Delta Air Lines announced that it distributed $1.3 billion to employees on February 13, 2026 as part of its annual profit-sharing program. The payout represents 8.9% of workers’ eligible annual earnings or roughly four weeks of additional pay
The payout, which coincided with Valentine’s Day as has become tradition for the Atlanta-based carrier, ranks among the five largest in Delta’s history. The airline said the amount exceeds the combined profit-sharing distributions of all other US airlines.
Formula and distribution
Under Delta’s profit-sharing structure, employees receive 10% of the airline’s first $2.5 billion in profits and 20% of earnings above that threshold. CEO Ed Bastian noted that the company has distributed more than $11 billion directly to employees since 2015, with over $10 billion paid in the last decade alone.
The 2025 profit-sharing payments will reach employees across Delta’s global operations. The airline said that the largest share goes to Georgia-based workers, who will receive $567.9 million distributed among 43,500 employees. New York employees will receive $171.1 million among 13,500 workers, while Minnesota-based staff will split $113.7 million among 8,900 employees.
International operations account for a smaller portion, with employees in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India receiving $4.7 million combined, while Asia-Pacific workers will share $4.5 million.
Industry context
The Delta payout stands out in an industry where profit-sharing programs vary significantly. Singapore Airlines made headlines in 2025 by distributing eight months of salary as bonuses to staff following record profits of SG$2.7 billion (US$2.14 billion) for fiscal year 2024. This represented a one-time exceptional payment rather than an ongoing annual program.
Delta has structured its profit-sharing as a core component of employee compensation since 2007, positioning the annual distribution as recognition of worker contributions to company performance. Delta has maintained the program through economic ups and downs, including the severe travel downturn during the pandemic.
Company positioning
Delta executives view the profit-sharing program as integral to the company’s business philosophy, with Bastian calling it central to corporate values. The airline has received recognition as an employer, ranking 15th on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list and second on Forbes’ World’s Best Employers ranking.
Delta also announced that employees will receive additional pay increases in 2026, though specific details have not been released.
The timing and scale of the profit-sharing distribution reflects Delta’s financial recovery from pandemic lows and its ability to generate substantial profits as travel demand has returned to and exceeded pre-2020 levels. While some airlines return profits to shareholders through dividends and stock buybacks, Delta allocates a portion directly to employees.
For Delta’s workforce of approximately 103,000 employees globally, the profit-sharing payment provides significant additional income, particularly valuable as inflation continues to affect household budgets across the airline’s operating regions.
