Delta Air Lines Launches Eight-Year Commitment to Support the Olympic and Paralympic Games Los Angeles 2028 as Inaugural Founding Partner of 2028

Delta’s LA28 partnership begins in 2021; includes support for Team USA and access to NBCUniversal’s Olympic and Paralympic coverage and platforms

Los Angeles, CA – March 2, 2020 – With a shared vision for Los Angeles’ future, Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) and LA28 have committed to an eight-year partnership beginning in 2021, making Delta the inaugural Founding Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Los Angeles 2028 and a supporter of the United States Olympic and Paralympic teams.

Coinciding with the airline’s 95th anniversary on March 2, Delta and LA28 celebrated the partnership at an event at LA’s Griffith Observatory headlined by Delta Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Tim Mapes, LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

“Delta is in the business of connecting people, and nothing brings the world together quite like the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “The dreams and big ideas born in Los Angeles inspire us to imagine a better future. Partnering with LA28 is an investment in LA’s future and a commitment to work together to create a more connected, equitable and sustainable world.”

“Delta embodies the spirit and strength of the Los Angeles Games, and we are proud they are taking this journey with us as an early and committed partner to the Olympic and Paralympic movement,” said Wasserman. “Athletes from more than 200 nations and all corners of this country will descend on Los Angeles in just eight years. We embrace Delta’s passion and dedication to connect all of these dreams and Olympic and Paralympic stories in the years to come.”

“Los Angeles is a global crossroads — a city where everybody is welcome,” said Mayor Garcetti. “By bringing the world to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to the world, Delta is helping the City of Angels reach new heights.”

Four-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist and LA28 Chief Athlete Officer Janet Evans hosted the evening event. Five of America’s top athletes — Allyson Felix, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Michael Phelps, Kerri Walsh Jennings and Mallory Weggemann — joined with other special guests, including local dignitaries and Delta partners, to get an exclusive sneak peek of what a special LA28 Airbus A350 aircraft livery could look like once the partnership launches in 2021.

As the inaugural Founding Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Los Angeles 2028, Delta will become the Official Airline of LA28 and Team USA beginning Jan. 1, 2021, and include the Beijing 2022, Paris 2024, Milan Cortina 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 Games. As part of the Founding Partnership, Delta will have the opportunity to co-create the LA28 Volunteer Program, in conjunction with the LA28 Organizing Committee, which will include more than 25,000 community and employee volunteers. Delta will also partner on the LA28 Sustainability Collective, envisioned to be a collection of programs and brands focused on delivering innovative thinking and creative solutions that reduce the environmental impact of the Games.

Delta’s partnership also includes a commitment to NBCUniversal over eight years, including multi-platform advertising within coverage of the next four Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as media activation in non-Olympic years. NBCU will work closely with Delta to chronicle and celebrate its full Olympic journey.

“The Olympics have the power to bring audiences together in a way that no other event can,” said NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell. “Delta’s unprecedented access to the Games and Team USA across all platforms truly represents the future of advertising. We cannot think of a better Olympic setting than our own backyard in Los Angeles, and we look forward to welcoming the athletes in 2028 to this dynamic city.”

Delta is a past sponsor of the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996 and Olympic Winter Games Salt Lake City 2002. Since 2009, Delta has been the fastest-growing airline at LAX, with more than 170 daily flights to 70 destinations worldwide. Delta is investing billions of dollars in products, services, and technology to enhance the customer experience in Los Angeles, including an investment of $1.86 billion to build the terminal of the future – the Delta Sky Way at LAX. Delta has also partnered over the years with some of LA’s most notable sports teams and entertainment experiences, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Football Club, Staples Center, and The Grammy Museum.

LA28 is the independent, non-profit organizing committee responsible for delivering the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2028 Los Angeles. The 2028 Games will harness the creativity, optimism, youthful energy and existing world-class infrastructure across Southern California to create an amazing experience for athletes, fans and the Los Angeles community. As a privately funded organization, commercial partners drive needed revenue to support the Games.