The hands-on six-week program at Delta's Atlanta headquarters prepares flight attendants for anything that can happen in the air, from turbulence and unruly passengers to heart attacks and emergency landings. As everyone at Delta knows, to become a flight attendant takes more than a desire to travel.

For aspiring flight attendants in 2026, the Delta Air Lines initial training program is one of the most rigorous in the industry and typically lasts for 6 to 8 weeks. The training takes place at the Delta Flight Products and Training Center in Atlanta, Georgia. During this time, "trainees" are immersed in a 6-day-a-week schedule that covers FAA safety regulations, emergency procedures (including water "ditchings" and cabin fire simulations), medical first aid, and the "Delta Way" of premium customer service. The program is famously selective, and trainees must maintain a high testing average (often 90% or above) to remain in the program. Delta provides housing and a modest "training stipend" during this period, but you are not considered a full employee with a salary until you successfully complete the "winging ceremony" at graduation. The training is designed to test your "grace under pressure" and ensures that every crew member can manage everything from a minor cabin conflict to a major aircraft evacuation with the highest degree of professionalism and safety.