It’s good to see the Red Coats back and celebrating almost 50 years of special airport service for Delta customers. We first introduced these special Passenger Service Agents in the early 1960s, and they were quickly nicknamed “Red Coats” for their bright uniform jackets (shown here in this 1970s photo).
I’ve heard though, that the signature red jacket was not always red. One of our early agents told me that Delta first tested yellow jackets–yellow being the favorite color of C. E. Woolman, Delta’s principal founder and first CEO. After a couple of months, they were replaced with the now iconic red coat for better visiblity of the agents in airport crowds and to tie in with new Delta’s jet age branding–the red/white/blue Delta widget logo–introduced in 1959.
Do you have a story to share about a Red Coat’s exceptional customer service? I’d love to hear about it and add it to our story collection in the Delta Archives!
Marie Force
Archives Manager
June 26th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Ah, the red coats also make for better photographs… seriously… Drop a red coat in a photograph and presto! A more interesting photograph.
June 26th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Would you look at the size of that radio…and tie! I love these pics of Delta’s history! Thanks Marie…