Delta WING Flight brought 160 young women from eight Atlanta-area schools and organizations to Airbus’ U.S. manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama, for a close-up look at aircraft production and aviation careers. The 11th annual trip, held in celebration of Girls in Aviation Day, combined an A320 assembly-line tour with drone and flight-simulator activities and a career discussion with Delta and Airbus leaders.
Four stops explored aircraft and fleet work
The students flew from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Mobile, Alabama, where they rotated through four interactive stops. The itinerary moved from aircraft assembly to educational activities and workforce training, giving students different points of entry into aviation and aerospace.
At the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility, they toured the A320 assembly line. At the Delivery Center, they played aviation-themed games. At Flight Works Alabama, they operated drones and flight simulators, then visited Bishop College’s Advanced Manufacturing Program and facilities. Delta framed the visit as a way to show how an airline’s fleet comes into being and how a range of careers contributes to the industry.
A women-crewed flight introduces aviation careers
WING stands for Women Inspiring Next Generation. Delta Flight Operations created the program in 2015 in partnership with Women in Aviation International. Its annual flight is crewed entirely by women and serves students ages 11 to 18, introducing them to possible careers including piloting, aircraft maintenance and aviation engineering.
Cheri Rohlfing, the flight’s co-founder, is an A320 captain and has worked at Delta for 25 years. She said the program’s aim is to help young women recognize that they can pursue aviation careers, and that meeting pilots, engineers, mechanics and other leaders can help develop the next generation of industry talent.
Delta and Airbus leaders discussed career paths
Before the return trip, students heard from a panel of Delta and Airbus leaders at Bishop College. The leaders discussed their career journeys and answered student questions about navigating the industry.
The Delta panelists were Jennie Ho, vice president of In-Flight Service Operations; Heather Tardif, vice president of Crew Resources; Barbara Quiroga-Lozano, managing director and assistant treasurer; and Nicole Bell, director of HR and Employee Engagement. Airbus was represented by Caroline Jecko-Parkes, identified in the article as vice president of HR.
The panel complemented the hands-on activities by giving students access to leaders from different parts of airline and aerospace organizations. Jecko-Parkes said early access to facilities and industry leaders can help broaden opportunities for young women considering aerospace careers.
WING is part of a wider student outreach effort
Delta cited WING Flight alongside Dream Flight, ACE Academy and the National Flight Academy as programs that introduce students to aviation careers and help expand the industry talent pipeline. The company said it also partners with K-12 schools and organizations working to connect young people from underrepresented communities with opportunities.
The announcement cited “one industry estimate” that the United States will need hundreds of thousands of new aviation professionals over the next decade, but did not name the estimate’s source or methodology. Keyra Lynn Johnson, Delta’s vice president and chief diversity, equity, inclusion and social impact officer, said access and exposure to the industry are not universal. She described reaching students with varied backgrounds and experiences as a way to build a talent pipeline that can help the airline better reflect and serve its customers.
Mobile facility builds Airbus A320 and A220 aircraft
Mobile is one of five cities worldwide where Airbus commercial aircraft are assembled. The company said its U.S. manufacturing facility in the city has more than 2,000 employees and produces A320 and A220 Family aircraft for customers in the United States and Latin America.
Delta and Airbus also have a fleet relationship. Earlier in 2026, Delta announced the addition of 31 next-generation Airbus widebody aircraft. Delta said the investment would support international growth and accelerate fleet renewal in the years ahead.
Jecko-Parkes, identified in the announcement as Airbus’ head of human resources for North America, said the aerospace industry needs to broaden access and create early points of contact for young women as global demand for talent grows. She described the partnership and students’ direct access to the facility and its leaders as an investment in the future aerospace workforce.
Source: Delta News Hub.
