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Delta splits $1.6 billion in 2019 profits among 90,000 employees

Jan. 20, 2020
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2 min read
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Delta splits $1.6 billion in 2019 profits among 90,000 employees
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Delta is splitting a record $1.6 billion in 2019 profits among its 90,000 employees, the airline has announced. Each employee will receive a bonus worth 16.6% of their base pay — approximately two months' salary.

"Delta would be nothing without our 90,000 people," Delta CEO Ed Bastian said on LinkedIn after the announcement. "They deserve all the credit."

Delta adopted a profit-sharing model after the airline merged with Northwest Airlines in 2012. The 2020 bonuses mark the sixth year in a row that Delta has divvied up more than $1 billion to its employees, coming as 2019 profit margins were a record 23% higher than the year before.

Full- and part-time employees will receive profit-share checks, according to CNN. Do happy employees provide better service? They might well. Delta consistently ranks #1 on "best and worst airlines" lists, including TPG's very own. Our reviewers said that although Delta "didn’t top the timeliness or cancellation categories, it took a more-than-respectable silver medal. That, plus the fact that Delta was buoyed by its pervasive route and lounge networks and commendably low bump rate, was enough to put it over the top over [2018]’s No. 1, Alaska."

“2019 was a truly outstanding year on all fronts — the best in Delta’s history operationally, financially and for our customers," Bastian said in a statement issued to TPG. "Our people, and their commitment to bringing best-in-class travel experiences to our 200 million customers, are the foundation for our success. I’m pleased to recognize their outstanding performance with a record $1.6 billion in profit sharing for 2019. As we enter 2020, demand for travel is healthy and our brand preference is growing, positioning Delta to deliver another year of strong results, including earnings per share of $6.75 to $7.75.”

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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