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EX-31.1 - EX-31.1 - DELTA AIR LINES, INC.g23239exv31w1.htm
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010
Or
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File Number 001-5424
DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
State of Incorporation: Delaware
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.: 58-0218548
Post Office Box 20706, Atlanta, Georgia 30320-6001
Telephone: (404) 715-2600
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes þ No o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes þ No o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No þ
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.
Yes þ No o
Number of shares outstanding by each class of common stock, as of June 30, 2010:
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value — 788,849,417 shares outstanding
     This document is also available through our website at http://www.delta.com/about_delta/investor_relations.
 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 2. ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
SIGNATURE
EX-10.1
EX-15
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-32


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     Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “Delta,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Delta Air Lines, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Prior to October 30, 2008, these references do not include Northwest Airlines Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Northwest Airlines, Inc.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
     Statements in this Form 10-Q (or otherwise made by us or on our behalf) that are not historical facts, including statements about our estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections or strategies for the future, may be “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or our present expectations. For examples of such risks and uncertainties, please see the cautionary statements contained in “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 (“Form 10-K”) and in “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this report.

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Financial Statements
DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
                 
        June 30,         December 31,  
(in millions, except share data)   2010     2009  
 
ASSETS
Current Assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 4,434     $ 4,607  
Short-term investments
          71  
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
    409       423  
Accounts receivable, net of an allowance for uncollectible accounts of $48 and $47 at
June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively
    1,645       1,353  
Expendable parts and supplies inventories, net of an allowance for obsolescence of $77 and $75 at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively
    285       327  
Deferred income taxes, net
    236       107  
Prepaid expenses and other
    859       853  
 
           
Total current assets
    7,868       7,741  
 
           
 
               
Property and Equipment, Net:
               
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $3,542 and $2,924 at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively
    20,396       20,433  
 
           
 
               
Other Assets:
               
Goodwill
    9,794       9,787  
Identifiable intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $494 and $451 at
June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively
    4,786       4,829  
Other noncurrent assets
    965       749  
 
           
Total other assets
    15,545       15,365  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 43,809     $ 43,539  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
               
Current maturities of long-term debt and capital leases
  $ 1,555     $ 1,533  
Air traffic liability
    4,557       3,074  
Accounts payable
    1,630       1,249  
Frequent flyer deferred revenue
    1,619       1,614  
Accrued salaries and related benefits
    1,111       1,037  
Taxes payable
    721       525  
Other accrued liabilities
    699       765  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    11,892       9,797  
 
           
 
               
Noncurrent Liabilities:
               
Long-term debt and capital leases
    14,228       15,665  
Pension, postretirement and related benefits
    11,320       11,745  
Frequent flyer deferred revenue
    3,014       3,198  
Deferred income taxes, net
    1,803       1,667  
Other noncurrent liabilities
    1,353       1,222  
 
           
Total noncurrent liabilities
    31,718       33,497  
 
           
 
               
Commitments and Contingencies
               
 
               
Stockholders’ Equity:
               
Common stock at $0.0001 par value; 1,500,000,000 shares authorized, 801,701,956 and 794,873,058 shares issued at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively
           
Additional paid-in capital
    13,884       13,827  
Accumulated deficit
    (9,634 )     (9,845 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (3,853 )     (3,563 )
Treasury stock, at cost, 12,852,539 and 10,918,274 shares at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively
    (198 )     (174 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    199       245  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 43,809     $ 43,539  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
(in millions, except per share data)   2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
Operating Revenue:
                               
Passenger:
                               
Mainline
  $ 5,480     $ 4,564     $ 9,966     $ 8,931  
Regional carriers
    1,529       1,339       2,849       2,573  
 
                       
Total passenger revenue
    7,009       5,903       12,815       11,504  
Cargo
    211       173       387       358  
Other, net
    948       924       1,814       1,822  
 
                       
Total operating revenue
    8,168       7,000       15,016       13,684  
 
                               
Operating Expense:
                               
Aircraft fuel and related taxes
    1,960       1,812       3,643       3,705  
Salaries and related costs
    1,702       1,723       3,374       3,429  
Contract carrier arrangements
    972       965       1,889       1,873  
Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs
    395       392       769       816  
Depreciation and amortization
    379       383       764       767  
Contracted services
    366       354       758       786  
Passenger commissions and other selling expenses
    377       329       741       685  
Landing fees and other rents
    324       315       637       631  
Passenger service
    165       161       303       296  
Aircraft rent
    101       119       213       240  
Profit sharing
    90             90        
Restructuring and merger-related items
    82       58       136       157  
Other
    403       388       779       781  
 
                       
Total operating expense
    7,316       6,999       14,096       14,166  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating Income (Loss)
    852       1       920       (482 )
 
                               
Other (Expense) Income:
                               
Interest expense
    (315 )     (324 )     (641 )     (632 )
Interest income
    3       9       23       19  
Miscellaneous, net
    (72 )     61       (80 )     48  
 
                       
Total other expense, net
    (384 )     (254 )     (698 )     (565 )
 
                       
 
                               
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes
    468       (253 )     222       (1,047 )
 
                               
Income Tax Provision
    (1 )     (4 )     (11 )     (4 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net Income (Loss)
  $ 467     $ (257 )   $ 211     $ (1,051 )
 
                       
 
                               
Basic Earnings (Loss) per Share
  $ 0.56     $ (0.31 )   $ 0.25     $ (1.27 )
 
                       
Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share
  $ 0.55     $ (0.31 )   $ 0.25     $ (1.27 )
 
                       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
(Unaudited)
                 
    Six Months Ended June 30,  
(in millions)   2010     2009  
       
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 2,000     $ 1,477  
 
               
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
               
Property and equipment additions:
               
Flight equipment, including advance payments
    (449 )     (498 )
Ground property and equipment, including technology
    (75 )     (113 )
Redemption of short-term investments
    73       121  
Proceeds from sales of flight equipment
    10       76  
Decrease in restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
          10  
Other investments
    (98 )      
Other, net
    (16 )      
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (555 )     (404 )
 
               
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
               
Payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations
    (1,622 )     (853 )
Proceeds from long-term obligations
          390  
Other, net
    4       (14 )
 
           
Net cash used in financing activities
    (1,618 )     (477 )
 
               
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
    (173 )     596  
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    4,607       4,255  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 4,434     $ 4,851  
 
           
 
               
Non-cash transactions:
               
Aircraft delivered under seller financing
  $ 21     $ 374  
Flight equipment under capital leases
    199        
Debt discount on American Express Agreement
    110        
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
June 30, 2010
(Unaudited)
NOTE 1. BACKGROUND AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Background
     On October 29, 2008 (the “Closing Date”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta merged (the “Merger”) with and into Northwest Airlines Corporation. On the Closing Date, Northwest Airlines Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Northwest Airlines, Inc. (collectively, “Northwest”), became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Delta.
     On December 31, 2009, Northwest Airlines, Inc. merged with and into Delta. As a result of this merger, Northwest Airlines, Inc. ceased to exist as a separate entity.
Basis of Presentation
     The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and our wholly-owned subsidiaries. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Consistent with these requirements, this Form 10-Q does not include all the information required by GAAP for complete financial statements. As a result, this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying Notes in our Form 10-K.
     Management believes the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments, including normal recurring items and restructuring and merger-related items, considered necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods presented.
     Due to seasonal variations in the demand for air travel, the volatility of aircraft fuel prices, changes in global economic conditions and other factors, operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of operating results for the entire year.
     Based upon adjustments recorded at December 31, 2009, certain immaterial prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to our current period presentation. The adjustments to the Consolidated Statements of Operations do not impact total operating expense or net income.
     We reclassified travel and incidental expenses, primarily crew meals and lodging expenses, from salaries and related costs to other operating expense. These expenses totaled $118 million and $235 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively. We also adjusted our Consolidated Statements of Operations for certain costs incurred to provide services to our contract carriers, excluding Comair, Inc. (“Comair”), Compass Airlines, Inc. (“Compass”) and Mesaba Aviation, Inc. (“Mesaba”); these costs are recorded as a reduction to salaries and related costs and contracted services, as appropriate, rather than as a reduction to other operating expense. These costs totaled $72 million and $142 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively.
     We evaluated the financial statements for subsequent events through the date of the filing of this Form 10-Q, which is the date the financial statements were issued.

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Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
     In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables.” The standard revises guidance on (1) the determination of when individual deliverables may be treated as separate units of accounting and (2) the allocation of transaction consideration among separately identified deliverables. It also expands disclosure requirements regarding an entity’s multiple element revenue arrangements. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with early adoption permitted. We intend to adopt this standard on a prospective basis beginning January 1, 2011. We are currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
NOTE 2. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
     Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. A three-tier fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize the inputs in measuring fair value as follows:
    Level 1. Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;
 
    Level 2. Inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
 
    Level 3. Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
     Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are based on one or more of three valuation techniques identified in the tables below. Where more than one technique is noted, individual assets or liabilities were valued using one or more of the noted techniques. The valuation techniques are as follows:
  (a)   Market approach. Prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities;
 
  (b)   Cost approach. Amount that would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset (replacement cost); and
 
  (c)   Income approach. Techniques to convert future amounts to a single present amount based on market expectations (including present value techniques, option-pricing and excess earnings models).
Assets (Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
                                         
                    Significant Other   Significant    
            Quoted Prices In   Observable   Unobservable    
    June 30,   Active Markets   Inputs   Inputs   Valuation
(in millions)   2010   (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3)   Technique
 
Cash equivalents
  $ 4,213     $ 4,213     $     $       (a)  
Restricted cash equivalents
    396       396                   (a)  
Restricted short-term investments
    44       44                   (a)  
Long-term investments
    127                   127       (c)  
Hedge derivatives, net
                                       
Aircraft fuel derivatives
    149             149             (a)(c)  
Interest rate derivatives
    (84 )           (84 )           (a)(c)  
Foreign currency derivatives
    (29 )           (29 )           (a)  
 

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                    Significant Other   Significant    
            Quoted Prices In   Observable   Unobservable    
    December 31,   Active Markets   Inputs   Inputs   Valuation
(in millions)   2009   (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3)   Technique
 
Cash equivalents
  $ 4,335     $ 4,335     $     $       (a)
Short-term investments
    71                   71       (c)  
Restricted cash equivalents
    435       435                   (a)  
Long-term investments
    129                   129       (c)  
Hedge derivatives, net
                                       
Aircraft fuel derivatives
    176             176             (a)(c)  
Interest rate derivatives
    (45 )           (45 )           (a)(c)  
Foreign currency derivatives
    (23 )           (23 )           (a)  
 
     Cash Equivalents. Short-term, highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased, which primarily consist of money market funds and treasury bills, are classified as cash equivalents. These investments are recorded in cash and cash equivalents on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at cost, which approximates fair value.
     Restricted Cash Equivalents. Restricted short-term, highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased, which primarily consist of money market funds and time deposits, are classified as restricted cash equivalents. At June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we recorded $363 million and $419 million, respectively, in restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and $33 million and $16 million, respectively, in other noncurrent assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. These investments are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value.
     Restricted Short-Term Investments. Restricted investments with maturities of less than one year when purchased, which consist of time deposits, are classified as restricted short-term investments. These investments are recorded in restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments on our Consolidated Balance Sheet at cost, which approximates fair value.
     Short-Term Investments. During the March 2010 quarter, we received $73 million from The Reserve Primary Fund (the “Primary Fund”), $71 million of which was recorded in short-term investments on our Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2009. We have now received distributions from the orderly liquidation of the Primary Fund representing 99% of our original investment and have no additional amounts recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
     Long-Term Investments. Our long-term investments are comprised of student loan backed auction rate securities and insured auction rate securities. We record our investments in student loan backed auction rate securities as available-for-sale securities at fair value. At June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the fair value and cost of our student loan backed auction rate securities was $44 million and $45 million, respectively.
     We record our investments in insured auction rate securities as trading securities at fair value. At June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the fair value of our insured auction rate securities was $83 million. The cost of these investments was $110 million.
     Due to the protracted failure in the auction process and contractual maturities averaging 31 years for our student loan backed auction rate securities and 26 years for our insured auction rate securities, our auction rate securities are classified as long-term in other noncurrent assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
     Because auction rate securities are not actively traded, fair values were estimated by discounting the cash flows expected to be received over the remaining maturities of the underlying securities. We based the valuations on our assessment of observable yields on instruments bearing comparable risks and consider the creditworthiness of the underlying debt issuer. Changes in market conditions could result in further adjustments to the fair value of these securities.
     We have a $98 million investment in one of our airport facility operators. This investment is excluded from the table above.

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     Hedge Derivatives. Our derivative instruments are comprised of contracts that are privately negotiated with counterparties without going through a public exchange. Accordingly, our fair value assessments give consideration to the risk of counterparty default (as well as our own credit risk).
    Aircraft Fuel Derivatives. Our aircraft fuel derivative instruments generally consist of crude oil, heating oil and jet fuel swap, collar, and call option contracts and are valued under the income approach using a discounted cash flow model or an option pricing model based on data either readily observable or derived from public markets.
 
    Interest Rate Derivatives. Our interest rate derivative instruments consist of swap and call option contracts and are valued primarily based on data readily observable in public markets.
 
    Foreign Currency Derivatives. Our foreign currency derivative instruments consist of Japanese yen and Canadian dollar forward contracts and are valued based on data readily observable in public markets.
     Our fair value assessments include open derivative positions and exclude contracts that have been closed, but not settled. For additional information regarding the classification of our derivative instruments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, see Note 3.
Fair Value of Debt
     Market risk associated with our fixed and variable rate long-term debt relates to the potential reduction in fair value and negative impact to future earnings, respectively, from an increase in interest rates. The following table presents information about our debt:
                 
    June 30,   December 31,
(in millions)   2010   2009
 
Total debt at par value
  $ 16,497     $ 18,068  
Unamortized discount, net
    (1,387 )     (1,403 )
 
Net carrying amount
  $ 15,110     $ 16,665  
 
Fair value(1)
  $ 14,488     $ 15,427  
 
(1)   The aggregate fair value of debt was based primarily on reported market values and recently completed market transactions.
NOTE 3. RISK MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
     Our results of operations are significantly impacted by changes in aircraft fuel prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. In an effort to manage our exposure to these risks, we periodically enter into derivative instruments, including fuel, interest rate and foreign currency hedges.
     We perform, at least quarterly, both a prospective and retrospective assessment of the effectiveness of our derivative instruments designated as hedges, including assessing the possibility of counterparty default. If we determine that a derivative is no longer expected to be highly effective, we discontinue hedge accounting prospectively and recognize subsequent changes in the fair value of the hedge in earnings. As a result of our effectiveness assessment at June 30, 2010, we believe our derivative instruments designated as hedges will continue to be highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flow attributable to the hedged risk.

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Hedge Position
     The following tables reflect the estimated fair value asset (liability) position of our hedge contracts:
                                                                         
    June 30, 2010
                      Prepaid                             Hedge
                      Expenses   Other       Other   Other   Margin
(in millions, unless   Notional   Maturity   Accounts   and Other   Noncurrent   Accounts   Accrued   Noncurrent   Payable,
otherwise stated)   Balance   Date   Receivable   Assets   Assets   Payable   Liabilities   Liabilities   net
 
Fuel hedge swaps, collars and call options
  2.1 billion gallons —
crude oil, jet fuel
  July 2010 —
December 2011
  $ 10     $ 124     $ 61     $ (86 )   $ (37 )   $          
 
                                                                       
Interest rate swaps and call options
  $1,389     September 2010 — May 2019                             (34 )     (50 )        
 
                                                                       
Foreign currency exchange forwards
  46.9 billion Japanese Yen; 329 million Canadian Dollars   July 2010 —
January 2013
          3       4             (23 )     (13 )        
                             
Total designated as hedges
                  $ 10     $ 127     $ 65     $ (86 )   $ (94 )   $ (63 )   $ (14 )
 
 
                                                 
    December 31, 2009
                            Other   Other   Hedge
(in millions, unless   Notional   Maturity              Accrued      Noncurrent   Margin
otherwise stated)   Balance   Date       Assets       Liabilities   Liabilities   Payable, net
 
Fuel hedge swaps, collars and call options
  795 million gallons — crude oil, heating oil, jet fuel   January 2010 — December 2010   $ 180     $ (89 )   $          
 
                                               
Interest rate swaps and call options
  $1,478     September 2010 — May 2019     2       (38 )     (9 )        
 
                                               
Foreign currency exchange forwards
  55.8 billion Japanese Yen; 295 million Canadian Dollars   January 2010 — September 2012     1       (12 )     (12 )        
                             
Total designated as hedges
                  $ 183     $ (139 )   $ (21 )   $ (10 )
 
     As of June 30, 2010, our open fuel hedge position is as follows:
                 
    Percentage of    
    Projected    
    Fuel   Fair Value at
    Requirements   June 30,
(in millions, unless otherwise stated)   Hedged   2010
 
Six months ending December 31, 2010
    50 %   $ 16  
Year ending December 31, 2011
    27       133  
 
             
Total
          $ 149  
 

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Hedge Gains (Losses)
     Gains (losses) recorded on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 related to our hedge contracts are as follows:
                                                 
                    Effective Portion    
    Effective Portion   Reclassified from    
    Recognized in   Accumulated Other   Ineffective Portion
    Accumulated Other   Comprehensive Loss to   Recognized in Other
    Comprehensive Loss   Earnings   (Expense) Income
    Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended
    June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
(in millions)   2010   2009   2010   2009   2010   2009
 
Fuel hedge swaps, collars and call options(1)
  $ (285 )   $ 668     $ (14 )   $ (398 )   $ (46 )   $ 46  
Interest rate swaps and call options(2)
    (28 )     35             (1 )            
Foreign currency exchange forwards and collars(3)
    (10 )     (19 )     (4 )     (2 )            
 
Total designated as hedges
  $ (323 )   $ 684     $ (18 )   $ (401 )   $ (46 )   $ 46  
 
                                                 
                    Effective Portion    
    Effective Portion   Reclassified from    
    Recognized in   Accumulated Other   Ineffective Portion
    Accumulated Other   Comprehensive Loss to   Recognized in Other
    Comprehensive Loss   Earnings   (Expense) Income
    Six Months Ended   Six Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30,   June 30,   June 30,
(in millions)   2010   2009   2010   2009   2010   2009
 
Fuel hedge swaps, collars and call options(1)
  $ (226 )   $ 1,014     $ (26 )   $ (1,061 )   $ (37 )   $ 37  
Interest rate swaps and call options(2)
    (39 )     47             (1 )            
Foreign currency exchange forwards and collars(3)
    (8 )     36       (9 )     2              
 
Total designated as hedges
  $ (273 )   $ 1,097     $ (35 )   $ (1,060 )   $ (37 )   $ 37  
 
(1)   Gains (losses) on fuel hedge contracts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss are recorded in aircraft fuel and related taxes.
 
(2)   Gains (losses) on interest rate swaps and call options reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss are recorded in interest expense.
 
(3)   Gains (losses) on foreign currency exchange contracts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss are recorded in passenger and cargo revenue.
     We recorded a gain of $8 million and a loss of $15 million in aircraft fuel and related taxes on our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 related to Northwest derivative contracts that were not designated as hedges. As of June 30, 2010, we recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss on our Consolidated Balance Sheet $200 million of net losses on our hedge contracts scheduled to settle in the next 12 months.
Credit Risk
     To manage credit risk associated with our aircraft fuel price, interest rate and foreign currency hedging programs, we select counterparties based on their credit ratings and limit our exposure to any one counterparty. We also monitor the market position of these programs and our relative market position with each counterparty.
     In accordance with our fuel and interest rate hedge agreements, (1) we may require counterparties to fund the margin associated with our gain position on hedge contracts and/or (2) counterparties may require us to fund the margin associated with our loss position on these contracts. The amount of the margin, if any, is periodically adjusted based on the fair value of the hedge contracts. The margin requirements are intended to mitigate a party’s exposure to market volatility and the associated contracting party risk.

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     Due to the estimated fair value position of our fuel hedge contracts, we received $28 million in fuel hedge margin from counterparties and provided $14 million in primarily interest rate hedge margin to counterparties as of June 30, 2010.
NOTE 4. DEBT
     American Express Agreement. In March 2010, we and American Express modified our December 2008 agreement under which we received $1.0 billion from American Express for their advance purchase of SkyMiles. This advance payment is classified as long-term debt on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. It will be satisfied by the use of SkyMiles by American Express over a specified period (“SkyMiles Usage Period”) rather than by cash payments from us to American Express. The March 2010 modification provides, among other things, that Delta-American Express co-branded credit card holders may check their first bag for free on every Delta flight through June 2013 in exchange for (1) a change in the SkyMiles Usage Period to a three-year period beginning in December 2011 from a two-year period beginning in December 2010 and (2) giving American Express the option to extend the December 2008 agreement for one year. The change in the SkyMiles Usage Period deferred $31 million and $480 million of debt maturities for the six months ending December 31, 2010 and year ending December 31, 2011, respectively.
     Exit Revolving Facility. During the June 2010 quarter, we amended our $1.0 billion first-lien revolving credit facility (the “Exit Revolving Facility”) to convert the $86 million revolving commitment of Lehman Commercial Paper, Inc. to a fully funded, non-revolving loan due April 2012. In addition, we prepaid the remaining $914 million of the Exit Revolving Facility. Borrowings under the Exit Revolving Facility can be prepaid without penalty and amounts prepaid can be reborrowed. As of June 30, 2010, the $914 million Exit Revolving Facility was undrawn.
     2010-1 EETC. In July 2010, we completed a $450 million offering of Pass Through Certificates, Series 2010-1A, through a pass through trust. We used $160 million in net proceeds to partially finance two B-777-200LR aircraft purchased in March 2010. The remaining $290 million will be used to partially refinance 22 aircraft currently supporting the 2000-1 EETC and will be held in escrow until the final maturity of the 2000-1 EETC in November 2010. The debt securities in this offering bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.2% per year and have a final maturity in July 2018. At June 30, 2010, we reclassified $290 million principal amount of the 2000-1 EETC from current maturities to long-term debt.
Covenants
     We were in compliance with all covenants in our financing agreements at June 30, 2010.
Future Maturities
     The following table summarizes scheduled maturities of our debt, including current maturities, at June 30, 2010:
         
Years Ending December 31,    
(in millions)   Total
 
Six months ending December 31, 2010
  $ 766  
2011
    2,093  
2012
    2,419  
2013
    1,746  
2014
    3,203  
Thereafter
    6,270  
 
 
    16,497  
Unamortized discount, net
    (1,387 )
 
Total
  $ 15,110  
 

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NOTE 5. PURCHASE COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Aircraft Commitments
     Future aircraft purchase commitments at June 30, 2010 are estimated to total approximately $350 million through December 31, 2010. Approximately $270 million of the $350 million is associated with the purchase of seven B-737-800 aircraft for which we have entered into definitive agreements to sell to third parties immediately following delivery of those aircraft to us by the manufacturer. We have not received any notice that these parties have defaulted on their purchase obligations. The remaining commitments relate to the purchase of two B-737-800 aircraft and two previously owned MD-90 aircraft. We have no aircraft purchase commitments after December 31, 2010.
     As of June 30, 2010, we have commitments from third parties to finance or, with respect to the seven B-737-800 aircraft referred to above, definitive agreements to sell, all aircraft subject to purchase commitments, except for two previously owned MD-90 aircraft. Under these financing commitments, third parties have agreed to finance on a long-term basis a substantial portion of the purchase price of the covered aircraft.
     Our aircraft purchase commitments described above do not include our orders for:
    18 B-787-8 aircraft. The Boeing Company (“Boeing”) has informed us that Boeing will be unable to meet the contractual delivery schedule for these aircraft. We are in discussions with Boeing regarding this situation.
 
    five A319-100 aircraft and two A320-200 aircraft. We have the right to cancel these orders.
Contract Carrier Agreements
     During the June 2010 quarter, we had contract carrier agreements with 10 contract carriers, including our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Comair, Compass and Mesaba. For additional information about our contract carrier agreements, see Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Form 10-K.
     In July 2010, we sold Compass and Mesaba to Trans States Airlines Inc. and Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (“Pinnacle”), respectively. Upon the closing of these transactions, we entered into new or amended long-term capacity purchase agreements with Compass, Mesaba and Pinnacle. The sale of Compass and Mesaba did not have and is not expected to have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Contingencies Related to Termination of Contract Carrier Agreements
     We may terminate the Chautauqua and Shuttle America contract carrier agreements without cause at any time after May 2010 and January 2016, respectively, by providing certain advance notice. If we terminate either the Chautauqua or Shuttle America agreements without cause, Chautauqua or Shuttle America, respectively, has the right to (1) assign to us leased aircraft that the airline operates for us, provided we are able to continue the leases on the same terms the airline had prior to the assignment and (2) require us to purchase or lease any of the aircraft that the airline owns and operates for us at the time of the termination. If we are required to purchase aircraft owned by Chautauqua or Shuttle America, the purchase price would be equal to the amount necessary to (1) reimburse Chautauqua or Shuttle America for the equity it provided to purchase the aircraft and (2) repay in full any debt outstanding at such time that is not being assumed in connection with such purchase. If we are required to lease aircraft owned by Chautauqua or Shuttle America, the lease would have (1) a rate equal to the debt payments of Chautauqua or Shuttle America for the debt financing of the aircraft calculated as if 90% of the aircraft was debt financed by Chautauqua or Shuttle America and (2) other specified terms and conditions.
     We estimate that the total fair values, determined as of June 30, 2010, of the aircraft that Chautauqua or Shuttle America could assign to us or require that we purchase if we terminate without cause our contract carrier agreements with those airlines (the “Put Right”) are approximately $180 million and $350 million, respectively. The actual amount that we may be required to pay in these circumstances may be materially different from these estimates. If the Chautauqua or Shuttle America Put Right is exercised, we must also pay the exercising carrier 10% interest (compounded monthly) on the equity the carrier provided when it purchased the put aircraft. These equity amounts for Chautauqua and Shuttle America total $25 million and $52 million, respectively.

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     In May 2010, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia ruled that in March 2008 we properly terminated our capacity purchase agreement with Freedom Airlines, Inc. (“Freedom”) and its parent company, Mesa Air Group, Inc. (“Mesa”) for the operation by Freedom of ERJ-145 aircraft. This agreement was not scheduled to expire until 2012. Subsequent to the District Court ruling, we, Mesa and Freedom agreed Freedom would continue to operate flights for us under a capacity purchase agreement until August 31, 2010 to allow for an orderly wind-down of Freedom’s operation of the ERJ-145 aircraft.
Legal Contingencies
     We are involved in various legal proceedings related to employment practices, environmental issues, bankruptcy matters, antitrust matters and other matters concerning our business. We cannot reasonably estimate the potential loss for certain legal proceedings because, for example, the litigation is in its early stages or the plaintiff does not specify the damages being sought.
Credit Card Processing Agreements
Visa/MasterCard Processing Agreement
     Our Visa/MasterCard credit card processing agreement provides that no cash reserve (“Reserve”) is required except in certain circumstances, including when we do not maintain a required level of unrestricted cash. In circumstances in which the processor can establish a Reserve, the amount of the Reserve would be equal to the potential liability of the credit card processor for tickets purchased with Visa or MasterCard that had not yet been used for travel. There was no Reserve as of June 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009.
American Express
     Our American Express credit card processing agreement provides that no withholding of payment related to receivables collected will occur except in certain circumstances, including when we do not maintain a required level of unrestricted cash. In circumstances in which American Express is permitted to withhold payment related to receivables collected, the amount that can be withheld is an amount up to American Express’ potential liability for tickets purchased with the American Express credit card that had not yet been used for travel. No amounts were withheld as of June 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009.
Other Contingencies
General Indemnifications
     We are the lessee under many commercial real estate leases. It is common in these transactions for us, as the lessee, to agree to indemnify the lessor and the lessor’s related parties for tort, environmental and other liabilities that arise out of or relate to our use or occupancy of the leased premises. This type of indemnity would typically make us responsible to indemnified parties for liabilities arising out of the conduct of, among others, contractors, licensees and invitees at, or in connection with, the use or occupancy of the leased premises. This indemnity often extends to related liabilities arising from the negligence of the indemnified parties, but usually excludes any liabilities caused by either their sole or gross negligence and their willful misconduct.
     Our aircraft and other equipment lease and financing agreements typically contain provisions requiring us, as the lessee or obligor, to indemnify the other parties to those agreements, including certain of those parties’ related persons, against virtually any liabilities that might arise from the use or operation of the aircraft or such other equipment.
     We believe that our insurance would cover most of our exposure to liabilities and related indemnities associated with the commercial real estate leases and aircraft and other equipment lease and financing agreements described above. While our insurance does not typically cover environmental liabilities, we have certain insurance policies in place as required by applicable environmental laws.

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     Certain of our aircraft and other financing transactions include provisions, which require us to make payments to preserve an expected economic return to the lenders if that economic return is diminished due to certain changes in law or regulations. In certain of these financing transactions, we also bear the risk of certain changes in tax laws that would subject payments to non-U.S. lenders to withholding taxes.
     We cannot reasonably estimate our potential future payments under the indemnities and related provisions described above because we cannot predict (1) when and under what circumstances these provisions may be triggered and (2) the amount that would be payable if the provisions were triggered because the amounts would be based on facts and circumstances existing at such time.
Employees Under Collective Bargaining Agreements
     At June 30, 2010, we had 81,916 full-time equivalent employees. Approximately 39% of these employees were represented by unions. In July 2010, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA filed an application with the National Mediation Board to resolve representation for flight attendants; and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers filed applications to resolve representation for fleet service and passenger service employees, which includes airport customer service, cargo and reservations employees.
War-Risk Insurance Contingency
     As a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, aviation insurers significantly reduced the maximum amount of insurance coverage available to commercial air carriers for liability to persons (other than employees or passengers) for claims resulting from acts of terrorism, war or similar events. At the same time, aviation insurers significantly increased the premiums for such coverage and for aviation insurance in general. Since September 24, 2001, the U.S. government has been providing U.S. airlines with war-risk insurance to cover losses, including those resulting from terrorism, to passengers, third parties (ground damage) and the aircraft hull. The U.S. Secretary of Transportation has extended coverage through August 31, 2010, and we expect the coverage to be further extended. The withdrawal of government support of airline war-risk insurance would require us to obtain war-risk insurance coverage commercially, if available. Such commercial insurance could have substantially less desirable coverage than currently provided by the U.S. government, may not be adequate to protect our risk of loss from future acts of terrorism, may result in a material increase to our operating expense or may not be obtainable at all, resulting in an interruption to our operations.
Other
     We have certain contracts for goods and services that require us to pay a penalty, acquire inventory specific to us or purchase contract specific equipment, as defined by each respective contract, if we terminate the contract without cause prior to its expiration date. Because these obligations are contingent on our termination of the contract without cause prior to its expiration date, no obligation would exist unless such a termination occurs.

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NOTE 6. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
     The following tables show the components of net periodic cost:
                                 
                    Other Postretirement and
    Pension Benefits   Postemployment Benefits
    Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended
    June 30,   June 30,
(in millions)   2010   2009   2010   2009
 
Service cost
  $     $     $ 15     $ 13  
Interest cost
    246       251       49       51  
Expected return on plan assets
    (170 )     (154 )     (23 )     (19 )
Amortization of prior service benefit
                (1 )      
Recognized net actuarial loss (gain)
    12       8       (1 )     (1 )
Settlements
    4       2              
 
Net periodic cost
  $ 92     $ 107     $ 39     $ 44  
 
                                 
                    Other Postretirement and
    Pension Benefits   Postemployment Benefits
    Six Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30,   June 30,
(in millions)   2010   2009   2010   2009
 
Service cost
  $     $     $ 30     $ 26  
Interest cost
    492       502       98       102  
Expected return on plan assets
    (339 )     (308 )     (46 )     (38 )
Amortization of prior service benefit
                (2 )      
Recognized net actuarial loss (gain)
    24       16       (2 )     (2 )
Special termination and settlements
    6       4             6  
 
Net periodic cost
  $ 183     $ 214     $ 78     $ 94  
 
NOTE 7. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
     The following table shows the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss:
                                 
    Unrecognized            
    Pension and            
    Other Benefits   Derivative   Valuation    
(in millions)   Liability   Instruments   Allowance   Total
 
Balance at December 31, 2009
  $ (2,011 )   $ (345 )   $ (1,207 )   $ (3,563 )
 
Pension and other benefit adjustments
    11                   11  
Changes in fair value
          33             33  
Reclassification to earnings
          17             17  
Tax effect
    (4 )     (19 )     23        
 
Balance at March 31, 2010
    (2,004 )     (314 )     (1,184 )     (3,502 )
 
Pension and other benefit adjustments
    (28 )                 (28 )
Changes in fair value
          (341 )           (341 )
Reclassification to earnings
          18             18  
Tax effect
    10       120       (130 )      
 
Balance at June 30, 2010
  $ (2,022 )   $ (517 )   $ (1,314 )   $ (3,853 )
 

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NOTE 8. RESTRUCTURING AND MERGER-RELATED ITEMS
     The following table shows charges recorded in restructuring and merger-related items on our Consolidated Statements of Operations:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30,   June 30,
(in millions)   2010   2009   2010   2009
 
Merger-related items
  $ 46     $ 58     $ 92     $ 107  
Asset impairment
    36             36        
Severance and related costs
                8       50  
 
Total restructuring and merger-related items
  $ 82     $ 58     $ 136     $ 157  
 
     Merger-related items are costs associated with Northwest and the integration of Northwest operations into Delta. Asset impairment charges relate to the impairment of retired B-747-200 aircraft.
     Severance and related costs primarily relate to voluntary workforce reduction programs for U.S. employees. During the six months ended June 30, 2010, we recorded an $8 million severance charge for our wholly-owned subsidiaries primarily associated with the consolidation of operations at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. During the six months ended June 30, 2009, we recorded $50 million primarily associated with voluntary workforce reduction programs, including $6 million of special termination benefits related to retiree healthcare.
     The following table shows the balances for restructuring charges as of June 30, 2010, and the activity for the six months then ended:
                                 
    Liability                   Liability
    Balance at   Additional           Balance at
    December 31,   Costs and           June 30,
(in millions)   2009   Expenses   Payments   2010
 
Severance and related costs
  $ 69     $ 8     $ (37 )   $ 40  
Facilities and other
    74             (13 )     61  
 
Total
  $ 143     $ 8     $ (50 )   $ 101  
 
NOTE 9. BANKRUPTCY CLAIMS RESOLUTION
     In September 2005, we and substantially all of our subsidiaries (the “Delta Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. On April 30, 2007, the Delta Debtors emerged from bankruptcy. Under the Delta Debtors’ Joint Plan of Reorganization (“Delta’s Plan of Reorganization”), most holders of allowed general, unsecured claims against the Delta Debtors received or will receive Delta common stock in satisfaction of their claims. Delta’s Plan of Reorganization contemplates the distribution of 400 million shares of common stock, consisting of 386 million shares to holders of allowed, general, unsecured claims and 14 million shares to eligible non-contract, non-management employees. As of June 30, 2010, under Delta’s Plan of Reorganization, we have (1) distributed 335 million shares of common stock to holders of $14.1 billion of allowed general, unsecured claims, (2) issued 14 million shares of common stock to eligible non-contract, non-management employees and (3) reserved 51 million shares of common stock for issuance to holders of allowed general, unsecured claims.
     In September 2005, Northwest Airlines Corporation and substantially all of its subsidiaries (the “Northwest Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. On May 31, 2007, the Northwest Debtors emerged from bankruptcy. The Northwest Debtors’ First Amended Joint and Consolidated Plan of Reorganization (“Northwest’s Plan of Reorganization”) generally provides for the distribution of Northwest common stock to the Northwest Debtors’ creditors, employees and others in satisfaction of allowed general, unsecured claims. Pursuant to the Merger, each outstanding share of Northwest common stock (including shares issuable pursuant to Northwest’s Plan of Reorganization) was converted into the right to receive 1.25 shares of Delta common stock. As of June 30, 2010, five million shares of Delta common stock were reserved for issuance in exchange for shares of Northwest common stock that, but for the Merger, would have been issued under Northwest’s Plan of Reorganization.

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     The Delta Debtors and the Northwest Debtors will continue to settle claims and file objections with the bankruptcy courts regarding claims. In light of the substantial number and amount of claims filed, we expect the claims resolution process will take additional time to complete. We believe there will be no further material impact to the Consolidated Statements of Operations from the settlement of claims because the holders of such claims will receive under Delta’s and Northwest’s Plan of Reorganization, as the case may be, only their pro rata share of the distributions of common stock contemplated by the applicable Plan of Reorganization.
NOTE 10. EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
     We calculate basic earnings (loss) per share by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Shares issuable upon the satisfaction of certain conditions are considered outstanding and included in the computation of basic earnings (loss) per share. Accordingly, the calculation of basic earnings (loss) per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 assumes there was outstanding at the beginning of each of these periods (1) all 386 million shares of Delta common stock contemplated by Delta’s Plan of Reorganization to be distributed to holders of allowed general, unsecured claims and (2) nine million shares of Delta common stock reserved for issuance in exchange for shares of Northwest common stock that, but for the Merger, would have been issued under Northwest’s Plan of Reorganization. Similarly, the calculation of basic loss per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 assumes there was outstanding at the beginning of the period 50 million shares of Delta common stock we agreed to issue on behalf of Delta and Northwest pilots in connection with the Merger.
     The following table shows our computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:
                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
(in millions, except per share data)   2010   2009   2010   2009
 
Basic:
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 467     $ (257 )   $ 211     $ (1,051 )
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
    834       827       833       826  
 
Basic earnings (loss) per share
  $ 0.56     $ (0.31 )   $ 0.25     $ (1.27 )
 
Diluted:
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 467     $ (257 )   $ 211     $ (1,051 )
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
    834       827       833       826  
Dilutive effects of share based awards
    8             9        
 
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
    842       827       842       826  
 
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
  $ 0.55     $ (0.31 )   $ 0.25     $ (1.27 )
 
Antidilutive common stock equivalents excluded from diluted earnings (loss) per share
    23       40       22       40  
 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
General Information
     We provide scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States (“U.S.”) and around the world. On October 29, 2008 (the “Closing Date”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours merged (the “Merger”) with and into Northwest Airlines Corporation. On the Closing Date, Northwest Airlines Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Northwest Airlines, Inc. (collectively, “Northwest”), became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Delta.
     On December 31, 2009, Northwest Airlines, Inc. merged with and into Delta. As a result of this merger, Northwest Airlines, Inc. ceased to exist as a separate entity.
     We believe the Northwest merger better positions us to manage through economic cycles and volatile fuel prices, invest in our fleet, improve services for customers and achieve our strategic objectives. We also believe the merger will generate approximately $2 billion in annual revenue and cost synergies by 2012 from more effective aircraft utilization, a more comprehensive and diversified route system, reduced overhead and improved operational efficiency.
June 2010 Quarter Financial Highlights
     We reported net income of $467 million in the June 2010 quarter, compared to a net loss of $257 million in the June 2009 quarter. The $724 million improvement primarily reflects (1) a strengthening of the airline industry revenue environment, including improving business travel, due to improving economic conditions and (2) merger synergies. These benefits were partially offset by higher fuel prices and profit sharing expense in the June 2010 quarter.
     Total operating revenue increased $1.2 billion, or 17%, in the June 2010 quarter on a 1% reduction in capacity, or available seat miles (“ASMs”), compared to the June 2009 quarter. Passenger revenue per available seat mile (“PRASM”) improved 19% driven by a 17% increase in passenger mile yield and a 1.9 point increase in load factor, reflecting an increase in demand for air travel and an increase in fares. During the June 2009 quarter, the global recession and the effects of the H1N1 virus had a significant negative impact on our operating revenue.
     Volatile fuel prices continue to represent a significant risk to our business and the airline industry as a whole. Including our contract carriers under capacity purchase agreements, our unhedged fuel price increased 39% to $2.31 per gallon compared to $1.66 per gallon in the June 2009 quarter. Our fuel price, including the impact of our fuel hedge contracts, was $2.32 per gallon for the June 2010 quarter compared to $2.06 per gallon for the June 2009 quarter. We recorded $14 million in net fuel hedge costs in the June 2010 quarter, compared to $390 million in fuel hedge losses in the June 2009 quarter. In an on-going effort to manage fuel price risk, we enter into derivative instruments to hedge a portion of our projected aircraft fuel requirements. As of June 30, 2010, we have hedged approximately 50% of our projected fuel requirements for the September 2010 quarter and six months ended December 31, 2010. Our current hedge portfolio primarily utilizes call options, which help us to mitigate the risk of aircraft fuel price increases, while allowing us downside participation through market purchases should aircraft fuel prices decline.
     Our net income for the June 2010 quarter includes (1) a $46 million charge for merger-related items associated with Northwest and the integration of Northwest operations into Delta and (2) a $36 million charge related to the impairment of retired B-747-200 aircraft. Our net loss for the June 2009 quarter includes a $58 million charge for merger-related items.

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     Our consolidated operating cost per ASM (“CASM”), for the June 2010 quarter, excluding aircraft fuel and related taxes, profit sharing and special items, (a non-GAAP financial measure as defined in “Supplemental Information” below), was 8.08 cents. The performance of this metric was flat compared to the June 2009 quarter despite 1% lower capacity, as merger synergies and productivity improvements offset higher revenue-related expenses and pay increases for frontline employees. We continue to focus on maintaining a competitive cost structure through disciplined spending, productivity initiatives and accelerating merger synergies.
     At June 30, 2010, we had $4.4 billion in cash and cash equivalents, and $1.6 billion in undrawn revolving credit facilities. During the June 2010 quarter, cash provided by operating activities was $1.0 billion. During that period, we repaid $1.3 billion in long-term debt and capital lease obligations. We also invested $196 million in property and equipment, including the purchase of five previously owned MD-90 aircraft and four previously leased B-757-200 aircraft. We contributed to our defined benefit pension plans $440 million in the June 2010 quarter and $225 million in the March 2010 quarter. As a result of the $665 million in contributions for the six months ended June 30, 2010, we satisfied, on an accelerated basis, our minimum required contributions for our defined benefit pension plans for 2010. In July 2010, we completed a $450 million offering of Pass Through Certificates, Series 2010-1A. For additional information, see Note 4 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Business Overview
     Recent Initiatives. In 2009, we implemented a joint venture with Air France-KLM that strengthens our transatlantic network, expanded our alliance agreement with Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air to enhance our West coast presence. Additionally, we received U.S. Department of Transportation approval for a codesharing agreement with Virgin Blue, which will expand our network between the U.S. and Australia and the South Pacific. In July 2010, Alitalia joined our transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM retroactive to April 2010. We believe our global network, hub structure and alliances with other airlines enables us to offer our customers an improved global reach compared to other domestic and international airlines.
     Expanding our support for New York City through increased corporate sales, improved facilities and increased and new service from New York is a key component of our network strategy. We continue to make investments in our international operation at New York-JFK and explore long-term options to upgrade the facility. In August 2009, we announced our intention to make New York’s LaGuardia Airport a domestic hub through a slot transaction with US Airways. In May 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation issued an order granting the waiver necessary to approve our agreement with US Airways. However, the waiver was conditioned on the parties’ agreement to a slot divestiture process which was not acceptable. On July 2, 2010, we and US Airways appealed the order to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. We cannot predict the outcome of the appeal.
     We plan to invest $1 billion through mid-2013 to improve the customer experience and the efficiency of our aircraft fleet. Planned enhancements include installing full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite on 90 trans-oceanic aircraft, adding in-seat audio and video throughout Economy Class on 68 widebody aircraft, adding First Class cabins to 66 CRJ-700 aircraft and installing winglets on more than 170 aircraft to extend aircraft range and increase fuel efficiency.
     Merger Synergies. We achieved $700 million in merger synergy benefits in 2009. During the June 2010 quarter, we realized $200 million in incremental merger synergy benefits. We are anticipating a total of $1.5 billion of annual merger synergies by the end of 2010, and to achieve our goal of $2.0 billion of annual merger synergies in 2011. We have completed substantially all customer facing merger-related milestones and the majority of our merger integration, including combining frequent flyer programs, consolidating and rebranding all airport facilities, achieving a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, and integrating the reservations and flight planning systems.

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Other Matters
     Northwest Cargo Matter. On July 30, 2010, Northwest Airlines, LLC (“Northwest LLC”), a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”) and successor to Northwest Airlines Corporation (“Northwest Corp.”), entered into a plea agreement (“Plea Agreement”) with the U.S. Department of Justice, agreeing (1) to enter a plea of guilty to a one-count information asserting violations of the federal antitrust laws relating to cargo rates charged by Northwest Airlines Cargo, Inc., the cargo division of Northwest Airlines, Inc. (“Northwest Airlines”), the principal wholly-owned subsidiary of Northwest Corp., for certain international air shipments during the period between July 2004 and February 14, 2006, which was prior to Delta’s acquisition of Northwest Corp. in 2008; and (2) to pay a fine of $38 million. Delta, Northwest LLC and their affiliates fully cooperated with the U.S. Department of Justice in its investigation of this matter, and Northwest Airlines terminated the employment of the individual that it believed had primary responsibility for the conduct in question. The Plea Agreement is subject to acceptance by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
     The Plea Agreement relates to actions in violation of company policy by certain employees and officers of Northwest Airlines Cargo, Inc., the former cargo division of Northwest Airlines. The Plea Agreement does not assert any misconduct by any current or former officer or member of the Board of Directors of Northwest LLC, Northwest Corp., Northwest Airlines or Delta.
     Delta believes that none of Delta, Northwest LLC or any of their affiliates has any liability for damages in civil lawsuits for actions that are the subject of the Plea Agreement because, among other reasons, any such liability was discharged in and by the bankruptcy proceedings of Northwest Corp. and Northwest Airlines.
     Northwest Corp. and Northwest Airlines emerged from bankruptcy on May 31, 2007, and became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Delta on October 29, 2008. On December 31, 2009, Northwest Airlines merged with and into Delta.
     Employee Matters. In July 2010, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA filed an application with the National Mediation Board to resolve representation for flight attendants; and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers filed applications to resolve representation for fleet service and passenger service employees, which includes airport customer service, cargo and reservations employees.
     Healthcare Reform. During the March 2010 quarter, Congress passed and the President signed new healthcare legislation. While the new law may impact certain of our healthcare plans, we currently believe this impact will not be material. We will continue to review the impact of the new law as governmental agencies issue interpretations regarding its meaning and scope.

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Results of Operations — June 2010 and 2009 Quarters
Operating Revenue
                                 
                    vs. Three Months Ended
                    June 30, 2009
    Three Months   Three Months           %
    Ended   Ended   Increase   Increase
(in millions)   June 30, 2010   June 30, 2009   (Decrease)   (Decrease)
 
Operating Revenue:
                               
Passenger:
                               
Mainline
  $ 5,480     $ 4,564     $ 916       20 %
Regional carriers
    1,529       1,339       190       14 %
         
Total passenger revenue
    7,009       5,903       1,106       19 %
Cargo
    211       173       38       22 %
Other, net
    948       924       24       3 %
         
Total operating revenue
  $ 8,168     $ 7,000     $ 1,168       17 %
 
                                                         
            Increase (Decrease)
            vs. Three Months Ended June 30, 2009
    Three Months                                        
    Ended                           Passenger            
    June 30,   Passenger   RPMs(1)   ASMs   Mile           Load
(in millions)   2010   Revenue   (Traffic)   (Capacity)   Yield   PRASM   Factor
 
Passenger Revenue:
                                                       
Domestic
  $ 3,152       16 %     1 %     1 %     14 %     14 %   — pts
Atlantic
    1,358       19 %     (5 )%     (8 )%     25 %     30 %   3.3 pts
Pacific
    634       52 %     24 %     12 %     23 %     36 %   8.5 pts
Latin America
    336       17 %     6 %     5 %     10 %     12 %   1.1 pts
 
Total Mainline
    5,480       20 %     2 %     %     17 %     20 %   1.9 pts
Regional carriers
    1,529       14 %     (2 )%     (4 )%     17 %     19 %   1.9 pts
                                                 
Total passenger revenue
  $ 7,009       19 %     2 %     (1 )%     17 %     19 %   1.9 pts
 
(1)   Revenue passenger miles (“RPMs”).
     Mainline Passenger Revenue. Mainline passenger revenue increased 20% in the June 2010 quarter compared to the June 2009 quarter primarily due to increased business demand for air travel and an increase in fares. Passenger mile yield and PRASM increased 17% and 20%, respectively. During the June 2009 quarter, the global recession and the effects of the H1N1 virus had a significant negative impact on our mainline passenger revenue.
    Domestic Passenger Revenue. Domestic passenger revenue increased 16% from a 14% increase in PRASM on a 1% increase in capacity. The passenger mile yield increased 14%, reflecting an increase in business travel and an increase in fares.
 
    International Passenger Revenue. International passenger revenue increased 26% from a 28% increase in PRASM and a 4.1 point increase in load factor on a 1% decline in capacity. The passenger mile yield increased 22%, reflecting (1) an increase in business and leisure travel and (2) an increase in fares. The Atlantic and Pacific markets realized a 25% and 23% increase in passenger mile yield, respectively, due to improved economic conditions and increased business demand.

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     Regional carriers. Passenger revenue of regional carriers increased 14% from a 19% increase in PRASM and a 1.9 point increase in load factor on a 4% decline in capacity. The passenger mile yield increased 17%, reflecting an increase in demand for air travel and an increase in fares.
     Cargo. Cargo revenue increased $38 million due to higher cargo yield and international volume, partially offset by capacity reductions. The results for the June 2009 quarter include the operations of dedicated freighter B-747-200F aircraft, which we retired during 2009.
     Other, net. Other, net revenue increased $24 million primarily due to increased baggage fees.
Operating Expense
                                 
                    vs. Three Months Ended
    Three Months   Three Months   June 30, 2009
    Ended   Ended           %
    June 30,   June 30,   Increase   Increase
(in millions)   2010   2009   (Decrease)   (Decrease)
 
Operating Expense:
                               
Aircraft fuel and related taxes
  $ 1,960     $ 1,812     $ 148       8 %
Salaries and related costs
    1,702       1,723       (21 )     (1) %
Contract carrier arrangements
    972       965       7       1 %
Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs
    395       392       3       1 %
Depreciation and amortization
    379       383       (4 )     (1) %
Contracted services
    366       354       12       3 %
Passenger commissions and other selling expenses
    377       329       48       15 %
Landing fees and other rents
    324       315       9       3 %
Passenger service
    165       161       4       2 %
Aircraft rent
    101       119       (18 )     (15) %
Profit sharing
    90             90     NM   
Restructuring and merger-related items
    82       58       24       41 %
Other
    403       388       15       4 %
         
Total operating expense
  $ 7,316     $ 6,999     $ 317       5 %
 
     Aircraft fuel and related taxes. Aircraft fuel and related taxes increased $148 million primarily due to a $550 million increase associated with higher average unhedged fuel prices, partially offset by a $376 million reduction in fuel hedge losses. We recorded $14 million in net fuel hedge costs in the June 2010 quarter, compared to $390 million in fuel hedge losses in the June 2009 quarter. The fuel hedge losses in the June 2009 quarter were primarily from hedge contracts purchased in 2008 when fuel prices reached record highs and were expected to continue to rise.
     Salaries and related costs. Salaries and related costs decreased $21 million primarily because (1) the June 2009 quarter includes expense associated with Delta airline tickets we awarded to employees as a part of an employee recognition program and (2) the June 2010 quarter reflects lower pension expense primarily from an increase in the value of our defined benefit plan assets and a 2% average decrease in staffing primarily related to voluntary workforce reduction programs. The decrease in salaries and related costs in the June 2010 quarter was partially offset by pay increases for frontline employees.
     Contract carrier arrangements. Contract carrier arrangements expense increased $7 million primarily due to higher average fuel prices, partially offset by (1) lower overall expense from a reduction in capacity and (2) reduced contract carrier rates from the transfer of ground handling services to one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries and third party vendors.
     Passenger commissions and other selling expenses. Passenger commissions and other selling expenses increased $48 million primarily due to higher revenue-related expenses.
     Profit sharing. We recorded a $90 million charge related to our broad-based employee profit sharing plans during the June 2010 quarter. We did not record any profit sharing expense in 2009. Our broad-based profit sharing plans provide that, for each year in which we have an annual pre-tax profit (as defined), we will pay a specified portion of that profit to eligible employees.

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     Restructuring and merger-related items. Restructuring and merger-related items increased $24 million, primarily due to the following:
    During the June 2010 quarter, we recorded (1) a $46 million charge for merger-related items associated with Northwest and the integration of Northwest operations into Delta and (2) a $36 million charge related to the impairment of retired B-747-200 aircraft.
 
    During the June 2009 quarter, we recorded a $58 million charge for merger-related items.
Other (Expense) Income
     Other expense, net for the June 2010 quarter was $384 million compared to $254 million for the June 2009 quarter. This change is attributable to the following:
         
    (Unfavorable) Favorable vs.
    Three Months Ended
(in millions)   June 30, 2009
 
Mark-to-market adjustments on the ineffective portion of fuel hedge contracts
  $ (92 )
Foreign currency exchange rates
    (37 )
Net interest expense
    3  
Other
    (4 )
 
Total other expense, net
  $ (130 )
 
Income Taxes
     We did not record an income tax provision for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of our income in the June 2010 quarter since our deferred tax assets are fully reserved by a valuation allowance. We did not record an income tax benefit in the June 2009 quarter as a result of our loss in that period. The deferred tax asset resulting from such a net operating loss was fully reserved by a valuation allowance.
Results of Operations — Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 and 2009
Operating Revenue
                                 
                    vs. Six Months Ended
                    June 30, 2009
    Six Months   Six Months           %
    Ended   Ended   Increase   Increase
(in millions)   June 30, 2010   June 30, 2009   (Decrease)   (Decrease)
 
Operating Revenue:
                               
Passenger:
                               
Mainline
  $ 9,966     $ 8,931     $ 1,035       12 %
Regional carriers
    2,849       2,573       276       11 %
         
Total passenger revenue
    12,815       11,504       1,311       11 %
Cargo
    387       358       29       8 %
Other, net
    1,814       1,822       (8 )     %
         
Total operating revenue
  $ 15,016     $ 13,684     $ 1,332       10 %
 

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            Increase (Decrease)
    Six Months   vs. Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
    Ended                           Passenger            
    June 30,   Passenger   RPMs   ASMs   Mile           Load
(in millions)   2010   Revenue   (Traffic)   (Capacity)   Yield   PRASM   Factor
 
Passenger Revenue:
                                                       
Domestic
  $ 5,802       10 %     %     (1) %     10 %     10 %   — pts
Atlantic
    2,228       12 %     (5) %     (11) %     18 %     25 %   4.7 pts
Pacific
    1,204       24 %     14 %     7 %     9 %     16 %   4.9 pts
Latin America
    732       8 %     4 %     2 %     3 %     5 %   1.4 pts
 
Total Mainline
    9,966       12 %     %     (2) %     11 %     14 %   2.1 pts
Regional carriers
    2,849       11 %     (1) %     (4) %     11 %     15 %   2.7 pts
                                                 
Total passenger revenue
  $ 12,815       11 %     %     (2) %     11 %     14 %   2.2 pts
 
     Mainline Passenger Revenue. Mainline passenger revenue increased 12% in the six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2009 primarily due to increased business demand for air travel and an increase in fares, partially offset by planned and weather-related capacity reductions. Passenger mile yield and PRASM increased 11% and 14%, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2009, the global recession and the effects of the H1N1 virus had a significant negative impact on our mainline passenger revenue.
    Domestic Passenger Revenue. Domestic passenger revenue increased 10% from a 10% increase in PRASM on a 1% decline in capacity. The passenger mile yield increased 10%, reflecting an increase in business travel and an increase in fares.
 
    International Passenger Revenue. International passenger revenue increased 14% from a 19% increase in PRASM and a 4.3 point increase in load factor on a 4% decline in capacity. The passenger mile yield increased 13%, reflecting (1) an increase in business and leisure travel and (2) an increase in fares. The Atlantic market realized an 18% increase in passenger mile yield due to improved economic conditions after having experienced the largest decline in passenger mile yield compared to our other international regions during the six months ended June 30, 2009 quarter.
     Regional carriers. Passenger revenue of regional carriers increased 11% from a 15% increase in PRASM and a 2.7 point increase in load factor on a 4% decline in capacity. The passenger mile yield increased 11%, reflecting an increase in demand for air travel and an increase in fares.
     Cargo. Cargo revenue increased $29 million due to higher cargo yield and international volume, partially offset by capacity reductions. The results for the six months ended June 30, 2009 include the operations of dedicated freighter B-747-200F aircraft, which we retired during 2009.
     Other, net. Other, net revenue decreased $8 million primarily due to a reduction in our aircraft maintenance and repair service revenue and lower administrative service charges, partially offset by increased baggage fees.

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Operating Expense
                                 
                    vs. Six Months Ended
    Six Months   Six Months   June 30, 2009
    Ended   Ended           %
    June 30,   June 30,   Increase   Increase
(in millions)   2010   2009   (Decrease)   (Decrease)
 
Operating Expense:
                               
Aircraft fuel and related taxes
  $ 3,643     $ 3,705     $ (62 )     (2) %
Salaries and related costs
    3,374       3,429       (55 )     (2) %
Contract carrier arrangements
    1,889       1,873       16       1 %
Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs
    769       816       (47 )     (6) %
Depreciation and amortization
    764       767       (3 )     %
Contracted services
    758       786       (28 )     (4) %
Passenger commissions and other selling expenses
    741       685       56       8 %
Landing fees and other rents
    637       631       6       1 %
Passenger service
    303       296       7       2 %
Aircraft rent
    213       240       (27 )     (11) %
Profit sharing
    90             90     NM   
Restructuring and merger-related items
    136       157       (21 )     (13) %
Other
    779       781       (2 )     %
         
Total operating expense
  $ 14,096     $ 14,166     $ (70 )     %
 
     Aircraft fuel and related taxes. Aircraft fuel and related taxes decreased $62 million primarily due to a reduction of (1) $1.1 billion in fuel hedge losses and (2) $95 million from a 4% decline in fuel consumption. These decreases were partially offset by $1.1 billion associated with higher average unhedged fuel prices. We recorded $26 million in net fuel hedge costs in the six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to $1.1 billion in fuel hedge losses in the six months ended June 30, 2009. The fuel hedge losses in the six months ended June 30, 2009 were primarily from hedge contracts purchased in 2008 when fuel prices reached record highs and were expected to continue to rise.
     Salaries and related costs. Salaries and related costs decreased $55 million primarily due to (1) a 3% average decrease in staffing primarily related to voluntary workforce reduction programs, (2) lower pension expense primarily from an increase in the value of our defined benefit plan assets and (3) the inclusion in the June 2009 quarter of expense associated with Delta airline tickets we awarded to employees as a part of an employee recognition program. The decrease in salaries and related costs is partially offset by pay increases for frontline employees.
     Contract carrier arrangements. Contract carrier arrangements expense increased $16 million primarily due to higher average fuel prices, partially offset by (1) lower overall expense from a reduction in capacity and (2) reduced contract carrier rates from the transfer of ground handling services to one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries and third party vendors.
     Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs. Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs expense decreased $47 million primarily from capacity reductions.
     Passenger commissions and other selling expenses. Passenger commissions and other selling expenses increased $56 million primarily due to higher revenue-related expenses.
     Profit sharing. We recorded a $90 million charge related to our broad-based employee profit sharing plans in the six months ended June 30, 2010. We did not record any profit sharing expense in 2009. Our broad-based profit sharing plans provide that, for each year in which we have an annual pre-tax profit (as defined), we will pay a specified portion of that profit to eligible employees.

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     Restructuring and merger-related items. Restructuring and merger-related items decreased $21 million, primarily due to the following:
    During the six months ended June 30, 2010, we recorded (1) a $92 million charge for merger-related items associated with Northwest and the integration of Northwest operations into Delta, (2) a $36 million charge related to the impairment of retired B-747-200 aircraft and (3) an $8 million severance charge for our wholly-owned subsidiaries primarily associated with the consolidation of operations at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
 
    During the six months ended June 30, 2009, we recorded a $107 million charge for merger-related items and $50 million in charges primarily related to severance associated with voluntary workforce reduction programs.
Other (Expense) Income
     Other expense, net for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was $698 million, compared to $565 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009. This change is attributable to the following:
         
    Unfavorable vs.
    Six Months Ended
(in millions)   June 30, 2009
 
Mark-to-market adjustments on the ineffective portion of fuel hedge contracts
  $ (74 )
Foreign currency exchange rates
    (39 )
Loss associated with devaluation of Venezuelan currency
    (10 )
Net interest expense
    (5 )
Other
    (5 )
 
Total other expense, net
  $ (133 )
 
Income Taxes
     We did not record income tax provision for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of our income for the six months ended June 30, 2010 since our deferred tax assets are fully reserved by a valuation allowance. We did not record an income tax benefit for the six months ended June 30, 2009 as a result of our loss in that period. The deferred tax asset resulting from such a net operating loss was fully reserved by a valuation allowance.

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Operating Statistics
     The following table sets forth our operating statistics:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    2010   2009   2010   2009
 
Consolidated(1):
                               
RPMs (millions)
    49,894       49,053       92,261       92,013  
ASMs (millions)
    58,698       59,029       111,999       114,769  
Passenger mile yield
    14.05 ¢     12.04 ¢     13.89 ¢     12.50 ¢
PRASM
    11.94 ¢     10.00 ¢     11.44 ¢     10.02 ¢
CASM
    12.46 ¢     11.86 ¢     12.59 ¢     12.34 ¢
Passenger load factor
    85.0 %     83.1 %     82.4 %     80.2 %
Fuel gallons consumed (millions)
    965       983       1,836       1,908  
Average price per fuel gallon, net of hedging activity
  $ 2.32     $ 2.06     $ 2.28     $ 2.16  
Full-time equivalent employees, end of period
    81,916       82,968       81,916       82,968  
Mainline:
                               
RPMs (millions)
    43,398       42,416       79,929       79,617  
ASMs (millions)
    50,642       50,605       96,252       98,369  
CASM
    11.47 ¢     10.96 ¢     11.54 ¢     11.53 ¢
Fuel gallons consumed (millions)
    782       793       1,479       1,533  
Average price per fuel gallon, net of hedging activity
  $ 2.32     $ 2.14     $ 2.27     $ 2.28  
 
 
(1)   Includes the operations of our contract carriers under capacity purchase agreements, except full-time equivalent employees excludes employees of contract carriers, which we do not own.

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Fleet Information
     Our active aircraft fleet, commitments, options and rolling options at June 30, 2010 are summarized in the following table:
                                                                 
    Current Fleet                        
            Capital   Operating           Average                   Rolling
Aircraft Type   Owned   Lease   Lease   Total   Age   Commitments(1)   Options(2)   Options(2)
 
B-737-700
    10                   10       1.4                    
B-737-800
    71                   71       9.7       9 (3)     60       90  
B-747-400
    4       6       6       16       16.6                    
B-757-200
    92       39       36       167       17.4                    
B-757-300
    16                   16       7.3                    
B-767-300
    4             10       14       18.9                    
B-767-300ER
    46             9       55       14.2             5        
B-767-400ER
    21                   21       9.3             10        
B-777-200ER
    8                   8       10.4                    
B-777-200LR
    10                   10       1.2             18        
A319-100
    55             2       57       8.4                    
A320-200
    41             28       69       15.3                    
A330-200
    11                   11       5.2                    
A330-300
    21                   21       4.8                    
MD-88
    63       50       4       117       20.0                    
MD-90
    17                   17       14.6       2              
DC-9
    53                   53       38.0                    
CRJ-100
    21       13       27       61       12.4                    
CRJ-200
    2             25       27       7.5                    
CRJ-700
    15                   15       6.6                    
CRJ-900
    54                   54       2.6                    
SAAB 340B+
                32       32       12.2                    
Embraer 175
    36                   36       2.2             36        
             
Total Aircraft
    671       108       179       958       13.7       11       129       90  
 
 
(1)   Excludes our orders of 18 B-787-8 aircraft. The Boeing Company (“Boeing”) has informed us that Boeing will be unable to meet the contractual delivery schedule for these aircraft. We are in discussions with Boeing regarding this situation. The table also excludes our orders for five A319-100 and two A320-200 aircraft because we have the right to cancel these orders.
 
(2)   Aircraft options have scheduled delivery slots, while rolling options replace options and are assigned delivery slots as options expire or are exercised.
 
(3)   Includes seven aircraft that we have entered into definitive agreements to sell to third parties immediately following delivery of these aircraft to us by the manufacturer.
     The above table:
    Excludes all grounded aircraft, including 13 DC-9, nine CRJ-100, nine SAAB 340B+ and one B-767-300ER aircraft that were grounded during the six months ended June 30, 2010; and
 
    Excludes 156 CRJ-200, 12 CRJ-700 and 10 CRJ-900 aircraft, which are operated by our third party contract carriers on our behalf and included in the third party contract carriers table below.
     During the six months ended June 30, 2010, we accepted delivery of 13 B-737-800 and two B-777-200LR aircraft. We also purchased nine previously owned MD-90 aircraft and four previously leased B-757-200 aircraft. The 13 B-737-800 aircraft were immediately sold to third parties.

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     The following table summarizes the aircraft fleet operated by third party contract carriers on our behalf at June 30, 2010:
                                                         
    Fleet Type    
                                    Embraer   Embraer    
Carrier   CRJ-200   CRJ-700   CRJ-900   ERJ-145   170   175   Total
 
Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc.
    98       38       10                         146  
Pinnacle Airlines, Inc.
    126             16                         142  
SkyWest Airlines, Inc.
    52       13       21                         86  
Chautauqua Airlines, Inc.
                      24                   24  
Shuttle America Corporation
                            1       16       17  
Freedom Airlines, Inc.(1)
                      16                   16  
 
Total
    276       51       47       40       1       16       431  
 
 
(1)   In May 2010, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia ruled that in March 2008 we properly terminated our capacity purchase agreement with Freedom Airlines, Inc. (“Freedom”) and its parent company, Mesa Air Group, Inc. (“Mesa”) for the operation by Freedom of ERJ-145 aircraft. This agreement was not scheduled to expire until 2012. Subsequent to the District Court ruling, we, Mesa and Freedom agreed Freedom would continue to operate flights for us under a contract carrier agreement until August 31, 2010 to allow for an orderly wind-down of Freedom’s operation of the ERJ-145 aircraft.
Financial Condition and Liquidity
     We expect to meet our cash needs for the next 12 months from cash flows from operations, cash and cash equivalents and financing arrangements. As of June 30, 2010, we had $6.0 billion in unrestricted liquidity, consisting of $4.4 billion in cash and $1.6 billion in undrawn revolving credit facilities. As of June 30, 2010, we also have commitments from third parties to finance, or definitive agreements to sell, all aircraft subject to purchase commitments, except for two previously owned MD-90 aircraft. Under these financing commitments third parties have agreed to finance on a long-term basis a substantial portion of the purchase price of the covered aircraft. For additional information regarding our aircraft purchase commitments, see Note 5 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
     The global economic recession in 2008 and 2009 weakened demand for air travel, decreasing our revenue and negatively impacting our liquidity. In an effort to lessen the impact of the global recession, we implemented initiatives to reduce costs, increase revenues and preserve liquidity, primarily through reducing capacity to align with demand, workforce reduction programs and the acceleration of merger synergy benefits. While we are seeing a strengthening of the airline industry revenue environment due to improving economic conditions, the revenue environment continues to be weaker than before the onset of the global recession. Moreover, fuel prices have been increasing. Accordingly, we continue to focus on maintaining a competitive cost structure through disciplined spending, productivity initiatives and accelerating merger synergies.
     Our ability to obtain additional financing, if needed, on acceptable terms could be affected by the fact that substantially all of our assets are subject to liens.

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Liquidity Events
     Liquidity events included the following:
    American Express Agreement. In March 2010, we and American Express modified our December 2008 agreement under which we received $1.0 billion from American Express for their advance purchase of SkyMiles. Our obligations with respect to the advance payment will be satisfied by the use of SkyMiles by American Express over a specified period (“SkyMiles Usage Period”) rather than by cash payments from us to American Express. The March 2010 modification, among other things, changes the SkyMiles Usage Period to a three-year period beginning in December 2011 from a two-year period beginning in December 2010. For additional information, see Note 4 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
    Pension Obligations. We sponsor a defined benefit pension plan for eligible non-pilot Delta employees and retirees and defined benefit pension plans for eligible pre-merger Northwest employees and retirees, all of which have been frozen for future benefit accruals. Our funding obligations for these plans are governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. We contributed $665 million to our defined benefit pension plans during the six months ended June 30, 2010. As a result of these contributions, we satisfied, on an accelerated basis, our minimum required contributions for our defined benefit pension plans for 2010.
 
    Exit Revolving Facility. During the June 2010 quarter, we amended our $1.0 billion first-lien revolving credit facility (the “Exit Revolving Facility”) to convert the $86 million revolving commitment of Lehman Commercial Paper, Inc. to a fully funded, non-revolving loan due April 2012. In addition, we prepaid the remaining $914 million of the Exit Revolving Facility. For additional information, see Note 4 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
    2010-1 EETC. In July 2010, we completed a $450 million offering of Pass Through Certificates, Series 2010-1A, through a pass through trust. We used $160 million in net proceeds to partially finance two B-777-200LR aircraft purchased in March 2010. The remaining $290 million will be used to partially refinance 22 aircraft currently supporting the 2000-1 EETC and will be held in escrow until the final maturity of the 2000-1 EETC in November 2010. The debt securities in this offering bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.2% per year and have a final maturity in July 2018. At June 30, 2010, we reclassified $290 million principal amount of the 2000-1 EETC from current maturities to long-term debt.
Sources and Uses of Cash
Cash flows from operating activities
     Cash provided by operating activities totaled $2.0 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2010, primarily reflecting (1) a $1.5 billion increase in advance ticket sales primarily for summer travel, (2) $487 million in net income after adjusting for reconciling items such as depreciation and amortization and (3) a $455 million increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities primarily related to increased operations due to seasonality and the improving economy. Cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was partially offset by (1) a $285 million increase in accounts receivable associated with advance ticket sales and the timing of settlements and (2) a $179 million decrease in frequent flyer liability.
     Cash provided by operating activities totaled $1.5 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2009, primarily reflecting (1) the return from counterparties of $1.1 billion of hedge margin primarily used to settle fuel hedge losses recognized during the period and (2) a $537 million increase in advance ticket sales for summer travel. Cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2009 was partially offset by $306 million in net loss after adjusting for reconciling items such as depreciation and amortization.

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Cash flows from investing activities
     Cash used in investing activities totaled $555 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, primarily reflecting investments of $449 million for flight equipment and $75 million for ground property and equipment. Included in flight equipment acquisitions are seven previously owned MD-90 aircraft, four previously leased B-757-200 and two B-777-200LR aircraft.
     Cash used in investing activities totaled $404 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009, primarily reflecting net investments of $498 million for flight equipment and $113 million for ground property and equipment, partially offset by a $121 million redemption of our investment in The Reserve Primary Fund and $76 million of proceeds from our sale of flight equipment.
Cash flows from financing activities
     Cash used in financing activities totaled $1.6 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2010, reflecting the repayment of $1.6 billion in long-term debt and capital lease obligations, including the prepayment of $914 million of our Exit Revolving Facility.
     Cash used in financing activities totaled $477 million for the six months ended June 2009, primarily reflecting the repayment of $853 million in long-term debt and capital lease obligations, partially offset by $390 million in proceeds primarily from long-term aircraft financing.
Application of Critical Accounting Policies
Critical Accounting Estimates
     For information regarding our Critical Accounting Estimates, see the “Application of Critical Accounting Policies” section of “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Form 10-K.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
     In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables.” The standard revises guidance on (1) the determination of when individual deliverables may be treated as separate units of accounting and (2) the allocation of transaction consideration among separately identified deliverables. It also expands disclosure requirements regarding an entity’s multiple element revenue arrangements. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with early adoption permitted. We intend to adopt this standard on a prospective basis beginning January 1, 2011. We are currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Supplemental Information
     We sometimes use information that is derived from our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, but that is not presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”). Certain of this information is considered “non-GAAP financial measures” under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules. The non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results.
     The following tables show reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP financial measures. We exclude the following items from CASM:
    Ancillary businesses. Ancillary businesses are not related to the generation of a seat mile. These businesses include aircraft maintenance and staffing services we provide to third parties, our vacation wholesale operations and our dedicated freighter operations, which we discontinued on December 31, 2009.
 
    Profit sharing. Management believes the exclusion of this item provides a more meaningful comparison of our results to the airline industry and prior year results.
 
    Restructuring and merger-related items. Management believes the exclusion of this item is helpful to investors to evaluate our recurring operational performance.
 
    Aircraft fuel and related taxes. Management believes the volatility in fuel prices impacts the comparability of year-over-year financial performance.
                 
    Three Months Ended June 30,
    2010   2009
 
CASM
    12.46 ¢     11.86 ¢
Items excluded:
               
Ancillary businesses
    (0.28 )     (0.31 )
Profit sharing
    (0.15 )      
Restructuring and merger-related items
    (0.14 )     (0.10 )
Aircraft fuel and related taxes
    (3.81 )     (3.39 )
 
CASM excluding aircraft fuel and related taxes, profit sharing and special items
    8.08 ¢     8.06 ¢
 
     The following table shows a reconciliation from consolidated operating expense to mainline operating expense, which is used to calcuate mainline CASM.
                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
(in millions)   2010   2009   2010   2009
 
Consolidated operating expense
  $ 7,316     $ 6,999     $ 14,096     $ 14,166  
Less regional carriers operating expense
    (1,505 )     (1,452 )     (2,987 )     (2,820 )
 
Mainline operating expense
  $ 5,811     $ 5,547     $ 11,109     $ 11,346  
 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
     There have been no material changes in market risk from the information provided in “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our Form 10-K, other than those discussed below.
     The following sensitivity analysis does not consider the effects of a change in demand for air travel, the economy as a whole or actions we may take to seek to mitigate our exposure to a particular risk. For these and other reasons, the actual results of changes in these prices or rates may differ materially from the following hypothetical results.
Aircraft Fuel Price Risk
     Our results of operations are materially impacted by changes in aircraft fuel prices. In an effort to manage our exposure to this risk, we periodically enter into derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, which are comprised of crude oil, heating oil and jet fuel call option, collar and swap contracts, to hedge a portion of our projected aircraft fuel requirements, including those of our contract carriers under capacity purchase agreements.
     As of June 30, 2010, our open fuel hedge position for the six months ending December 31, 2010 and year ending December 31, 2011 is as follows:
                         
                    Contract Fair
                    Value at
    Weighted   Percentage of   June 30, 2010
    Average Contract   Projected   Based Upon
    Strike Price   Fuel Requirements   $76 per Barrel of
(in millions, unless otherwise stated)   per Gallon   Hedged   Crude Oil
 
2010
                       
Crude Oil
                       
Call options
  $ 2.01       20 %   $ 20  
Collars – cap/floor
    2.01/1.75       18       (13 )
Swaps
    1.89       2       (2 )
Jet Fuel
                       
Call options
    2.06       5       15  
Swaps
    2.12       5       (4 )
             
Total
            50 %   $ 16  
 
 
                       
2011
                       
Crude Oil
                       
Call options
  $ 2.03       20 %   $ 144  
Collars – cap/floor
    2.09/1.77       7 %     (11 )
             
Total
            27 %   $ 133  
 
     For the six months ended June 30, 2010, aircraft fuel and related taxes, including our contract carriers under capacity purchase agreements, accounted for $4.2 billion, or 30%, of our total operating expense, including $26 million of net fuel hedge costs. The following table shows the projected impact to aircraft fuel expense and fuel hedge margin for the six months ending December 31, 2010 based on the impact of our open fuel hedge contracts at June 30, 2010, assuming the following per barrel prices of crude oil:
                                 
                            Fuel Hedge
                            Margin
    Decrease                   (Posted to)
    (Increase) to Fuel   Hedge (Loss)           Received from
(in millions)   Expense(1)   Gain(2)   Net impact   Counterparties
 
$60 / barrel
  $ 886     $ (315 )   $ 571     $ (91 )
$80 / barrel
    (89 )     (111 )     (200 )     58  
$100 / barrel
    (1,064 )     310       (754 )     771  
$120 / barrel
    (2,040 )     799       (1,241 )     1,635  
 
 
(1)   Projection based upon the decrease (increase) to fuel expense as compared to the estimated crude oil price per barrel of $76 and estimated aircraft fuel consumption of 2.0 billion gallons for the six months ending December 31, 2010.
 
(2)   Projection based upon average futures prices per gallon by contract settlement month.

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
     Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, performed an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, which have been designed to permit us to effectively identify and timely disclose important information. Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2010 to ensure that material information was accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
     Except as set forth below, during the three months ended June 30, 2010, we did not make any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
     On October 29, 2008, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours merged with and into Northwest. On December 31, 2009, Northwest merged with and into Delta, ending Northwest’s separate existence. We are currently integrating policies, processes, people, technology and operations for the combined company. Management will continue to evaluate our internal control over financial reporting as we execute merger integration activities.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
We have reviewed the condensed consolidated balance sheet of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (the Company) as of June 30, 2010, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.
We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Delta Air Lines, Inc. as of December 31, 2009 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2009 and in our report dated February 24, 2010, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
July 30, 2010

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The legal proceeding discussed below has been described previously, including in our Form 10-K. The matter is described in this Form 10-Q to include recent developments in the case. For a discussion of a cargo matter involving Northwest, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – General Information – Other Matters” in Item 2 of Part I. “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” of our Form 10-K includes a discussion of other legal proceedings.
First Bag Fee Antitrust Litigation
     In May, June and July, 2009, a number of purported class action antitrust lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Georgia, the Middle District of Florida, and the District of Nevada, against Delta and AirTran Airways (“AirTran”).
     In these cases, the plaintiffs originally alleged that Delta and AirTran engaged in collusive behavior in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act in November 2008 based upon certain public statements made in October 2008 by AirTran’s CEO at an analyst conference concerning fees for the first checked bag, Delta’s imposition of a fee for the first checked bag on November 4, 2008 and AirTran’s imposition of a similar fee on November 12, 2008. The plaintiffs sought to assert claims on behalf of an alleged class consisting of passengers who paid the fist bag fee after December 5, 2008 and seek injunctive relief and unspecified treble damages. All of these cases have been consolidated for pre-trial proceedings in the Northern District of Georgia by the Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”) Panel.
     In February 2010, the plaintiffs in the MDL proceeding filed a Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint which substantially expanded the scope of the original complaint. In the consolidated amended complaint, the plaintiffs add new allegations concerning alleged signaling by both Delta and AirTran based upon statements made to the investment community by both carriers relating to industry capacity levels during 2008-2009. The plaintiffs also add a new cause of action against Delta alleging attempted monopolization in violation of Sherman Act § 2, paralleling a claim previously asserted against AirTran but not Delta. Plaintiffs have advised that they do not intend to seek certification of a class with respect to the Section 2 claims.
     Delta believes the claims in these cases are without merit and is vigorously defending these lawsuits. Delta has filed a motion to dismiss, and plaintiffs have filed a motion to certify the Section 1 class. Both motions are currently pending.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
     “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Form 10-K includes a discussion of our risk factors. The information presented below updates, and should be read in conjunction with, the risk factors and information disclosed in our Form 10-K. Except as presented below, there have been no material changes from the risk factors described in our Form 10-K.
Our business is subject to the effects of weather and natural disasters and seasonality, which can cause our results to fluctuate.
     Severe weather conditions and natural disasters can significantly disrupt service and create air traffic control problems. These events decrease revenue and can also increase costs. In addition, demand for air travel is typically higher in the June and September quarters, particularly in international markets, because there is more vacation travel during these periods than during the remainder of the year. As a result, our results of operations will reflect fluctuations from weather and natural disasters and seasonality. Therefore, operating results for a historical period are not necessarily indicative of operating results for a future period and operating results for an interim period are not necessarily indicative of operating results for an entire year.
An extended disruption in services provided by our third party regional carriers could have a material adverse effect on our results of operation.
     We utilize the services of third party providers in a number of areas in support of our operations that are integral to our business, including third party carriers in the Delta Connection program. While we have agreements with these providers that define expected service performance, we do not have direct control over the operations of these carriers. To the extent that a significant disruption in our regional operations occurs because any of these providers are unable to perform their obligations over an extended period of time, our revenue may be reduced or our expenses may be increased resulting in a material adverse effect on our results of operation.

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ITEM 2. ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
     We withheld the following shares of Delta common stock to satisfy tax withholding obligations during the June 2010 quarter from the distributions described below. These shares may be deemed to be “issuer purchases” of shares that are required to be disclosed pursuant to this Item.
                                 
                            Maximum Number
                            (or Approximate
    Total           Total Number of Shares   Dollar Value) of Shares
    Number of   Average   Purchased as Part of   That May Yet Be
    Shares   Price Paid   Publicly Announced   Purchased Under the
Period   Purchased(1)   Per Share   Plans or Programs(1)   Plan or Programs
 
April 1-30, 2010
    1,126,459     $ 12.19       1,126,459       (1)  
May 1-31, 2010
    10,651     $ 13.63       10,651       (1)  
June 1-30, 2010
    151,540     $ 13.55       151,540       (1)  
                   
 
   
Total
    1,288,650               1,288,650          
       
 
(1)   Shares were withheld from employees to satisfy certain tax withholding obligations due in connection with grants of stock under our 2007 Performance Compensation Plan. The 2007 Performance Compensation Plan provides for the withholding of shares to satisfy tax obligations. It does not specify a maximum number of shares that can be withheld for this purpose.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
(a) Exhibits
     
10.1
  Separation Agreement and General Release, dated June 4, 2010, by and between Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Michael J. Becker
 
   
15
  Letter from Ernst & Young LLP regarding unaudited interim financial information
 
   
31.1
  Certification by Delta’s Chief Executive Officer with respect to Delta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010
 
   
31.2
  Certification by Delta’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with respect to Delta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010
 
   
32
  Certification pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code by Delta’s Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with respect to Delta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010
 
   
101.INS
  XBRL Instance Document*
 
   
101.SCH
  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document*
 
   
101.CAL
  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document*
 
   
101.DEF
  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document*
 
   
101.LAB
  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document*
 
   
101.PRE
  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document*
 
*   To be filed by amendment

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SIGNATURE
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
         
  Delta Air Lines, Inc.
(Registrant)
 
 
  /s/ Hank Halter    
  Hank Halter   
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) 
 
 
July 30, 2010

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