The flight school began in 1987 as Air Line Aviation Academy, founded by a retired Delta captain. In 1989 it was acquired and expanded by Comair Holdings. The school was renamed Comair Aviation Academy, and remained affiliated with its parent airline, Comair, until Delta Air Lines purchased Comair and all of its subsidiaries in January 2000. It was then renamed to match the company's regional airline branding. Pilots who graduate are not limited to Delta Connection airlines, in fact, graduates of the programs have been hired by over 60 different airlines worldwide.