennial celebrations, Delta reports FY2025 GAAP operating revenue of $63.364B, net income of $5.005B, and record free cash flow of $4.6B.
2026Delta Air Lines
Court Saves Aeromexico Joint Venture
On August 20, 2026 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit vacates the Department of Transportation's September 2025 order to end the Delta-Aeromexico joint venture, keeping antitrust immunity for U.S.-Mexico flights in place.
2026Southwest Airlines
Southwest reports FY2025 and Q1 2026 transformation results
Southwest reported FY2025 revenue of $28.063B and Q1 2026 revenue of $7.249B while continuing major commercial and operating-model changes.
Acquisitions
Delta Air Lines
- Equity stake in Aeromexico2017Undisclosed
- Endeavor Air (formerly Pinnacle Airlines' operations)2012Undisclosed
- Northwest Airlines2008$2.8B
- Pan Am Transatlantic Routes and Assets1991$1.4B
Southwest Airlines
- AirTran Airways2011$1.4B
- Morris Air Corporation1993$130M
Questions about Delta Air Lines vs Southwest Airlines
Who is the CEO of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Southwest Airlines?
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is led by Ed Bastian and Southwest Airlines is led by Bob Jordan. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Delta Air Lines, Inc. founded vs Southwest Airlines?
Delta Air Lines, Inc. was founded in 1924 — 43 years before Southwest Airlines, which was founded in 1967. Delta Air Lines, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Southwest Airlines.
How many employees does Delta Air Lines, Inc. have compared to Southwest Airlines?
Delta Air Lines, Inc. employs approximately 103,000 people, while Southwest Airlines employs approximately 72,790. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has the larger workforce at 103,000 employees, compared to Southwest Airlines's 72,790. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Southwest Airlines headquartered?
Both Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Southwest Airlines are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Southwest Airlines?
Delta Air Lines, Inc. was founded by Collett Everman Woolman. Southwest Airlines was founded by Herb Kelleher, Rollin King.
Which company has a longer operating history — Delta Air Lines, Inc. or Southwest Airlines?
Delta Air Lines, Inc. has been operating for approximately 102 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Southwest Airlines has been in operation for around 59 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Delta Air Lines vs Southwest Airlines overview