Delta Air Lines & United Airlines honor President Jimmy Carter following death

US Airlines have been among those sharing fond memories of former US President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29th, 2024, aged 100.

Taking the lead is United Airlines, which shared a vintage photo of the President on a United plane during one of his campaigns, and Delta Air Lines, which reshared a video of the former President shaking hands with every passenger on a flight in his later years.

Star Alliance carrier United Airlines took to social media to share a throwback photo of President Jimmy Carter onboard an aircraft used in Carter's 1976 Presidential campaign.

The aircraft was affectionately referred to as "Peanut One" in reference to Carter's heritage as a peanut farmer and was used during his appearances across the country.

The aircraft was a Boeing 727-200 model registered N7635U. According to records from the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA ), the aircraft was manufactured in 1968, with the serial number 19908.

It flew with United until November 1993, when it was converted to a freighter. Later, it operated flights for Emery Worldwide for another decade. The plane was last flown by Custom Air Transport until 2007 when it was retired and eventually scrapped.

Notably, the aircraft's pilot during the campaign was also named Jimmy Carter. Capitan James K. 'Jimmy' Carter joined United Airlines in 1956 and flew over 18,000 hours in the 727, starting in 1963.

In addition to flying Carter, he flew UAL 727 #7001 to the Beijing Museum in 1991 and retired in 1992 at the age of 60 to continue flying private aircraft with a flight instructor's rating for well over a decade.

Joining United in offering tributes to the late President was Delta Air Lines . The Atlanta-based airline issued a statement remembering the legacy of Georgia’s 76th Governor, who was known for his easygoing manner.

The airline shared a video of the President shaking hands over every passenger on his flight in a post-White House clip taken by a Delta passenger. James S. In the accompanying post, the carrier noted President Carter's graciousness and highlighted his example of being a good neighbor to those around him:

"Every time Jimmy Carter flew Delta, he shook hands with each person on the plane. Because that's who he was. Someone who treated people as people.

"Today we celebrate his life - a great friend, family man, Nobel Peace Prize winner and leader who showed us all how to properly treat those around us. Rest in peace, Mr. President. Your legacy lives on."

In the comments responding to the post on platforms including X and LinkedIn, readers replied with their own memories and photos of meeting the former President aboard commercial flights over the years, including the Delta service from Atlanta to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

One of the most enduring legacies of President Carter's administration for the aviation industry is the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978.

The act allowed airlines to choose their own routes and set fares without the government's intervention, creating a precedent for opening up the skies worldwide.

In a post, the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum shared a picture of the former President aboard Air Force once, which accompanies an exhibition at the museum:

While serving as the 39th President of the United States, flew aboard a specially modified Boeing VC-137C, which was based on the Boeing 707.

Known as Air Force One when the President was aboard, the plane is commonly referred to as SAM 27000 for its "Special Air Mission" callsign and tail number 27000.

President Carter famously flew on the plane after leaving the White House when his successor, President Reagan, sent him to Germany to welcome the fifty-two freed American hostages upon their release from Iran.

The aircraft now resides at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, where it is on display alongside a helicopter used as Marine One for Presidents Johnson, Nixon, and Ford.