Exclusivity goes a long way in the sneaker world. Any time something is gatekept in any capacity, be it by international borders or limited quantities, it only increases the demand for the limited supply. As such, several of the most coveted sneakers of all time are pairs that never went up for sale through traditional retail platforms. Whether it’s the Wu-Tang Dunks (initially given directly to 36 close associates of the Clan) or the original Undefeated Air Jordan 4s (72 pairs only, most of which were gifted to employees), needing to know the right person or have the right job at the right time to get ‘em adds undeniable allure to any pair of kicks.
Enter Delta Airlines, not exactly the first name that pops to mind as far as the sneaker world is concerned. As part of the carrier’s ongoing 100th anniversary celebrations, Delta teamed with Nike to give employees the chance to pick up an exclusive gift: a pair of Delta’d-out Air Force 1s.
The shoes feature a classic white AF1 leather upper with a silver swoosh and a navy outline, in keeping with Delta’s traditional colors. Slightly to the side of the heel is the red Delta triangle logo. The tongue tag sports a cool commemorative banner, noting the company’s centennial. All in all, it’s a cool shoe to celebrate a cool occasion for Delta employees—and it’s one worth keeping an eye out for if you’re a sneaker collector. The shoes are only available to Delta workers through an exclusive company portal. This means if you don’t already have a job with Delta, you probably aren’t getting a pair.
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This sort of scarcity almost always fuels a shoe’s legend. Sneakerheads love having something nobody else has in their lineup, and it’s safe to say the Delta Air Force 1s will be one of the rarest releases of 2025. Shoes like the OG Wu-Tang Dunks and Undefeated 4s continue to fetch five-figure price tags—even after their general releases to the public decades later. So if your cousin works as a flight attendant for the airline, well, we hope you remembered to text them on their birthday this year.
