Delta’s 26th annual DREAM Flight brings Atlanta-area students to aircraft manufacturing in Mobile, Ala.

Delta Air Lines on Oct. 20 carried roughly 160 aspiring aviators from the Atlanta metro on its 26th annual DREAM Flight, using a single day of tours, simulations, and career conversations to turn curiosity about aviation into concrete next steps.

The group boarded at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and traveled to the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama, where students rotated through four interactive experiences. The activities included a tour of the Airbus A320 final assembly line, an aircraft-manufacturing scavenger hunt, aviation-themed challenges, and hands-on learning at multiple sites connected to aerospace and training.

Students spent time at Flight Works operating drones and using flight simulators, and they also explored advanced manufacturing programming and facilities at Bishop State Community College. The approach was designed to expose students to both “in the cockpit” and “right here on the manufacturing floor” pathways, according to Delta’s leaders who spoke at the event.

Before heading home, the students heard from a panel of Delta and Airbus leaders at Bishop State. Delta executives and program leaders included Kurt Ford, managing director of flight training; William Cossey, managing director of supply chain management; Tyesha Gray, director of human resources; and Julian Anugom, director of in-flight entertainment and connectivity. Airbus was represented by Roderick Rogers, head of A220 quality product improvement at Airbus, who also addressed how students can envision careers tied to specific aircraft and production roles.

Delta framed DREAM Flight as part of a broader effort to widen access and improve representation in aviation. Keyra Lynn Johnson, Delta’s chief diversity, equity, inclusion and social impact officer, said representation can be a “powerful catalyst” when students see people who look like them building, flying, and leading across the industry.

The program’s current footprint traces back decades to OBAP Hall of Fame honoree John Bailey, a former Delta pilot and U.S. Air Force veteran. Bailey was recognized at OBAP’s annual conference for a career focused on opening doors for young people who dream of flying, including helping bring OBAP’s ACE Academy to Delta and founding DREAM Flight. After joining Delta in 1973, Bailey piloted the first DREAM Flight in July 2000 to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., taking 150 Atlanta students and later returning them to Atlanta on time. Delta said the experience has remained a one-day journey from takeoff to touchdown, and that it continues to expand through mentorship and hands-on learning.

Delta said the program has reached more than 4,000 young people to date, helped by a partnership with OBAP and an emphasis on making foundational experiences financially accessible. Delta also pointed to alumni who later pursued careers at the airline, and it cited DREAM Flight as one component of a wider portfolio of aviation education and pipeline efforts, including WING Flight, ACE Academy, and the National Flight Academy.

The Mobile stop also connects to Delta and Airbus’s shared industrial footprint in aircraft production. Mobile is one of five cities worldwide where Airbus commercial aircraft are assembled, and Delta said the Mobile facility employs more than 2,000 people producing A320 and A220 family aircraft for U.S. and Latin America customers. Delta’s participation in local manufacturing visits and career programming comes as it continues expanding internationally, including an earlier-announced plan to add 31 next-generation Airbus widebody aircraft, which Delta said would support international growth and fleet renewal.

Even with the program’s long history, Delta’s announcement does not provide details on outcomes such as how many participants apply to aviation schools, enroll in training pathways, or eventually enter Delta or Airbus roles. The company also did not disclose any specific funding levels, ticketing mechanisms, or how students are selected for DREAM Flight beyond identifying the participating schools and organizations.

Looking ahead, the company’s next moves will likely be judged by whether these pipeline events translate into sustained hiring and training outcomes for underrepresented communities, particularly as Delta leans on new aircraft and expands its international operations. For aviation educators and industry leaders, DREAM Flight is a reminder that early exposure and accessible mentoring remain central challenges in building the next generation of talent.