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DELTA AIR LINES INC

For the period ended Sep 30, 2024. Filed Oct 10, 2024.

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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.

Sep 30, 2024 · Filed Oct 10, 2024

DAL$91.80+5.3%Stored close · as of Nov 9, 2026

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Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and our consolidated subsidiaries, and 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 for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Management believes the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments, including normal recurring 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 and other factors, operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of operating results for the entire year.

We reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation. Unless otherwise noted, all amounts disclosed are stated before consideration of income taxes.

NOTE 2. REVENUE RECOGNITION

Passenger Revenue

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)2024202320242023
Ticket$11,645$11,733$33,827$32,801
Loyalty travel awards9789022,7982,547
Travel-related services4844841,4541,387
Passenger revenue$13,107$13,119$38,079$36,735

Ticket

We recognized approximately $6.2 billion and $6.7 billion in passenger revenue during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, that had been recorded in our air traffic liability balance at the beginning of those periods.

Loyalty Travel Awards

Loyalty travel awards revenue is related to the redemption of mileage credits ("miles") for air travel. Our SkyMiles loyalty program allows customers to earn miles by flying on Delta, Delta Connection and other airlines that participate in the loyalty program. Customers can also earn miles through participating companies, such as credit card, retail, ridesharing, car rental and hotel companies, who purchase miles from us. Our most significant contract to sell miles relates to our co-brand credit card relationship with American Express. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, total cash sales from marketing agreements related to our loyalty program were $5.5 billion and $5.2 billion, respectively, which are allocated to travel and other performance obligations.

Current Activity of the Loyalty Program. Miles are combined in one homogeneous pool and are not separately identifiable. Therefore, revenue is comprised of miles that were part of the loyalty program deferred revenue balance at the beginning of the period as well as miles that were issued during the period. The timing of mile redemptions can vary widely; however, the majority of miles have historically been redeemed withintwo years of being earned.

Delta Air Lines, Inc. | September 2024 Form 10-Q7

The table below presents the activity of the current and noncurrent loyalty program deferred revenue and includes miles earned through travel and miles sold to participating companies, which are primarily through marketing agreements.

Loyalty program activity
(in millions)20242023
Balance at January 1$8,420$7,882
Miles earned3,3033,164
Miles redeemed for air travel(2,798)(2,547)
Miles redeemed for non-air travel and other(173)(126)
Balance at September 30$8,752$8,373

Travel-Related Services

Travel-related services are primarily composed of services performed in conjunction with a passenger’s flight and include baggage fees, administrative fees and on-board sales.

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)2024202320242023
Refinery$1,083$935$3,520$2,817
Loyalty program8207912,4512,291
Ancillary businesses161212554657
Miscellaneous310277906790
Other revenue$2,374$2,215$7,431$6,555

Refinery. This represents refinery sales to third parties. See Note 9, "Segments," for more information on revenue recognition within our refinery segment.

Loyalty Program. This relates to revenues from brand usage by third parties and other performance obligations embedded in miles sold, which are included within the total cash sales from marketing agreements discussed above. This also includes the redemption of miles for non-air travel and other awards.

Ancillary Businesses. This includes revenues from aircraft maintenance services we provide to third parties and our vacation wholesale operations.

Miscellaneous. This is primarily composed of revenues related to lounge access, including access provided to certain American Express cardholders, codeshare agreements and certain other commercial relationships.

Delta Air Lines, Inc. | September 2024 Form 10-Q8

Revenue by Geographic Region

Operating revenue for the airline segment is recognized in a specific geographic region based on the origin, flight path and destination of each flight segment. A significant portion of the refinery segment's revenues typically consists of fuel sales to support the airline, which is eliminated in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The remaining operating revenue for the refinery segment is included in the domestic region. Our passenger and operating revenue by geographic region is summarized in the following tables:

Passenger revenue by geographic region
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)2024202320242023
Domestic$8,652$8,662$26,033$25,200
Atlantic3,0293,1107,1597,157
Latin America7797883,0082,846
Pacific6475591,8791,532
Total$13,107$13,119$38,079$36,735
Operating revenue by geographic region
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)2024202320242023
Domestic$10,609$10,461$32,216$30,607
Atlantic3,4183,4978,2098,223
Latin America8898913,4323,208
Pacific7616392,2271,787
Total$15,677$15,488$46,084$43,825

NOTE 3. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Assets/(Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

(in millions)September 30,2024Level 1Level 2Level 3
Cash equivalents$2,718$2,718$—$—
Restricted cash equivalents316316——
Short-term investments - Other fixed income securities8—8—
Long-term investments and related2,7232,460149114
Fuel hedge contracts1—1—
(in millions)December 31,2023Level 1Level 2Level 3
Cash equivalents$1,545$1,545$—$—
Restricted cash equivalents653653——
Short-term investments
U.S. Government securities859204655—
Corporate obligations218—218—
Other fixed income securities50—50—
Long-term investments and related2,8672,614134119
Fuel hedge contracts5—5—
Delta Air Lines, Inc. | September 2024 Form 10-Q9

Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash Equivalents. Cash equivalents generally consist of money market funds. Restricted cash equivalents generally consist of money market funds, time deposits, commercial paper and negotiable certificates of deposit. Restricted cash equivalents primarily relate to proceeds from debt issued to finance, among other things, a portion of the construction costs for our new terminal facilities at New York's LaGuardia Airport as well as certain self-insurance obligations and airport commitments. Restricted cash equivalents are recorded in other noncurrent assets and prepaid expenses and other on our Consolidated Balance Sheet ("balance sheet"). The fair value of these cash equivalents is based on a market approach using prices generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets.

Short-Term Investments. The fair values of our short-term investments are based on a market approach using industry standard valuation techniques that incorporate observable inputs such as quoted market prices, interest rates, benchmark curves, credit ratings of the security and other observable information. These investments are primarily expected to mature in one year or less. Investments with maturities beyond one year when purchased may be classified as short-term investments if they are expected to be available to support our short-term liquidity needs.

Long-Term Investments and Related. Our long-term investments measured at fair value primarily consist of equity investments, which are valued based on market prices or other observable transactions and inputs, and are recorded in equity investments on our balance sheet. Our equity investments in private companies are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy as their equity is not traded on a public exchange and our valuations incorporate certain unobservable inputs, including non-public equity issuances. Fair value measurement using unobservable inputs is inherently uncertain, and a change in significant inputs could result in different fair values. See Note 4, "Investments," for further information on our equity investments.

Fuel Hedge Contracts. Our derivative contracts to hedge the financial risk from changing fuel prices are related to inventory at our wholly-owned subsidiary, Monroe Energy, LLC ("Monroe"). We recognized gains of $89 million and $9 million on our fuel hedge contracts in aircraft fuel and related taxes on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income ("income statement") for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, compared to losses of $140 million and $96 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. The gains recognized during the first nine months of 2024 were composed of $4 million of mark-to-market losses and $13 million of settlement gains on contracts. Gains and losses on settled contracts are reflected within Monroe's operating results. See Note 9, "Segments," for further information on our refinery segment.

NOTE 4. INVESTMENTS

Equity investments ownership interest and carrying value
Accounting Treatment · Ownership Interest · Carrying Value
(in millions) · September 30, 2024 · December 31, 2023 · September 30, 2024 · December 31, 2023
Air France-KLMFair Value3%3%$74$110
China EasternFair Value2%2%143134
Grupo AeroméxicoEquity Method20%20%426421
Hanjin KALFair Value(1)15%15%624561
LATAMFair Value10%10%782658
Unifi AviationEquity Method49%49%139162
Wheels UpFair Value(2)38%38%637903
Other investmentsVarious447508
Equity investments$3,272$3,457

(1)At September 30, 2024, we held 14.8% of the outstanding shares (including common and preferred), and 14.9% of the common shares, of Hanjin KAL.

(2)Our voting rights with respect to Wheels Up are capped at 29.9%.

Wheels Up. During the September 2024 quarter, we and the other lead investors agreed to extend the contractual transfer restrictions on our investments in Wheels Up until September 20, 2025. Following the expiration of this restriction, our equity investment in Wheels Up will continue to be subject to certain, more limited transfer restrictions.

Delta Air Lines, Inc. | September 2024 Form 10-Q10

NOTE 5. DEBT

Summary of outstanding debt by category
(in millions) · Maturity Dates · Interest Rate(s) Per Annum at September 30, 2024 · September 30, 2024 · December 31, 2023
Unsecured Payroll Support Program Loans2030to20311.00%$3,496$3,496
Unsecured notes2024to20292.90%to7.38%2,5752,590
Financing arrangements secured by SkyMiles assets:
SkyMiles Notes(1)2024to20284.50%and4.75%4,1074,518
SkyMiles Term Loan(1)(2)2024to20279.03%8501,772
NYTDC Special Facilities Revenue Bonds(1)2025to20454.00%to6.00%3,5913,656
Financing arrangements secured by aircraft:
Certificates(1)2024to20282.00%to8.00%1,0331,591
Notes(1)(2)2024to20337.20%to7.52%89165
Financing arrangements secured by slots, gates and/or routes:
Senior Secured Notes20257.00%812838
Other financings(1)(2)2024to20302.51%to5.00%6667
Corporate Revolving Credit Facility(2)2026to2028Undrawn——
Other revolving credit facilities(2)2025to2026Undrawn——
Total secured and unsecured debt$16,619$18,693
Unamortized (discount)/premium and debt issue cost, net and other(38)(83)
Total debt$16,581$18,610
Less: current maturities(2,700)(2,625)
Total long-term debt$13,881$15,985

(1)Due in installments during the years shown above.

(2)Certain financings are comprised of variable rate debt. All variable rates are equal to SOFR (generally subject to a floor) or another index rate, plus a specified margin.

Availability Under Revolving Credit Facilities

As of September 30, 2024, we had approximately $2.9 billion undrawn and available under our revolving credit facilities.

Early Settlement of Outstanding Notes

During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, through early principal repayments and open market repurchases, we extinguished an aggregate principal amount of $744 million related to a portion of the SkyMiles Term Loan and various secured and unsecured notes. These payments resulted in a $36 million loss on extinguishment of debt recorded in non-operating expense in our income statement.

Corporate Revolving Credit Facility

In July 2024, Fitch upgraded Delta's credit rating to BBB-, an investment grade metric, which satisfied the collateral release conditions under the Corporate Revolving Credit Facility. As a result, the liens on collateral, including our Pacific route authorities and certain related other assets, were released in the September 2024 quarter. Additionally, the minimum collateral coverage ratio and minimum liquidity covenants were replaced by minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and minimum asset coverage ratio covenants.

Delta Air Lines, Inc. | September 2024 Form 10-Q11

Fair Value of Debt

Market risk associated with our fixed- and variable-rate debt relates to the potential reduction in fair value and negative impact to future earnings, respectively, from an increase in interest rates. The fair value of debt shown below is principally based on reported market values, recently completed market transactions and estimates based on interest rates, maturities, credit risk and underlying collateral. Debt is primarily classified as Level 1 or 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Fair value of outstanding debt
(in millions)September 30,2024December 31,2023
Net carrying amount$16,581$18,610
Fair value$16,600$18,400

Covenants

Our debt agreements contain various affirmative, negative and financial covenants. We were in compliance with the covenants in our debt agreements at September 30, 2024.

NOTE 6. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

We sponsor defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, healthcare plans and disability and survivorship plans for eligible employees and retirees and their eligible family members. The net periodic cost table below includes our domestic defined benefit pension plans and postretirement healthcare plans.

Employee benefit plans net periodic cost
Pension BenefitsOther Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits
(in millions)2024202320242023
Three Months Ended September 30,
Service cost$—$—$23$18
Interest cost2012134550
Expected return on plan assets(263)(264)(1)—
Amortization of prior service credit——(1)(1)
Recognized net actuarial loss626053
Net periodic cost$—$9$71$70
Nine Months Ended September 30,
Service cost$—$—$69$54
Interest cost603638136150
Expected return on plan assets(789)(791)(2)(1)
Amortization of prior service credit——(3)(4)
Recognized net actuarial loss1861791410
Net periodic cost$—$26$214$209

Service cost is recorded in salaries and related costs in our income statement, while all other components are recorded within miscellaneous, net under non-operating expense.

We also sponsor defined benefit pension plans for eligible employees in certain foreign countries and a market based cash balance plan for eligible pilots, which have immaterial obligations. These plans are not included in the net periodic cost table above.

Delta Air Lines, Inc. | September 2024 Form 10-Q12

NOTE 7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Aircraft Purchase Commitments

Our future aircraft purchase commitments totaled approximately $19.0 billion at September 30, 2024.

Aircraft purchase commitments(1)
(in millions)Total
Three months ending December 31, 2024$940
20253,250
20264,930
20274,770
20283,510
Thereafter1,630
Total$19,030

(1)The timing of these commitments is based on our contractual agreements with the aircraft manufacturers and remains uncertain due to supply chain, manufacturing and regulatory constraints.

Our future aircraft purchase commitments included the following aircraft at September 30, 2024:

Aircraft purchase commitments by fleet type
Aircraft TypePurchase Commitments
A220-30074
A321-200neo91
A330-900neo9
A350-90011
A350-100020
B-737-10100
Total305

Aircraft Orders

In January 2024, we entered into a purchase agreement with Airbus for 20 A350-1000 aircraft, with an option to purchase an additional 20 widebody aircraft. Deliveries of these aircraft are scheduled to begin in 2026.

In the September 2024 quarter we amended our purchase agreement with Boeing and received an updated delivery schedule for our Boeing 737-10 orders. We now expect to take delivery of our first 20 aircraft in 2026 and 80 aircraft thereafter.

Legal Contingencies

We are involved in various legal proceedings related to employment practices, environmental issues, commercial disputes, antitrust and other regulatory matters concerning our business. We record liabilities for losses from legal proceedings when we determine that it is probable that the outcome in a legal proceeding will be unfavorable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. Although the outcome of the legal proceedings in which we are involved cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe that the resolution of current matters will not have a material adverse effect on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Delta Air Lines, Inc. | September 2024 Form 10-Q13

NOTE 8. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

Components of accumulated other comprehensive loss
(in millions)Pension and Other Benefit LiabilitiesOtherTax EffectTotal
Balance at January 1, 2024$(6,681)$40$796$(5,845)
Changes in value—3—3
Reclassifications into earnings(1)197—(46)151
Balance at September 30, 2024$(6,484)$43$750$(5,691)
Balance at January 1, 2023$(6,624)$41$782$(5,801)
Changes in value—(1)—(1)
Reclassifications into earnings(1)185—(43)142
Balance at September 30, 2023$(6,439)$40$739$(5,660)

(1)Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss for pension and other benefit liabilities are recorded in miscellaneous, net in non-operating expense in our income statement.

NOTE 9. SEGMENTS

Refinery Operations

Our refinery segment operates for the benefit of the airline segment by providing jet fuel to the airline segment from its own production and from jet fuel obtained through agreements with third parties. The refinery's production consists of jet fuel, as well as non-jet fuel products. We use several counterparties to exchange non-jet fuel products produced by the refinery for jet fuel consumed in our airline operations.

Segment Reporting

Segment results are prepared based on our internal accounting methods described below, with reconciliations to consolidated amounts in accordance with GAAP. Our segments are not designed to measure operating income or loss directly related to the products and services included in each segment on a stand-alone basis.

Financial information by segment
(in millions) · Airline · Refinery · Intersegment Sales/Other · Consolidated
Operating revenue$14,594$1,912$(829)(1)$15,677
Depreciation and amortization64329(29)(2)643
Operating income/(loss)1,430(33)(2)—1,397
Interest expense/(income), net173(8)8173
Total assets, end of period72,9542,490(76)75,368
Capital expenditures1,31216—1,328
Operating revenue$14,553$1,886$(951)(1)$15,488
Depreciation and amortization59423(23)(2)594
Operating income1,865119(2)—1,984
Interest expense, net1966(6)196
Total assets, end of period69,8513,397(1)73,247
Capital expenditures1,20168—1,269
Delta Air Lines, Inc. | September 2024 Form 10-Q14
(in millions) · Airline · Refinery · Intersegment Sales/Other · Consolidated
Operating revenue$42,564$6,011$(2,491)(1)$46,084
Depreciation and amortization1,87886(86)(2)1,878
Operating income4,20276(2)—4,278
Interest expense, net5673(3)567
Capital expenditures3,78347—3,830
Operating revenue$41,008$6,274$(3,457)(1)$43,825
Depreciation and amortization1,73169(69)(2)1,731
Operating income3,814385(2)—4,199
Interest expense, net62714(14)627
Capital expenditures3,594127—3,721

(1)See table below for detail of the intersegment operating revenue amounts.

(2)Refinery segment operating results, including depreciation and amortization, are included within aircraft fuel and related taxes in our income statement.

Operating revenue intersegment sales/other
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions)2024202320242023
Sales to airline segment(1)$(369)$(385)$(1,147)$(1,346)
Exchanged products(2)(349)(519)(1,147)(1,848)
Sales of refined products(111)(47)(197)(263)
Total operating revenue intersegment sales/other$(829)$(951)$(2,491)$(3,457)

(1)Represents transfers, valued on a market price basis, from the refinery to the airline segment for use in airline operations. We determine market price for jet fuel from the refinery by reference to the market index for the primary delivery location, which is New York Harbor.

(2)Represents value of products delivered under our exchange agreements, as discussed above, determined on a market price basis.

NOTE 10. EARNINGS PER SHARE

We calculate basic earnings per shareby dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, excluding restricted shares. We calculate diluted earnings per share by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect of outstanding share-based instruments, including stock options, restricted stock awards and warrants. Antidilutive common stock equivalents excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation are not material. The following table shows the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

Basic and diluted earnings per share
Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in millions, except per share data)2024202320242023
Net income$1,272$1,108$2,614$2,572
Basic weighted average shares outstanding641639640639
Dilutive effect of share-based instruments6574
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding647644647643
Basic earnings per share$1.98$1.73$4.08$4.03
Diluted earnings per share$1.97$1.72$4.04$4.00
Delta Air Lines, Inc. | September 2024 Form 10-Q15
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