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                       [Delta Air Lines, Inc. Letterhead]

                                                                   EXHIBIT 99(B)

                                  PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Corporate Communications
         404-715-2554

DELTA AND THE AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION APPLY JOINTLY FOR FEDERAL MEDIATION IN
CONTRACT TALKS

ATLANTA, Nov. 17, 2000 -- Delta Air Lines and the Air Line Pilots Association
today said they have jointly applied to the National Mediation Board (NMB) for
the assistance of a mediator in their on-going collective bargaining for a new
pilot contract.

         The company and ALPA have requested that the mediation begin Dec. 1,
2000, and extend for a period of 90 days, which would be subject to extension by
mutual agreement.

         Delta said that mediation at this stage of the negotiations is a
positive step that will build on the momentum of the negotiations to date. Both
the company and the union will work diligently to reach a mutually acceptable
agreement during the mediation period. Delta said the mediation process will
allow everyone at the company to focus on the needs of our customers during this
busy travel season.

         There have been 110 formal joint sessions between Delta and ALPA since
the negotiations began on Sept. 8, 1999. The contract between the company and
the union became amendable on May 2, 2000. ALPA submitted its economic proposals
during the week ending Oct. 13. The company submitted its pay proposal on Oct.
31 and its benefits proposals on Nov. 14 and 15. A full schedule of talks has
been set through the end of the year.

         During mediation, the NMB's mission is to help facilitate an agreement
and avoid the interruption of commerce. The NMB appoints a mediator to
facilitate negotiating sessions between the parties. The mediator determines the
frequency and location of negotiating sessions and works with the parties to
find common ground. If mediation is unsuccessful, either party may ask the NMB
to declare they are at an impasse. Delta and ALPA have agreed that they will
jointly request the NMB to issue a proffer of arbitration, which begins the
process of releasing the parties from negotiations, if they have not reached a
tentative agreement by Feb. 28, 2001. The NMB has no obligation to honor such a
request, and it has the right to require mediation to continue for as long as
the NMB believes appropriate.

         Delta's goal is to become the #1 airline in the eyes of its customers,
flying passengers and cargo from anywhere to everywhere. Passengers already
choose to fly Delta more often than any other airline in the world on 5,263
flights each day to 351 cities in 54 countries on Delta, Delta Express, Delta
Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers, and Delta's Worldwide Partners. Delta is
a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance which provides customers
with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. For more
information, visit Delta at www.delta.com.