Airbus, Delta collaborate for the 26th annual DREAM flight

This month, approximately 160 students from the Atlanta metro area traveled to a growing epicenter of U.S. aerospace to find inspiration, purpose and a potential future in aviation.

Through a collaboration between Delta, Airbus, Flight Works Alabama (FWA) and Bishop State Community College, the 26th annual DREAM Flight transported these aspiring aviators to Mobile, Alabama.

The students represented local organizations and schools including Rex Mill Middle, Elite Scholars, the Kindezi Schools, Morrow High School, the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) ACE Academy and The Atlanta Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen S.T.R.E.A.M. Program.

This charter flight gave youth ages 13 to 18 a behind-the-scenes look at the Airbus U.S. Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing Facility, where A320 and A220 Family aircraft are assembled. It also included four interactive experiences, like an aircraft manufacturing scavenger hunt, aviation-themed challenges, drone and aircraft flight simulators at FWA and learning more about the Advanced Manufacturing Program at Bishop State.

DREAM 2026 Airbus - Delta Air Lines

“We talk a lot about the future of aviation, but you can’t actually build that future without bringing new voices and fresh perspectives into the fold,” said Roderick Rogers, Head of A220 Quality Product Improvement in Mobile. “Opening our doors in Mobile to Delta’s DREAM flight is our way of showing these students that there is a very real, accessible place for them in this industry, whether that's in the cockpit or right here on the manufacturing floor.”

DREAM Flight continues to make history

The initiative’s roots trace back to 1973, when Delta pilot and U.S. Air Force veteran John Bailey began flying charter flights for children. His vision ultimately led to the inaugural DREAM Flight to Washington, D.C., in July 2000. Recognizing his lifelong dedication to opening doors for young aviators, Captain Bailey was inducted into the OBAP Hall of Fame this year, according to Delta.

Now in its 26th year — following last year's 25th-anniversary trip to the Kennedy Space Center — the program honors Bailey's legacy by visiting educational destinations to help youth explore the careers available both in the air and on the ground.

Hosted in partnership with OBAP, the DREAM Flight has provided learning opportunities for more than 4,000 youth since its inception. This talent pipeline has already proven successful, with alumni like First Officer Curtis Jackson and First Officer Kyle Foley, who flew on the very first DREAM Flight at age 12 and are now flying for Delta.

DREAM 2026 Airbus - Delta Air Lines

“Every student on this flight has the potential to become a pilot, engineer, technician or leader. Representation can be a powerful catalyst for unlocking potential, especially when students see people who look like them building, flying and leading in this industry,” said Keyra Lynn Johnson, Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Impact Officer. “Delta’s DREAM Flight helps them better understand the variety of career pathways in the aviation industry.”

Inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals

Before heading home, students met with aviation industry role models during a panel at Bishop State that included Kurt Ford, Managing Director of Flight Training; William Cossey, Managing Director of Supply Chain Management; Tyesha Gray, Director of Human Resources; and Mobile’s Roderick Rogers. They shared their own career journeys and answered questions about navigating the industry, what factors they should consider before joining a company, how to balance work and family and more.

DREAM 2026 Airbus - Delta Air Lines

The students’ visit to the Airbus, FWA and Bishop State facilities represents one facet of Delta’s workforce development strategy. Alongside initiatives like the WING (Women Inspiring the Next Generation) Flight, which recently brought 160 young women to the same Mobile facility, the DREAM Flight serves as a talent pipeline, empowering young people to envision themselves in aerospace roles and shaping the future of the aviation industry.

Lyric Singh, an Atlanta-area high schooler who helped moderate the panel, said the visit to Mobile was an inspiring and meaningful opportunity.

“Thank you all for investing your time in helping students like me learn more about the many exciting opportunities within aviation and aerospace.”