Airline Delta has announced that it will award a 4% pay rise to its eligible employees worldwide as part of its aim to invest in its people while continuing to navigate industry pressures.
This is the fifth consecutive pay raise in the last five years, as last year it also awarded eligible staff a 4% pay rise. The increase represents an additional $500 million annual investment in employees, and is part of Delta’s aim to provide a high total compensation for frontline employees for their stand out performance.
In the last five years, the airline has made an average investment of 30% in compensation in each of its largest frontline workgroups, including this increase.
Ed Bastian, chief executive officer of Delta, said in an internal memo to employees: “Caring for our people is the heart of Delta’s culture. This core value guides our approach to making consistent and meaningful investments in you and your colleagues. I thank you for navigating industry challenges such as volatile fuel costs and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing challenges with a focus on safety, reliability, and delivering the world-class service our customers expect.
“Delta people drive our success, which is why our compensation philosophy is rooted in shared success. When Delta does well, employees share in the results, such as annual pay raises and this year’s profit sharing payout that was more than the rest of the industry combined.”
Earlier this year, Delta awarded its employees with a share of the $1.3 billion (£966.2 million) profit that it achieved in 2025. It was also recognised in the top 10 of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, which is selected by workplace culture experts at Great Place To Work each year.
