Delta is kicking off the countdown to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games with a tree planting event in collaboration with Delta Community Engagement partner, TreePeople.
The countdown to LA28 has officially begun! With 1,000 days remaining before Los Angeles welcomes the world for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, all eyes are on the city and Angelenos as they prepare to host the Olympic Games for the third time and the Paralympic Games for the first time.
Delta, the Official Airline of Team USA and inaugural Founding Partner of LA28, is kicking off the countdown in collaboration with Delta Community Engagement partner, TreePeople. This celebratory event and tree planting marks the milestone with the first of many volunteer opportunities for Delta employees and community members to participate ahead of the LA28 Games.
“As we count down to the LA28 Games, Delta’s 4,500 Los Angeles–based employees are getting ready to welcome the world to our city,” said Scott Santoro, Delta’s Vice President of Los Angeles and West Coast Sales. “Los Angeles isn’t just a destination on our route map—it’s home, and on the road to LA28, we’re proud to continue efforts to showcase a city that’s not only a global gateway, but a community we’re committed to strengthening for years to come.”
While Delta has been active in the Los Angles community for many years, this celebratory milestone kicks off a new commitment to LA while underscoring Delta’s longstanding support and efforts to impact the communities where our employees live, work and serve. With the LA28 Games in sight, Delta looks forward to building on these events to bring more opportunities to serve LA in the lead up to the Games.
“TreePeople is thrilled to partner with Delta to grow a positive, lasting legacy for LA28,” said John D. Bunzel, Chairman of the Board at TreePeople. “By planting 1,000 trees in 1,000 days, we’re not just preparing the city to welcome the world in 2028—we’re investing in cleaner air, cooler streets and stronger communities for generations to come.”
TreePeople inspires and supports people to come together to grow a more climate-resilient future. Born from the vision of a teenager more than 50 years ago, TreePeople has partnered with communities to plant and care for millions of trees on streets, parks, schoolyards and fire-scarred wildlands. TreePeople prioritizes shade equity, planting trees where they are needed most.
At the event, Delta and TreePeople hosted community members from the Los Angeles area, more than 50 Delta employees, 10 Delta SkyMiles Members, LA community leaders, as well as Brenda Villa, four-time Olympian and longtime captain of the U.S. Women’s National Water Polo Team, who joined the event to participate in the groundbreaking for the tree planting.
With a shared vision to support the communities of LA Delta and TreePeople successfully planted and distributed 100 trees with the goal to plant 1,000 in the lead up to the LA28 Games. The event was hosted at Jackie Tatum Harvard Recreation Center, which will now be home to newly planted native and climate-resilient trees that will provide cooling shade, cleaner air and a healthier environment to strengthen South LA’s resilience for generations to come.
Furthering their commitment to impact communities, Delta and TreePeople also distributed fruit trees to local families as part of the October 17 celebrations – bringing immediate, tangible benefits to families in South LA alongside the promise to plant 1,000 trees. With both immediate and future-forward commitments, Delta and TreePeople look forward to adding value to this area and several other LA communities in the next 1,000 days.
Delta and LA28
Delta is the inaugural founding partner of LA28.
Delta will continue partnering with Team USA as the Official Airline, supporting all members of Team USA including athletes, coaches and support staff as they travel to LA to compete for their gold-medal dreams in 2028.
Whether you are a native Angeleno or visiting the city for the first time, Delta customers and fans of the LA28 Games will see the brand present in every aspect of their journey. From Delta’s Team USA Athlete Ambassadors to the way we drive world-class global connectivity and excellence, the warm, welcoming and elevated care of Delta will be felt by all in attendance.
Delta in Los Angeles
With more than 4,500 employees based in the LA area, Delta’s commitment to Los Angeles goes well beyond the airport. The airline partners with more than 25 organizations in Southern California that advance education, workforce development, hunger relief, and sustainability. As a company driven by purpose, giving back to the communities where Delta lives works and serves has been core to the airline and its culture for 100 years. Junior Achievement of Southern CA, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and AltaSea are just a few examples of the organizations Delta partners with to make a difference in the greater Los Angeles. Delta also proudly serves as the Official Airline Carrier of Crypto.com Arena, the LA Kings and the LA Lakers.
Delta also recently announced an investment in its global and domestic LAX network with new service to Hong Kong and Chicago, beginning in June 2026. These routes build on Delta’s momentum in Los Angeles, where the airline operates as the largest global carrier* with more than 160 peak-day departures to over 50 destinations, including the return of service to Shanghai (PVG) and upcoming year-round flights to Melbourne (MEL) launching in December 2025.
The airline will continue deepening its roots in the region, connecting Angelenos to the world and the world to LAX.
*Delta is the largest global carrier at LAX by seats and departures
