Delta, Airbus host 160 girls in Mobile for 11th annual WING flight

Flying at a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet, 160 high school girls chattered excitedly during a short, smooth Delta Air Lines flight out of Atlanta, Georgia.

Up in the flight deck, two female pilots were at the controls, while five female flight attendants managed the cabin. As part of Delta’s WING (Women Inspiring our Next Generation) program, the aircraft was staffed with only women — a deliberate, powerful visual showing the teenagers on board that there is a place for them in aviation, should they choose to pursue it. 

Founded in 2015 by a Delta pilot in collaboration with Women in Aviation International (WAI), the airline’s annual WING flight brings together high school girls from across the Atlanta area to educate them about the wide range of careers available in the aviation industry. 

Their destination this year: Mobile, Alabama, to tour the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in honor of Girls in Aviation Day — a collaborative effort between teams at Delta, Airbus, Flight Works Alabama and Bishop State Community College.

This was the first time Mobile has been part of a Delta WING flight, with previous aviation stops including tours of the Kennedy Space Center and other aerospace hubs around the U.S.

“When we launched WING Flight 11 years ago, our goal was simple: help young women see that they belong in aviation,”  said Cheri Rohlfing, a 25-year Delta veteran and A320 captain who co-founded the flight. “By connecting students with pilots, engineers, mechanics and aviation leaders, we’re helping build the next generation of talent that will shape the future of flight.”

Hands-on aerospace learning at Airbus and Flight Works Alabama

Upon touching down on the Gulf Coast, the students disembarked the aircraft to cheers from Airbus and Flight Works Alabama team members, holding signs with inspiring messages, like “Dream Big! Fly higher,” and “Girls belong in aviation!”

WING 2026 Airbus - Delta Air Lines

These girls weren’t just passengers. They were prospective aviators, engineers, and designers. Divided into four cohorts, the girls began a rotational tour blending hands-on learning at Flight Works Alabama, an interactive aerospace exhibition center near the manufacturing facility, with a look at commercial aircraft operations on the A320 final assembly line. 

At the manufacturing facility, they discovered how Major Component Assemblies (MCAs) were manufactured in Europe and shipped to the U.S. for final assembly in Mobile. They followed the aircraft's journey through each station: starting with the fuselage join-up and electrical calibration, moving to the integration of the wings and horizontal and vertical stabilizers. 

Back at Flight Works Alabama, the students interacted with flight simulators, examined manufacturing props and learned more about the intricacies of Airbus aircraft. 

“When I walked in, I was amazed at what I saw,” said Marley Everett, an Atlanta-area eighth-grader. “Meeting with the women who put these airplanes together shows us women are powerful and we can do everything. Thank you Delta, and thank you, Airbus, for this great opportunity.” 

Connecting high school students with female engineers and mechanics

Midday, the students gathered back together for a pizza lunch on the mezzanine positioned directly above Mobile’s new A320 final assembly line. At each table, a female Airbus team member, from mechanics to engineers, met with the girls to discuss what it’s like to be a woman in manufacturing.

“You cannot dream about a career you have never seen,” said Stephanie Burt, Head of Human Resources at Airbus in the U.S. “By giving these young women a front-row seat to advanced manufacturing alongside Delta Air Lines, we hope to spark that early curiosity and help them imagine what's possible for their own lives.” 

Following the tours, the girls boarded buses and headed to Bishop State Community College, where they were treated to a panel discussion featuring executives from both Delta Air Lines and Airbus. Among the leaders was Caroline Jecko-Parkes, Head of Human Resources for Airbus in North America.

“To meet the growing global demand for aerospace talent, our industry must actively broaden access and create early touchpoints for young women," said Caroline Jecko-Parkes,  Head of Human Resources for Airbus in North America. "Partnering with Delta to give these students direct access to our facility and leaders is an important investment in the talent pipeline that will help drive the future of aerospace innovation.”

WING 2026 Airbus - Delta Air Lines