When I was named editor-in-chief of Sky last December, the list of to-dos from Delta was pretty short, including one big ask: June needs to be a New York City issue. Having come off of a city magazine prior to joining Sky, I knew it would be a no-brainer to create an issue all about New York. (Bonus: Our global lifestyle editor, Jason Oliver Nixon, lives in Brooklyn.)

I knew that first we needed a cover. But who? Sure, there are the classics: Letterman, De Niro, Scorsese. Buzz-worthy women: Tina Fey, Sarah Jessica Parker. High-profile media types: Matt Lauer, Katie Couric, Anderson Cooper.

But we wanted someone fresh. Someone who has something new. Someone people are talking about.

The result: Jimmy Fallon of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon anchors our My New York feature, which includes 14 noted New Yorkers (Isaac Mizrahi, Soledad O’Brien, Donald Trump, Donna Karan, Mary Louis Parker, Wynton Marsalis, Edie Falco, Derek Jeter and more).

We interviewed Jimmy during his first week on the air and was backstage during Late Night’s first Friday night show. If you’re not flying this month, read the digital magazine here.

What do you think of our New York issue?

Jayne Haugen Olson
Sky Magazine

According to C. E. Woolman, Delta’s principal founder and first CEO, it was his longtime assistant Catherine FitzGerald (picture), who coined the name “Delta” in 1928.

As Woolman recalled, “When we got into the passenger business and decided to change the company name, we looked for a short name, preferably with five letters. It was Miss FitzGerald who said, ‘Delta.’”  The new name fit the crop dusting company Huff Daland Dusters, based in the delta region of the Mississippi River.

The new name influenced the shape of our first passenger service logo–a triangle–representing the “D” of the Greek alphabet, which is “Delta.” At center is a winged Mercury, the Roman god of travel and commerce.

To celebrate 80 years of service on June 17th, we are sharing stories from the people who launched Delta and from their families about those early days.  Read earlier stories: 1940s In Flight Service, Flying Prop Planes, 1930s Customer Service

Marie Force

Archives Manager

The Delta blog has been selected to receive two national communication awards for outstanding achievement in the social media world!

Thanks to your ideas, thoughts, and participation, our blog won a 2009 PRSA Bronze Anvil Award and a 2009 IAVA Communicator Award of Distinction.

CONGRATULATIONS to our Delta employees and partners who contribute to our blog daily and thanks to our frequent commenters and readers for your support.

Tell us, what do you like most about our blog? How can we continue to improve?

Katie
Marketing