Delta welcomes Knicks champions back to New York with water cannon salute after Game 5 win

Delta Air Lines marked the New York Knicks’ championship with a celebratory homecoming for the team on Sunday, welcoming the players back to New York with a water cannon salute as the aircraft landed. The salute followed the Knicks’ Game 5 series win in San Antonio, Texas, after an end-of-game finish that Delta described as “epic.”

In its account of the return trip, Delta said the team touched down early Sunday morning, completing what it framed as the conclusion of the Knicks’ 2026 season. Delta positioned the moment as part of its role as the Knicks’ official airline of champions, and highlighted its longer-running partnership with the franchise.

Delta also reiterated that it has backed the Knicks since 2009 as their official airline partner. The carrier said it supports Knicks fans year-round by flying supporters from its two New York dual hubs, LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport, tying its network presence to the team’s fan base both at home and on the road.

The airline’s sponsorship stance is encapsulated in a quote from Emmakate Young, Delta’s managing director for sponsorships. Young said New York has been important to Delta’s story, and that Delta honors the chance to celebrate alongside the Knicks, Madison Square Garden, and Delta customers. She also linked the company’s sponsorship values to the team’s approach during the playoff run, adding Delta’s “Keep Climbing” message and a Knicks call to action.

Beyond the touchdown salute, Delta described a series of promotional activations aimed at bringing the playoff experience to customers traveling to games. Delta said it distributed more than 2,000 collectible Delta x the Knicks rally towels to customers flying through LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy during the series, an effort intended to extend the playoff atmosphere beyond the arena.

Delta’s Game 1 promotion, as described in the release, included a curated fan charter to San Antonio featuring Delta Gift Card giveaways and swag bags. Delta also said it brought Knicks legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier on board. For Game 2, Delta said it turned to its flight attendants, asking customers traveling from JFK to SAT to write good luck cards for the team, treating the in-cabin note-writing as a uniquely Delta-supported gesture.

In the lead-up to Game 4, Delta said it staged a surprise for two Knicks fans by giving them tickets to the “now-legendary” win in the Garden. Delta also emphasized that customers could watch every play live using seatback screens, pointing to the availability of live television offerings as a way to keep travelers connected during the series.

In addition to describing these touchpoints, Delta used the Knicks championship to underscore its broader sports sponsorship footprint. The airline said it has flown 81 championship teams across multiple sports leagues since 2000, including carrying recent 2025 champions across professional and college football, professional baseball, professional basketball, and professional hockey.

One limitation in the release is that it does not provide commercial details on the sponsorship’s impact, such as costs, incremental revenue, or audience metrics. It also does not specify the airport or flight number for the water cannon salute, nor does it offer operational context for how the celebration may have affected the schedule. What is clear is the company’s emphasis on brand visibility, customer engagement, and in-flight experiences throughout the Knicks’ run.