Trump Praises Delta Air Lines Over ‘Gulf of America’ Terminology

ATLANTA– Delta Air Lines (DL) has drawn attention after quietly updating its operations manuals, a move that has earned public praise from former President Donald Trump. The airline, headquartered in Atlanta (ATL), has accepted terminology changes that reflect the administration’s earlier positions.

One revision refers to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” while another reverts Notices to Air Missions back to their long-standing title, Notices to Airmen. Trump highlighted these shifts on his Truth Social platform, framing them as signs that Delta Air Lines (DL) is “embracing MAGA.”

Photo: Delta

Trump Praises Delta for Map Update

Delta recently issued an internal document titled Revision Highlights Airway Manual, detailing adjustments to terms used by its pilots. The memo directed crews to use “Gulf of America” instead of the widely recognized “Gulf of Mexico.”

This body of water spans roughly 1.55 million square kilometers and borders the southeastern coast of North America.

The terminology stems from a 2017 executive order signed by Trump, which renamed the Gulf of Mexico within the United States’ official references. However, internationally, the designation “Gulf of Mexico” remains unchanged and recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

For aviation safety and navigation, the global naming standard is still in place, which could create potential discrepancies when coordinating across borders.

In the same revision, Delta confirmed that it would revert to the older term “Notices to Airmen” instead of the gender-neutral “Notices to Air Missions.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had adopted the gender-neutral term in 2021, aligning with broader inclusion initiatives, PYOK flagged.

Photo: Clément Alloing

FAA’s Position and Industry Implications

In February 2025, the FAA itself reverted the official definition of NOTAM back to “Notices to Airmen.”

The agency offered no detailed explanation for the reversal, though officials aligned with Trump’s administration have previously argued that safety terminology should not be reshaped to satisfy political or social agendas.

The term “Notices to Airmen” has been in aviation use for decades. Its replacement in 2021 was recommended by an external committee, which viewed the older name as reinforcing gender stereotypes in aviation. That change coincided with other inclusivity-driven language updates, such as discouraging the term “cockpit” in favor of “flight deck.”

While the FAA’s February decision now aligns with Delta’s revisions, industry observers note the potential for operational confusion in global contexts, where terminology and references remain standardized under ICAO and non-U.S. authorities.

Public Opinion on the ‘Gulf of America’

Polling suggests strong resistance among Americans to renaming the Gulf of Mexico. A Marquette Law School survey found 71% opposed the change, while a Reuters/Ipsos poll reported nearly identical results, with 70% rejecting the new name and just 25% in support.

This disconnect highlights the gap between official terminology within the U.S. government and broader public sentiment, as well as the challenge airlines face in balancing political directives with international aviation standards.

Photo: Clément Alloing

Bottom Line

Delta Air Lines has previously been at the forefront of inclusive language practices. In 2020, the airline became the first U.S. carrier to remove the phrase “ladies and gentlemen” from onboard announcements, shifting instead to gender-neutral greetings such as “hello everyone.”

At the time, Delta explained the change as part of its commitment to inclusion and respect for both passengers and employees. A company spokesperson emphasized that fostering a welcoming environment was integral to the airline’s customer experience philosophy.

The airline’s latest manual revisions, however, show a move toward terminology that aligns more closely with U.S. political directives and FAA decisions rather than internal diversity initiatives.

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The post Trump Praises Delta Air Lines Over ‘Gulf of America’ Terminology appeared first on Aviation A2Z.