Delta Air Lines has rewarded its workforce with a four per cent salary increase for eligible employees worldwide after reporting a strong second-quarter financial performance, underscoring the airline’s commitment to sharing the gains of its record revenue growth with staff.
The salary adjustment came as the US carrier posted $19.8bn in operating revenue and $1.4bn in pre-tax profit for the second quarter of 2026, despite facing the highest quarterly fuel costs in its history.
In addition to the pay rise, Delta said it had accrued nearly $500m towards its annual employee profit-sharing programme, describing the move as part of its long-standing culture of recognising employees for driving the airline’s operational and financial success.
The Chief Executive Officer of Delta Air Lines, Ed Bastian, said the company’s people remained its greatest competitive advantage and deserved to share in its continued success.
“Our people remain the heart of Delta’s success,” Bastian said. “Their dedication has enabled us to deliver industry-leading operational reliability, exceptional customer service, and another quarter of strong financial performance.”
