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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EUtAewIjc9qyr7l9b3stlt/rNP5RdWOa0awb+tEsw01phZJAE03eANNyh50ZPVw0
 uMC3n0H8njBWs2UUHyh0Gw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019687-11-000559.txt : 20110215
<SEC-HEADER>0001019687-11-000559.hdr.sgml : 20110215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110215170603
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019687-11-000559
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110215
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110215

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GORMAN STEPHEN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001160512

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05424
		FILM NUMBER:		11614998

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		370 KNOLLWOOD STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500
		CITY:			WINSTON SALEM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27103

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>2011-02-14</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001160512</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GORMAN STEPHEN E</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>EVP &amp; Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20659</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.82</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>502851</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 restricted stock award granted on February 4, 2010 under the 2009 annual incentive plan.  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 Stephen E. Gorman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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