April 30th marked 45 years since Delta’s entry into the UK market and the start of its transatlantic flights.
April’s end marked Delta Air Lines’ 45th anniversary of flying to the UK and of launching the company’s first transatlantic route. The airline made its maiden transatlantic flight from Atlanta to London Gatwick on April 30, 1978, utilizing a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. Delta used the occasion to roll out a new three-class cabin configuration, and passengers were treated to the airline’s first-ever in-flight movie.
According to the Delta Flight Museum, Delta began domestic revenue flights in L-1011s in December 1973. It became the first US carrier to order the longer-range -500 when it purchased three immediately following its receipt of the Atlanta to London Gatwick route from the Civil Aeronautics Board in January 1978.