I flew my last flight for Delta Air Lines from Sydney to Los Angeles on October 31st of 2024 while operating DL40, thereby ending an almost 37-year career with the airline. I flew over 24,500 hours on the B727, the L1011, the B757/767, the B767-400, the A330, and finally the A350. Over 14,400 hours of that total time was as a Delta captain. Being hired by Delta Air Lines after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps was a boyhood dream come true for me, and I consider myself to be very blessed to have had such an extraordinary and fulfilling career. There were a few setbacks, most notably the tragic events of 9/11 with Delta’s filing for bankruptcy in its aftermath, and the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused serious disruptions throughout the airline industry. Thankfully, Delta Air Lines managed to survive the buffeting headwinds and came out as an industry leader. I loved flying Delta jets and sought to set the highest standards for myself and my fellow pilots. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the many thousands of fellow Delta employees who strive day in and day out to keep our very complex flight schedule operating to such an extraordinarily high degree. It can be quite easy for the travelling public to find fault with some aspect or another, and that’s understandable. There were times when it wasn’t hard to agree about where we fell short, but the fact that our flight operations run so smoothly the overwhelming majority of the time is a testament to our leadership and the dedication of Delta’s employees above and below the wing and throughout the company. Not only are our aircraft extraordinarily complex, but the complexity of moving tens of thousands of passengers across continents and oceans each and every day is something that is difficult to fully comprehend and truly appreciate. There are untold numbers of employees who support the pilots and flight attendants 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in what we do best; provide a safe and comfortable flight for our passengers from their point of origin to their destination. We try to make it look easy, but it’s really not when you consider all the variables that can affect modern air transportation, particularly when you factor in weather. I am going to deeply miss flying for Delta Air Lines. It was my distinct pleasure to serve as a captain on so many flights over the past two decades and to fly with highly skilled pilots and outstanding flight attendants. I did my utmost to take care of my passengers and my crew each and every day that I wore the Delta uniform. I could not have done so without the legions of fellow employees who dedicated themselves to ensure the successful operation of the flights which I operated. So, thank you, thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your tireless efforts which allowed me to fly those beautiful Delta jets for our passengers and to get them safely to their destinations around the world. Sincerely, Capt. Kevin M. Mac Donnell
Wishing everyone safe and smooth travels this Thanksgiving!