Employee honorees celebrate the reveal of new Team USA aircraft in Toulouse, France

Source: Delta Air Lines

The Team USA-inspired A350 celebrates Delta’s eight-year partnership with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, which runs through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Delta unveiled its custom Airbus A350 Team USA aircraft livery in Toulouse, France honoring the airline’s commitment to celebrate the athletes’ journeys and connect them with their dreams as the official airline of Team USA.

The Team USA-inspired A350 celebrates Delta’s eight-year partnership with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, which runs through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Unveiling the Team USA aircraft for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 marks a major milestone for Delta’s support of Team USA as we look toward the start of competition in just a few months,” said Chief Marketing Officer Alicia Tillman. “This plane, designed by our in-house creative team, represents Delta’s commitment to Team USA and our partnership to elevate these athletes to reach their highest potential. As this plane flies around the world in the coming months and years, we hope it is seen as a symbol of hard work, dedication and the upward momentum to being the best that Team USA and Delta innately share.”

DELTA’S CHAIRMAN’S CLUB TAKES DELIVERY IN TOULOUSE

The celebration in Toulouse – home of Airbus’ global headquarters and where the plane was built and painted this year – had a special audience this year, with Delta’s Chairman’s Club – a peer-selected honoree group of the airline’s top 100 employees from divisions across the company – being a part of the reveal moment for the first time.

These employees, who are nominated by their peers and Delta’s most senior leaders, represent top employees from across the business. The honorees, which are selected annually, are chosen based on their merit and ability to exemplify the Delta brand each day. Each year, Chairman’s Club Honorees receive the distinction of flying on a new Delta aircraft home to Atlanta as recognition of their commitment and dedication to the brand. To celebrate the countdown to the Paris Games, the 2023 honoree class was able to unveil the brand-new Team USA livery design and be the first to fly on the newly minted plane. Members of the 2023 class were in attendance for the occasion.

“Team USA athletes are resilient and perseverant – much like Delta’s own people who work each day behind the scenes to connect the world,” said VP of Global Communications Gina Laughlin. “Celebrating this moment alongside our 2023 Chairman’s Club Honorees is only fitting as Delta’s people and Team USA work diligently each day to bring the best of themselves to their work. No one better understand what it means to Keep Climbing to the top.”

Delta’s Chairman’s Club Honorees will fly the aircraft back to Atlanta on May 3.

DESIGNING THE LIVERY

The custom livery was designed over several months by Alessandra Rabellino and Delta’s internal brand design team, Window Seat. The bespoke design boasts red, white and blue colors with ‘Team USA’ proudly written across its side and maintains elements of the Team USA Livery design for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, as a nod to the beginning of the partner journey, while also incorporating features that look ahead to Paris and beyond.

“We evolved one of the main features from the Beijing Livery – the jet stream – into the shape of the Eiffel Tower, symbolizing momentum as we countdown to Paris,” Rabellino said.  “Being able to see the big reveal after the curtain drop was so exciting. But what is even more special is being part of this occasion alongside the Chairman’s Club Honorees who have such a big impact on our company – it’s a true honor.”

Delta’s Team USA athlete ambassadors include U.S. Olympians and Paralympians, an Olympic hopeful and gold-medal winning legends, who will support the Games next year as spectators – some for the first time.

U.S. Olympic Athletes:  

Allyson Felix, 11X U.S. Olympic medalist, Track and Field
Gabby Thomas, 2X U.S. Olympic gold medalist, Track and Field
Ilona Maher, U.S. Olympian, Rugby
Brooke Raboutou, U.S. Olympian, Sport Climbing
Jagger Eaton, U.S. Olympic bronze medalist, Skateboarding
Chase Kalisz, 2X U.S. Olympic medalist, Swimming
Victor Montalvo, U.S. Olympic hopeful, Breaking
Ashleigh Johnson, 2X Olympic gold medalist, Water Polo

U.S. Paralympic Athletes: 

Brad Snyder, 8X U.S. Paralympic medalist, Para Swimming & Paratriathlon
Oksana Masters, 17X U.S. Paralympic medalist, Para Cycling & Para Cross-country ski

Kaleo Kanahele Maclay, 3X U.S. Paralympic medalist, Sitting Volleyball
Trevon Jenifer, 3X U.S. Paralympic medalist, Wheelchair Basketball
Roderick Townsend, 4X U.S. Paralympic medalist, Para Track and Field
Chuck Aoki, 3X U.S. Paralympic medalist, Wheelchair Rugby
Mallory Weggemann, 5X U.S. Paralympic medalist, Para Swimming

As Team USA’s official airline, Delta will manage travel for all U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milan 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, where it also is an inaugural founding partner.

The partnership with Team USA furthers Delta’s longstanding support for sport – and the airline’s proud history supporting Team USA and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Delta served as a past sponsor of its hometown in the Olympic and Paralympic Games Atlanta 1996 and Salt Lake City 2002.

The foundation of Delta’s partnership is in the alignment of values and a shared focus on excellence, a passion for connecting people and cultures and a drive to be the best and the gold standard difference. Learn more about Delta’s partnership with Team USA.

On May 2 Delta unveiled its custom Airbus A350 Team USA aircraft livery in Toulouse, France honoring the airline’s commitment to celebrate these athlete’s journey and connect them with their dreams as the official airline of Team USA. NBC’s Keir Simmons shared an exclusive look inside on TODAY.

THE TEAM USA 2024 LIVERY LANDS IN ATLANTA

Following the exciting reveal celebration in Toulouse, the Team USA 2024 Livery made is first flight to Delta’s home airport in Atlanta, Georgia. The brand-new plane flew the 2023 Chairman’s Club Honorees on a special route from Toulouse to Atlanta, landing to a celebratory water cannon salute at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.

The plane was met by Delta leadership, Team USA athletes and past Chairman’s Club Honorees who were able to see the livery for the first time. The aircraft will complete final certifications before beginning flying routes and carrying customers in a few weeks.

For those looking to track the Team USA 2024 Livery for a chance at plane spotting, the aircraft is registered as N521DN and will fly primarily transatlantic routes and be based at Delta’s home airport, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

ABOUT DELTA’S TEAM USA PARTNERSHIP

To further its commitment to Team USA, Delta has also proudly partnered with 15 Team USA athlete ambassadors for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. This group of inspiring athletes will join Delta on the road to Paris as the airline will support them both on and off the field of play, celebrating their stories of resilience and perseverance as they pursue their Olympic and Paralympic dreams.