A short message delivery system has: mobile terminal devices each having a function of generating and receiving a short message; ground facilities each including a radio station connected to a mobile terminal device by radio means; and a short message center for receiving the short message issued from a mobile terminal device via a ground facility and transmitting the received short message to a specified transmission destination. The short message center includes retry means responsive to a failure of the transmission of the short message for retrying the transmission according to a communication state of a mobile terminal device of reception side and a term of validity of preservation of the short message.