-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OcMYVY58459IC+JSXm3JWUYcTXB8i/RSVpm+PeR42MtRo4ZktfAoICvk6nwcPVzg
 y6lih9Knu5+Y4ATM0lpgcg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019687-10-000878.txt : 20100308
<SEC-HEADER>0001019687-10-000878.hdr.sgml : 20100308
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100308163813
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019687-10-000878
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100308
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100308
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100308

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HIRST RICHARD B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001285941

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05424
		FILM NUMBER:		10664141

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10990 WILSHIRE BLVD.
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90024

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DELTA AIR LINES INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000027904
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AIR TRANSPORTATION, SCHEDULED [4512]
		IRS NUMBER:				580218548
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HARTSFIELD ATLANTA INTL AIRPORT
		STREET 2:		1030 DELTA BLVD
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30354-1989
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4047152600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 20706
		STREET 2:		DEPT 981
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30320-6001

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DELTA AIR CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19660908
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-08</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000027904</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DELTA AIR LINES INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DAL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001285941</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HIRST RICHARD B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DELTA AIR LINES, INC., DEPT. 981</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 20574</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30320</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP &amp; General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>60</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>405037</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares of Delta common stock were distributed by Delta in accordance with the First Amended Joint and Consolidated Plan of Reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (the &quot;Plan of Reorganization&quot;) for Northwest Airlines Corporation (&quot;Northwest&quot;) and certain of its affiliated entities (collectively, the &quot;Debtors&quot;) with respect to a pre-petition unsecured claim held by Mr. Hirst.  Northwest became a subsidiary of Delta on October 29, 2008.  Pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization, Mr. Hirst has in the past received shares of Northwest common stock.  These shares were converted to Delta common stock upon consummation of the merger of Northwest and Delta.  Mr. Hirst may in the future receive additional shares of Delta common stock with respect to this same claim as all unsecured claims held by creditors of the Debtors continue to be reconciled.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jan M. Davidson as attorney-in-fact for Richard B. Hirst</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----