Delta Board of Directors Names Shirley Franklin as Newest Member

ATLANTA, July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Delta Air Lines’ (NYSE: DAL) board of directors today announced Shirley Franklin, former Mayor of Atlanta, as its newest member, effective immediately.

“Throughout her distinguished career, Shirley has demonstrated great leadership and tremendous knowledge of the region and the nation’s economy,” said Daniel A. Carp, Delta’s non-executive chairman of the board. “We look forward to adding her business experience, financial expertise and leadership abilities to the depth and range of Delta’s already strong and independent board of directors.”

Franklin served as Mayor of Atlanta for two terms, from 2002 to 2010. In 2005, TIME Magazine named Franklin one of the five best big-city mayors in America, and U.S. News & World Report listed her among its “Best Leaders 2005.” Franklin received the 2005 Profile in Courage award from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation for her leadership in restoring fiscal stability and ethical government to Atlanta. Prior to being elected Mayor of Atlanta, Franklin served the city in several executive positions, culminating in her service as the City’s Chief Officer of Operations.

Franklin is chair of the board and chief executive officer of Purpose Built Communities, Inc., a national non-profit organization established to transform struggling neighborhoods into sustainable communities. She is a director of Mueller Water Products, Inc. and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research as well as co-chair of the Atlanta Regional Commission on Homelessness and co-chair of the board of directors of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Franklin served on a special task force for the Department of Homeland Security, and held the William and Camille Cosby Endowed Chair at Spelman College in Atlanta.

Franklin holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Howard University and master’s degree in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania.