Ed Bastian

An in depth look at the history of Delta Airlines over the last 100 years. See how Delta defied the odds at every step to become one of the world's largest air carriers.

Hunter S. Thompson went to the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago as a journalist and returned home disgusted, yet motivated by what he’d just seen: violently suppressed protests, riots, corrupt politicians, and abusive cops. Back in Aspen, he finds more of the same. The local police and sheriff’s departments are targeting young people, harassing and charging them with absurd crimes and trying to push them out of town. Hunter decides he has to do something to change the police brutality that has become the norm.

In a one-hour feature film, "The Steepest Climb: How Delta Air Lines Navigated the Global Pandemic" offers an inside look at how the airline has overcome some of the most difficult crises in its near 100-year history. From 9/11 to Chapter 11 to the COVID-19 pandemic, Delta is no stranger to challenging times. Through a collection of interviews with frontline employees, executives and loyal customers, "The Steepest Climb: How Delta Air Lines Navigated the Global Pandemic", created in partnership with Smartypants Pictures, tells a story of incredible resilience.