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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019687-11-000373.txt : 20110202
<SEC-HEADER>0001019687-11-000373.hdr.sgml : 20110202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110202173903
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019687-11-000373
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110202
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110202

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:		11567714

	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>2011-02-01</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>2011-02-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3528</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.79</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>392229</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9171</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.79</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>383058</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares withheld for payment of tax liability upon vesting of the remaining 50% of the restricted stock award granted on January 30, 2009 under Delta's 2009 long-term incentive program. This withholding was approved by the Personnel &amp; Compensation Committee of Delta's Board of Directors and is exempt from Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 under Rules 16b-3(d)(1) and 16b-3(e).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares withheld for payment of tax liability upon vesting of 50% of the restricted stock award granted on February 4, 2010 under Delta's 2010 long-term incentive program. This withholding was approved by the Personnel &amp; Compensation Committee of Delta's Board of Directors and is exempt from Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 under Rules 16b-3(d)(1) and 16b-3(e).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jan M. Davidson as attorney-in-fact for Richard B. Hirst</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----