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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,
 FQWPGkXdHd+MYH+1iejCpVV7qjJBesrCpBb4Rc08NajDmmhnetAGC+QUkD6NTgGI
 D9okQmdXMZN9uliFpJWTGA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001301040-05-000037.txt : 20050802
<SEC-HEADER>0001301040-05-000037.hdr.sgml : 20050802
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050802154658
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001301040-05-000037
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050801
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050802
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050802

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAUENSTEIN GLEN W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001193002

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05424
		FILM NUMBER:		05991928

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 SMITH ST
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-08-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001193002</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAUENSTEIN GLEN W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>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; Ch. of Ntwrk &amp; Rev Mgmt</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.97</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>313400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-08-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>313400</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>313400</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The stock options reported in this Form 4 were granted to the reporting person in connection with his joining Delta as an executive officer.  The stock options will become exercisable in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date, August 1, 2005, and will expire at the close of business on the sixth anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nanci Oliver Sloan as attorney-in-fact for      Glen W. Hauenstein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-08-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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