History In 1924, Delta airlines began as crop dusting operations. It was the first commercial agricultural airline in existence. It now serves more than 350 destinations on six continents. This once small airline moved its headquarters from Monroe, Louisiana to the exciting city of Atlanta, Georgia. Delta has become one of the largest airlines in the world, and Atlanta has grown into an international city and global gateway (need to rephrase) Current Business SituationDelta was named one of the 50 Most Admired Companies in the World by FORTUNE magazine. Delta airlines are seen all over the world both domestically and internationally. It currently has 11 hubs including Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis-St.Paul, New York-LaGuardia. Airlines create air pollution and consumers realize that this does not benefit their overall health. Rising oil prices are becoming a concern to help spread travel costs. One of the biggest reactions observed was the effect after 9/11. Air travel was seen as a fear associated with terrorism and this created many depressed consumers and a global recession. The airline industry has lost revenue due to lost demand and high operating costs that have resulted in employee layoffs and hurt many airlines. Political and LegalAirlines operate in a very regulated and limited political environment. Government intervention may be necessary to protect the interests of passengers and the safety measures of airline operations. EconomicFluctuating oil prices is another important factor affecting the profitability of airlines. SocialDelta airlines aim to target business travelers and middle- and upper-class consumers. It provides value to consumers by being known for its reliability, safety and comfort. As generations continue to change, the demand for people traveling by air also increases. This generation is seen to have the highest demand for airOne is Air-France, KLM and Alitalia, which mainly operates in North America and Europe. Virgin non-stop routes between the UK and North America has a joint venture agreement with Atlantic Airways. The trans-Pacific joint venture is with Virgin Australia Airlines and covers routes between North America and Australia/New Zealand. In addition to its joint ventures, Delta also has an alliance with SkyTeam. Other SkyTeam members are Aeroflot, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeroméxico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, CSA Czech Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korea Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Tarom, Vietnam Airlines and Xiamen Airlines. Through alliance agreements with other SkyTeam carriers, Delta is able to connect its network with the route networks of other member airlines, providing opportunities for increased connecting traffic while offering improved customer service through mutual alliance agreements. codesharing and frequent flyer, airport lounge access programs and coordinated loading operations services. Domestically, Delta has frequent flyer programs and airport lounge access agreements with both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian