ATLANTA, Feb. 14, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) employees worldwide today collectively received $158 million in profit sharing, honoring the company's commitment to recognize employees for their crucial role in achieving financial and operational goals. Employees' individual payouts equal 5.5 percent of their eligible 2007 earnings.
In 2007, Delta employees also earned $42 million as part of the airline's "Shared Rewards" program, which pays monthly bonuses for meeting corporate operational goals. Shared Rewards and Profit Sharing paid to employees in 2007 will total $200 million, reflecting the achievement of Delta's 2007 operational and financial plan.
"The strength of Delta, the Delta Difference, resides in its 48,000 employees who make Delta the best in the industry -- they've earned their share of our company's success," said Delta CEO Richard Anderson. "And, as we continue to build our airline into a global competitor, we remain committed to reinvesting in the company and to the fundamental principle that all employees share in the company's success."
Delta's profit sharing is part of the airline's broad-based compensation program announced in March 2007 and designed to allow all employees to share in the success of the company. In addition to Shared Rewards and profit sharing, as part of this compensation package, Delta non-contract employees in 2007 also received a significant distribution of unrestricted Delta stock; a cash lump sum payment; pay increases; and a new defined contribution retirement benefit.
Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 314 destinations in 59 countries. Delta has added more international capacity than any major U.S. airline during the last two years and is the leader across the Atlantic with flights to 36 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers more than 600 weekly flights to 65 destinations. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on nearly 14,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 479 worldwide destinations in 107 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
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