Once again, Delta Air Lines will share $1.4 billion with employees in 2025 via a generous profit sharing scheme that will put five weeks worth of pay in the pockets of each Delta employee.
Delta Air Lines Offers Generous Profit Sharing Again In 2025
Each year on Valentine’s Day, Delta employees receive a profit-sharing bonus commensurate with the carrier’s profits the previous year. Rather than a flat fee to each employee, employees receive a percentage of their annual earnings based on how profitable the carrier was. This year, based on 2024 profits, each employee will receive an approximately 10% bonus on their annual earnings. That amounts to about $1.4 billion in total, representing about 30% of Delta’s total $4.6 billion profit in 2024.
Delta is the most profitable US airline and also the most generous with its bonus program. Since 2007, Delta has paid over $12 billion in employee bonuses. To contrast, American Airlines flight attendants recently received a 1.1% profit sharing bonus (1.1% of their annual salary) last year.
Despite a summer meltodwn that cost the carriers hundreds of millions (unless it prevails against CrowdStrike), Delta is once again poised to lead the US airline industry in profit.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian said:
“Every day, Delta people prove themselves to be difference makers in this industry. I’m proud to recognize their unmatched professionalism, teamwork and dedication to excellence with one of our strongest profit sharing years in Delta’s history.”
Chief People Officer Allison Ausband added:
“This year’s profit sharing payout is a testament to the hard work of Delta people. They recognize that our commitment to safety and world-class service builds trust with our customers – who in turn reward Delta with their loyalty.”
This is unmitigated good news for Delta and for its employees. Kudos to Delta for rewarding its employees…and for flight attendants, it is another reminder that unionizing is probably not in their own self-interest. Delta may be partially generous because it fears unionization, but its workers are the beneficiaries and it is more lucrative to work for Delta, all things considered, than for any US airline peer.
CONCLUSION
After another successful year, Delta will share $1.4 billion with employees, equating to five weeks’ worth of pay. The profit is all the more noteworthy after Delta’s summer meltdown cost it hundreds of millions in lost profit.
image: Delta
This was probably timed to soften the blow of the operational meltdown occurring right now. Delta has deiced and launched like 2 flights from ATL all morning. The network is unraveling… Crew tracking is turning off the phones so they can catch up.
How can they blame Crowdstrike for this?
Smooth brain response. It’s weather related, stuff happens. AA has also been affected in their southern hubs.
Was confused by the 10% comment in the headline as they didn’t make 14 billion. But I see in the story it’s actually 30% of the profits.
I’m so turgid I can’t blink my eyes.
Considering United FAs got 9.1% last year, I don’t know if this really speaks to hallmarks of Delta being non union as much as it does working for a profitable company.