(UNITED STATES) Delta Air Lines has updated its flight manuals and internal communications to use “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico,” aligning with a January 2025 executive order signed by President Trump that renamed the body of water across U.S. government records. The change, confirmed by Delta after internal documents surfaced online, drew public praise from Trump, who said the carrier was “finally embracing MAGA.” Delta stressed the move reflects compliance with federal rules, not a political stance, and coincides with a return to “Notice to Airmen” in safety messages, reversing the gender-neutral “Notice to Air Missions” terminology adopted in 2021.
The shift places one of the country’s busiest carriers squarely within a broader federal effort to replace references to the Gulf of Mexico across domestic systems. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instructed U.S. airlines to update terminology to match federal records and operating guidance. Delta Air Lines said it followed the directive in standard updates to its “Revision Highlights Airway Manual,” an internal guide that informs pilots and operations teams.
Political reaction and public opinion
In public posts on September 4–5, 2025, Trump applauded Delta after an internal memo surfaced showing the airline had adopted the federal terminology. The celebration underscored how a technical naming rule has taken on political weight: supporters saw a cultural shift aligning with MAGA priorities, while many Americans oppose the rename.
- Recent polling by Marquette Law School and Reuters/Ipsos shows about 70–71% of Americans oppose calling the region Gulf of America, with only about 25–29% in support.
- Trump’s praise framed Delta’s action as a cultural signal; critics framed the rename as symbolic politics applied to technical systems.
Public opposition is strong: roughly seven in ten Americans do not support the name change.
Effects on airline staff and operations
Airline staff have felt the impact in day-to-day operations and announcements.
- Some pilots at multiple carriers have started to say “Gulf of America” in announcements.
- Some flight attendants continue to use “Gulf of Mexico,” reflecting internal debate and inconsistency.
- Southwest Airlines crews show a similar split.
Industry insiders describe the change as a compliance task that has triggered broader workplace discussions about language, identity, and politics inside cabins and cockpits.
International vs. U.S. standards — potential complications
A major complication is the split between U.S. rules and global standards.
- International aviation bodies, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), continue to use “Gulf of Mexico” in charts and guidance.
- Experts warn that dual usage could create confusion during cross-border operations, especially when crews switch between U.S. domestic procedures and international documentation.
- Flight plans, weather briefings, and air traffic coordination may reference the same airspace with different names depending on the system used.
The risk is not flight mechanics but communication: small misunderstandings in naming can ripple through complex operations, particularly over water where weather, routing, and search-and-rescue depend on precise reference points.
Return to “Notice to Airmen” and legacy system alignment
Delta said the reversion to “Notice to Airmen” was also driven by federal direction. That term had been replaced in 2021 under President Biden with “Notice to Air Missions” to be more inclusive.
- Returning to the older label may help harmonize notices with legacy systems still in use within the United States 🇺🇸.
- However, it widens the gap with international phrasing in some contexts and adds another divergence for crews working overseas.
Federal adoption and public-facing systems
Public-facing systems and maps are following the U.S. mandate:
- The U.S. Geological Survey and its Geographic Names Information System have implemented Gulf of America in federal records.
- Travelers may begin to see Gulf of America in federal publications, coastal advisories, and some digital tools.
- Outside U.S. systems, maps and aviation references continue to read Gulf of Mexico; international acceptance appears unlikely in the near term.
Timeline — Policy changes overview
- January 2025: On his first day back in office, President Trump signed an executive order instructing U.S. agencies to use “Gulf of America” across official records and publications. The order also prompted a return to “Notice to Airmen” in U.S. aviation safety messages.
- Spring–Summer 2025: The House of Representatives approved the measure, and federal agencies, including the U.S. Geological Survey and the Geographic Names Information System, implemented the rename in their databases.
- September 4–5, 2025: Trump publicly congratulated Delta after an internal memo surfaced showing the airline had adopted the federal terminology. Delta confirmed the shift, citing FAA requirements rather than any political endorsement.
Practical impact on airlines and travelers
For U.S. pilots and airline operations:
- Practical steps include using “Gulf of America” in domestic manuals, flight releases, and internal communications.
- Crews should follow the FAA’s direction and acknowledge the return to “Notice to Airmen” within U.S. systems.
- Internationally, crews will still expect “Gulf of Mexico” in ICAO-standard materials, charts, and some foreign air traffic communications.
Training departments advise:
- Use consistent internal terminology while preparing pilots and staff to recognize both terms in mixed environments.
- Encourage extra care when reviewing flight packages that combine U.S. and international materials.
- Verify any location references that could affect safety planning.
For travelers:
- Consumers are more likely to hear the change in onboard announcements than to see it immediately on tickets or travel apps.
- Many consumer tools draw from global data sources that have not adopted the new name, so inconsistency may persist.
- Some passengers may notice a difference or ask why the name they hear does not match international maps.
Operational and cost considerations
- Dual usage is expected to remain; ICAO and other global bodies have not signaled plans to update records.
- A future administration could reverse the executive order, requiring another round of updates to manuals, systems, and training.
- While costs are small relative to an airline’s overall budget, they are not trivial when multiplied across fleets and workgroups.
Where to check official terminology
Passengers and aviation workers who want to check current federal terminology and notices can consult:
- The Federal Aviation Administration: https://www.faa.gov (regulations, safety updates, policy changes)
- Delta’s newsroom and main website for company announcements and customer-facing updates
Broader meaning and public debate
The rename’s broader meaning remains contested:
- Advocates: “Gulf of America” affirms national identity and rejects what they view as performative corporate language trends.
- Opponents: The change sidelines international consensus in favor of domestic politics.
- Many travelers and aviation workers prioritize clear information and safety over naming debates.
For now, U.S. agencies and domestic airlines are expected to maintain “Gulf of America” as long as the executive order remains in force. The day-to-day experience—what passengers hear on the PA, what they read in weather alerts—will continue to reflect a linguistic split at the heart of U.S. aviation’s routine operations.
This Article in a Nutshell
Delta Air Lines updated its flight manuals and internal communications to use “Gulf of America,” following a January 2025 executive order and FAA guidance that renames the Gulf of Mexico in federal records. Delta said the change was a compliance measure, not a political endorsement; former President Trump publicly praised the carrier. The move also coincided with a U.S. return to the phrase “Notice to Airmen.” Polls show about 70% of Americans oppose the rename. International aviation bodies such as ICAO continue to use “Gulf of Mexico,” prompting concerns about dual terminology causing confusion in flight plans, weather briefings, and cross-border coordination. Airlines are advising consistency internally, training crews to recognize both names, and urging extra care when mixing U.S. and international documentation to preserve safety and clarity.
