Delta is celebrating past and present in its 100th year of flight with a fond look back at uniforms and the unveiling a new safety video that is sure to capture customers’ attention with nods to its history and demonstrations of today’s safety procedures.
The new video – ‘A Hundred Years of Safety’ – was inspired by Delta’s rich history and takes customers on a journey through the decades of air travel, starting in the 1920s, featuring 11 Delta logos and 10 employees wearing historically accurate pilot stylings and flight attendant uniforms, provided by archivists from the Delta Flight Museum. Delta loyalists will also be pleased to see a special cameo of the iconic ‘Deltalina’ from the airline’s 2008 safety video amid the many cultural references.
“These quintessential uniforms and references not only demonstrate just how much has changed throughout the last 100 years of air travel – including habits, fashion and culture – but that Delta’s commitment to safety has always been our top priority,” said Delta managing director of Global Brand Strategy, Creative and Social, Maya Dukes. “Our safety video is viewed by hundreds of thousands of customers every day from all walks of life, so it’s the perfect creative venue to honor our history and people while captivating the attention of customers as they prepare for takeoff.”
As with all safety videos, Delta worked closely with the US Federal Aviation Administration over the course of several months on the development of the video to ensure its content met all requirements. The video includes key safety information, as mandated to all US airlines, about how to prevent and properly react in an emergency – such as where emergency exits are located, how to use oxygen masks and what to do in case of a sudden evacuation.
Safety professionals of the sky
Ever since Delta’s first ‘stewardesses’ took to the skies in 1940, flight attendants have walked the aisles with the primary responsibility of ensuring the safety and comfort of our customers.
When hired, Delta Flight attendants complete a hands-on, seven-week training program at Delta’s Atlanta headquarters to prepare them for anything and everything they may encounter onboard – including turbulence, unruly customers, medical emergencies and evacuations. Flight attendant training includes in-depth technical knowledge of 9 different aircraft types, learning how to operate 16 different door and window variations, and honing the premium hospitality skills Delta is known for. Flight attendants also undergo recurrent training to meet FAA and TSA Standards, and Delta conducts routine audits of compliance and the effectiveness of safety and operational procedures.
“Air travel is the safest form of transportation, and that’s because safety is embedded into every aspect of our business and the industry,” SVP of In-Flight Service, Kristen Manion Taylor, said. “Rigorously training our flight attendants to be safety professionals and educating our customers on the safety protocols and procedures that they’re expected to comply with is non-negotiable. Delta’s ability to creatively draw attention to these safety elements on the more than 165,000 seatback screens throughout our fleet helps further ensure everyone on board is informed and ready to act should the need arise.”
Delta flight attendant uniforms
Upon completion of training, flight attendants earn their wings at a special graduation ceremony as they proudly sport their new Delta uniform – a symbol of their hard work, dedication and readiness to provide customers with the welcoming, elevated, and caring service that sets Delta apart.
“The Delta uniform is an extension of who we are – a globally recognised, premium brand built on a set of core values, including safety, service excellence and reliability,” Onboard Strategy and Experience managing director, Ekrem Dimbiloglu, said. “Our people earn the ability to wear these uniforms and represent the Delta brand – which is why we rely so heavily on their feedback when designing them, ensuring that fit and functionality are top of mind.”
In addition to employee feedback and safety considerations, cultural shifts in style and fashion have contributed to how uniforms themselves have changed over the course of 100 years.
