Delta Air Lines's Federal Lobbying Record
At $13.5M in disclosed federal lobbying, Delta Air Lines ranks as a major spender — well above the typical filer. Outlays in this range generally reflect a sustained presence in Washington, with at least one full-time government affairs lead and a stable of outside lobbyists engaged on the organization's priority issues.
Across the 5-year window from 2020 to 2024, Delta Air Lines's annual disclosed lobbying spend has held roughly steady — $2.6M at the start versus $2.5M at the most recent year-end. Year-to-year wobbles inside that range usually reflect timing of legislative cycles rather than a strategic shift.
Delta Air Lines's disclosed lobbying covers 5 general issue areas — a moderate footprint. Filers in this range tend to engage on a coherent cluster of related topics rather than spreading effort across the federal agenda.
3 of 9 lobbyists reported by Delta Air Lines (33%) disclose prior federal government service. That share is common at established government affairs operations that explicitly hire from agency and committee staff.
Among the named bench, lobbyists with disclosed prior federal service include Susan K. Lopez (Former Deputy Administrator, EPA); Jeff S. Forbes (Former Deputy Assistant Secretary, HHS); Joel N. Kaplan (Former Deputy Administrator, EPA). The covered-position field on LDA cover sheets captures executive-branch and senior congressional roles held within the prior two years.
Within the Transportation sector, Delta Air Lines ranks #3 of 17 tracked organizations by disclosed lobbying spend. The sector leader is FedEx Corporation at $34.8M; the sector average is $9.3M. Delta Air Lines's $13.5M sits 45% above the sector average.
Delta Air Lines's LobbySpend Influence Score of 58/100 (grade C) is the most common grade in the index — it covers organizations with established but moderate federal advocacy programs. The score combines disclosed total spend (40%), issue breadth (30%), and revolving-door connections (30%). A C-grade is typical of mid-size corporations and trade associations with steady quarterly filings on a focused issue set.
Every figure above is sourced from Senate lobbying disclosure filings submitted under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. Per-issue dollar splits and covered-position flags are filer-reported and may be amended after initial submission.
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Annual Lobbying Spend
Policy Issues
Government Entities Contacted
Recent Filings
| Period | Registrant | Issues | Lobbyists | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Oct-Dec | Hogan Lovells | AVITRA | 1 | $707K |
| 2024 Jul-Sep | Franklin Square Group | LBRTRA | 4 | $666K |
| 2024 Apr-Jun | Hogan Lovells | GOVTAXAVI | 2 | $742K |
| 2024 Jan-Mar | Stewart & Stewart | GOVAVILBR+2 | 1 | $713K |
| 2023 Oct-Dec | S-3 Group | LBRTRA | 3 | $627K |
| 2023 Jul-Sep | K&L Gates | AVILBRTAX+2 | 4 | $560K |
| 2023 Apr-Jun | Peck Madigan Jones | AVILBRTAX+1 | 2 | $639K |
| 2023 Jan-Mar | Van Scoyoc Associates | TRAGOVLBR | 2 | $694K |
Delta Air Lines Lobbying FAQ
Delta Air Lines has spent $13.5M on federal lobbying across 5 policy areas. This includes spending on registered lobbyists and direct government contacts.
Delta Air Lines lobbies on 5 policy issues, including Aviation/Airlines, Transportation, Taxation, Labor/Workplace. These disclosures are filed quarterly with the Senate Office of Public Records.
Delta Air Lines has an Influence Score of 58/100 (Grade C). This proprietary score is based on total lobby spend (40%), policy issue breadth (30%), and revolving door connections (30%).
Delta Air Lines employs 9 registered lobbyists, of whom 3 have revolving door connections, meaning they previously held government positions before becoming lobbyists.
Delta Air Lines has contacted 6 government entities as part of their lobbying activities, including Dept of the Treasury, Small Business Administration, National Science Foundation.
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Lobbying data is sourced from quarterly Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings with the Senate Office of Public Records. Influence Scores combine total spend (40%), issue breadth (30%), and revolving door connections (30%). Filings may be amended after initial submission.