Form 10-K
Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 1-5424

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   58-0218548
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

Post Office Box 20706

Atlanta, Georgia

  30320-6001
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (404) 715-2600

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  þ    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.    Yes  ¨    No  þ

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  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

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

Non-accelerated filer  ¨

  

Accelerated filer  ¨

Smaller reporting company  ¨

(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  ¨    No  þ

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2007 was approximately $4.7 billion.

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  ¨

On January 31, 2008, there were outstanding 292,217,061 shares of the registrant’s common stock.

This document is also available on our website at http://investor.delta.com/edgar.cfm.

Documents Incorporated By Reference

Part III of this Form 10-K incorporates by reference certain information from the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 3, 2008 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

 


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

Forward-Looking Information

   1

Other Information

   1

PART I

     

ITEM 1.

   BUSINESS    2
  

General Description

   2
  

Airline Operations

   2
  

Fuel

   4
  

Competition

   5
  

Frequent Flyer Program

   5
  

Regulatory Matters

   5
  

Employee Matters

   8
  

Executive Officers

   9
  

Additional Information

   9

ITEM 1A.

   RISK FACTORS    10
   Risk Factors Relating to Delta    10
   Risk Factors Relating to the Airline Industry    13

ITEM 1B.

   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS    15

ITEM 2.

   PROPERTIES    15
  

Flight Equipment

   15
  

Ground Facilities

   16

ITEM 3.

   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS    17

ITEM 4.

   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS    19

PART II

     

ITEM 5.

   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES    20

ITEM 6.

   SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA    23

ITEM 7.

   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS    26
  

Background

   26
  

Combined Financial Results of the Predecessor and Successor

   26
  

Overview of Combined 2007 Results

   26
  

Business Initiatives

   27
  

Fresh Start Adjustments

   28
  

Share-Based Compensation Expense

   29
  

Accounting Adjustments

   29
  

Reclassifications

   29
  

Sale of ASA

   30
  

Combined Results of Operations—2007 Compared to 2006

   30
  

Results of Operations—2006 Compared to 2005

   34
  

Financial Condition and Liquidity

   37
  

Contractual Obligations

   39
  

Application of Critical Accounting Policies

   42
  

Market Risks Associated with Financial Instruments

   46
  

Glossary of Defined Terms

   47

 

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Index to Financial Statements
     Page

ITEM 7A.

   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK    48

ITEM 8.

   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA    48

ITEM 9.

   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE    48

ITEM 9A.

   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES    48

ITEM 9B.

   OTHER INFORMATION    50

PART III

     

ITEM 10.

   DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OF THE REGISTRANT    50

ITEM 11.

   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION    50

ITEM 12.

   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS    50

ITEM 13.

   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE    50

ITEM 14.

   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES    50

PART IV

     

ITEM 15.

   EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES    51
  

Signatures

   52
  

Exhibit Index

   53
  

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-1

 

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Index to Financial Statements

Forward-Looking Information

Statements in this Form 10-K (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 “Risk Factors Relating to Delta” and “Risk Factors Relating to the Airline Industry” in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of this Form 10-K. 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.

Other Information

On September 14, 2005 (the “Petition Date”), we and substantially all of our subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Bankruptcy Court”). On April 25, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court approved the Debtors’ Joint Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan of Reorganization”). On April 30, 2007 (the “Effective Date”), the Debtors emerged from bankruptcy.

On the Effective Date, we adopted fresh start reporting in accordance with American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Statement of Financial Position 90-7, “Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code” (“SOP 90-7”). The adoption of fresh start reporting resulted in our becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the Consolidated Financial Statements on or after May 1, 2007 are not comparable to the Consolidated Financial Statements prior to that date.

References in this Form 10-K to “Successor” refer to Delta on or after May 1, 2007, after giving effect to (1) the cancellation of Delta common stock issued prior to the Effective Date; (2) the issuance of new Delta common stock and certain debt securities in accordance with the Plan of Reorganization; and (3) the application of fresh start reporting. References to “Predecessor” refer to Delta prior to May 1, 2007.

For purposes of discussion on our results for the year ended December 31, 2007 in this Form 10-K, we combined the results of operations for the four months ended April 30, 2007 of the Predecessor with the eight months ended December 31, 2007 of the Successor.

Additional information about our Chapter 11 proceedings is available on the Internet at www.delta.com/restructure. Bankruptcy Court filings, claims information and our Plan of Reorganization are available at www.deltadocket.com. These websites are not incorporated into this Form 10-K.

Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “Delta,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Delta Air Lines, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General Description

We are a major air carrier that provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the U.S. and around the world. We offered customers service to more destinations than any other global airline, with Delta and Delta Connection carrier service to 321 destinations in 58 countries in January 2008. We have added more international capacity than any other major U.S. airline since January 2006 and are the leader across the Atlantic with flights to 36 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean, we offered more than 500 weekly flights to 63 destinations in January 2008. We are a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including our SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, we offered flights to 485 worldwide destinations in 106 countries in January 2008.

For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, passenger revenue accounted for 88%, 88%, and 89% of our consolidated operating revenue, respectively, and cargo revenue and other sources accounted for 12%, 12% and 11% of our consolidated operating revenue, respectively. In 2007, our operations in North America, the Atlantic, Latin America and the Pacific accounted for 72%, 20%, 7% and 1%, respectively, of our consolidated operating revenue. In 2006, our operations in North America, the Atlantic, Latin America and the Pacific accounted for 75%, 18%, 6% and 1%, respectively, of our consolidated operating revenue. In 2005, our operations in North America, the Atlantic, Latin America and the Pacific accounted for 78%, 16%, 5% and 1%, respectively, of our consolidated operating revenue.

We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia (the “Atlanta Airport”). Our telephone number is (404) 715-2600 and our Internet address is www.delta.com. Information contained on this website is not part of, and is not incorporated by reference in, this Form 10-K.

Airline Operations

Our route network is centered around the hub system we operate at airports in Atlanta, Cincinnati, New York-JFK and Salt Lake City. Each of these hub operations includes Delta flights that gather and distribute traffic from markets in the geographic region surrounding the hub to domestic and international cities and to other Delta hubs. Our hub system also provides passengers with access to our principal international gateways in Atlanta and New York-JFK.

As briefly discussed below, other key characteristics of our route network include our alliances with foreign airlines; the Delta Connection program; the Delta Shuttle; and our domestic marketing alliances, including with Continental Airlines, Inc. (“Continental”) and Northwest Airlines, Inc. (“Northwest”).

International Alliances

We have formed bilateral and multilateral marketing alliances with foreign airlines to improve our access to international markets. These arrangements can include codesharing, reciprocal frequent flyer program benefits, shared or reciprocal access to passenger lounges, joint promotions, common use of airport gates and ticket counters, ticket office co-location and other marketing agreements. These alliances often present opportunities in other areas, such as airport ground handling arrangements and aircraft maintenance insourcing.

Our international codesharing agreements enable us to market and sell seats to an expanded number of international destinations. Under international codesharing arrangements, we and a foreign carrier each publish our respective airline designator codes on a single flight operation, thereby allowing us and the foreign carrier to

 

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offer joint service with one aircraft, rather than operating separate services with two aircraft. These arrangements typically allow us to sell seats on a foreign carrier’s aircraft that are marketed under our “DL” designator code and permit the foreign airline to sell seats on our aircraft that are marketed under the foreign carrier’s two-letter designator code. We have international codeshare arrangements in effect with Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, Avianca, China Airlines, China Southern, CSA Czech Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air and Royal Air Maroc (and some affiliated carriers operating in conjunction with these airlines).

In October 2007, we entered into a joint venture agreement with Air France to share revenues and costs on transatlantic routes. The initial implementation of the joint venture in April 2008 will include flights operated by both carriers between Air France’s Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly and Lyon hubs and our Atlanta, Cincinnati, NewYork-JFK and Salt Lake City hubs, as well as all flights between London Heathrow Airport and the U.S. By 2010, the joint venture is scheduled to be extended to all transatlantic flights operated by Air France and Delta between North America and Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as all flights between Los Angeles and Tahiti.

In addition to our agreements with individual foreign airlines, we are a member of the SkyTeam international airline alliance. The other full members of SkyTeam are Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, Continental, CSA Czech Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air and Northwest. One goal of SkyTeam is to link the route networks of the member airlines, providing opportunities for increased connecting traffic while offering enhanced customer service through mutual codesharing arrangements, reciprocal frequent flyer and lounge programs and coordinated cargo operations.

In 2002, we, Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines and Korean Air received limited antitrust immunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) that enables us and our immunized partners to offer a more integrated route network and develop common sales, marketing and discount programs for customers.

In June 2007, we, Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Northwest applied with the DOT for antitrust immunity for certain trans-Atlantic coordination. Included in the application is a tentative joint venture agreement among us, Air France, KLM and Northwest that would, if implemented, create a comprehensive and integrated partnership among the four SkyTeam members across the Atlantic. A more integrated SkyTeam alliance would offer significant advantages to consumers including more choice in flight schedules, travel times, services and fares. This application was the first under the landmark European Union-United States Open Skies treaty.

Delta Connection Program

The Delta Connection program is our regional carrier service, which feeds traffic to our route system through contracts with regional air carriers that operate flights serving passengers primarily in small- and medium-sized cities. The program enables us to increase the number of flights we have in certain locations, to better match capacity with demand and to preserve our presence in smaller markets.

Through the Delta Connection program, we have contractual arrangements with nine regional carriers to operate regional jet and, in certain cases, turbo-prop aircraft using our “DL” designator code. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Comair, Inc. (“Comair”), operates all of its flights under our code. Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc., a subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc. (“SkyWest”), operates all of its flights under our code. In addition, we have agreements with the following regional carriers that operate some of their flights using our code: SkyWest Airlines, Inc., a subsidiary of SkyWest; Chautauqua Airlines, Inc., a subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. (“Republic Holdings”); Shuttle America Corporation, a subsidiary of Republic Holdings; Freedom Airlines, Inc., a subsidiary of Mesa Air Group, Inc.; Pinnacle Airlines, Inc.; ExpressJet Airlines, Inc.; and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. (“Eagle”).

 

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We generally pay the regional carriers, including Comair, amounts defined in their respective contract carrier agreements, which are based on a determination of the carriers’ respective costs of operating their Delta Connection flights and other factors intended to approximate market rates for those services. These capacity purchase agreements are long-term agreements, usually with initial terms of at least ten years, which grant us the option to extend the initial term and provide us the right to terminate the entire agreement, or in some cases remove some of the aircraft from the scope of the agreement, for convenience at certain future dates. Our arrangements with Eagle, which is limited to certain flights operated to and from the Los Angeles International Airport, as well as a portion of the flights operated by SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet, are structured as revenue proration agreements. These proration agreements establish a fixed dollar or percentage division of revenues for tickets sold to passengers traveling on connecting flight itineraries.

Delta Shuttle

We operate a high frequency service targeted to northeast business travelers known as the Delta Shuttle. The Delta Shuttle provides nonstop, hourly service on business days between New York—LaGuardia Airport (“LaGuardia”) and both Boston—Logan International Airport and Washington, D.C.—Ronald Reagan National Airport (“Reagan”).

Domestic Alliances

We have entered into marketing alliances with (1) Continental and Northwest (including regional carriers affiliated with each) and (2) Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air Industries, both of which include mutual codesharing and reciprocal frequent flyer and airport lounge access arrangements. These marketing relationships are designed to permit the carriers to retain their separate identities and route networks while increasing the number of domestic and international connecting passengers using the carriers’ route networks.

Fuel

Our results of operations are significantly impacted by changes in the price and availability of aircraft fuel. The following table shows our aircraft fuel consumption and costs for 2005 through 2007.

 

Year    Gallons
Consumed (2)
(Millions)
   Cost(1) (2)
(Millions)
   Average
Price Per
Gallon(1) (2)
   Percentage of
Total Operating
Expenses(2)
 

2007

   2,117    $ 4,686    $ 2.21    26 %

2006

   2,111      4,433      2.10    25 %

2005

   2,492      4,466      1.79    24 %

 

(1)

Net of fuel hedge gains (losses) under our fuel hedging program of $51 million and ($108) million for 2007 and 2006, respectively. We had no fuel hedge contracts in 2005.

(2)

Excludes the operations under contract carrier agreements with unaffiliated regional air carriers.

Our aircraft fuel purchase contracts do not provide material protection against price increases or assure the availability of our fuel supplies. We purchase most of our aircraft fuel under contracts that establish the price based on various market indices. We also purchase aircraft fuel on the spot market, from off-shore sources and under contracts that permit the refiners to set the price.

We use derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, which are comprised of crude oil, heating oil and jet fuel swap, collar and call option contracts, to manage our exposure to changes in aircraft fuel prices.

We are currently able to obtain adequate supplies of aircraft fuel, but it is impossible to predict the future availability or price of aircraft fuel. Weather-related events, natural disasters, political disruptions or wars involving oil-producing countries, changes in government policy concerning aircraft fuel production, transportation or marketing, changes in aircraft fuel production capacity, environmental concerns, and other unpredictable events may result in fuel supply shortages and fuel price increases in the future.

 

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Competition

We face significant competition with respect to routes, services and fares. Our domestic routes are subject to competition from both new and existing carriers, some of which have lower costs than we do and provide service at low fares to destinations served by us. In particular, we face significant competition at our hub airports in Atlanta and New York-JFK from other carriers. In addition, our operations at our hub airports also compete with operations at the hubs of other airlines that are located in close proximity to our hubs. We also face increasing competition in smaller to medium-sized markets from rapidly expanding regional jet operators. Our ability to compete effectively depends, in significant part, on our ability to maintain a cost structure that is competitive with other carriers.

In addition, we compete with foreign carriers, both on interior U.S. routes, due to marketing and codesharing arrangements, and in international markets. International marketing alliances formed by domestic and foreign carriers, including the Star Alliance (among United Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines and others) and the oneworld Alliance (among American Airlines, British Airways and others) have significantly increased competition in international markets. The adoption of liberalized Open Skies Aviation Agreements with an increasing number of countries around the world, including in particular the Open Skies agreement with the Member States of the European Union, has accelerated this trend. Through marketing and codesharing arrangements with U.S. carriers, foreign carriers have obtained access to interior U.S. passenger traffic. Similarly, U.S. carriers have increased their ability to sell international transportation, such as transatlantic services to and beyond European cities, through alliances with international carriers.

Frequent Flyer Program

We have a frequent flyer program, the SkyMiles® program, which offers incentives to customers to increase travel on Delta. This program allows program members to earn mileage for travel awards by flying on Delta, Delta Connection carriers and participating airlines. Mileage credit may also be earned by using certain services offered by program participants, such as credit card companies, hotels, car rental agencies, telecommunication services and internet services. In addition, individuals and companies may purchase mileage credits. We reserve the right to terminate the program with six months’ advance notice, and to change the program’s terms and conditions at any time without notice.

Mileage credits can be redeemed for free or upgraded air travel on Delta and participating airlines, for membership in our Crown Room Club and for other program participant awards. Travel awards are subject to certain transfer restrictions and capacity-controlled seating. In some cases, blackout dates may apply. Program accounts with no activity for 12 consecutive months after enrollment are deleted. Miles will not expire so long as, at least once every two years, the participant (1) takes a qualifying flight on Delta or a Delta Connection carrier, (2) earns miles through one of our program participants, (3) buys miles from Delta or (4) redeems miles for any program award.

Regulatory Matters

The DOT and the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) exercise regulatory authority over air transportation in the U.S. The DOT has authority to issue certificates of public convenience and necessity required for airlines to provide domestic air transportation. An air carrier that the DOT finds fit to operate is given unrestricted authority to operate domestic air transportation (including the carriage of passengers and cargo). Except for constraints imposed by regulations regarding “Essential Air Services,” which are applicable to certain small communities, airlines may terminate service to a city without restriction.

The DOT has jurisdiction over certain economic and consumer protection matters, such as unfair or deceptive practices and methods of competition, advertising, denied boarding compensation, baggage liability and disabled passenger transportation. The DOT also has authority to review certain joint venture agreements between major carriers. The FAA has primary responsibility for matters relating to air carrier flight operations, including airline operating certificates, control of navigable air space, flight personnel, aircraft certification and maintenance and other matters affecting air safety.

 

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Authority to operate international routes and international codesharing arrangements is regulated by the DOT and by the governments of the foreign countries involved. International route awards are also subject to the approval of the President of the U.S. for conformance with national defense and foreign policy objectives.

The Transportation Security Administration and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, each a division of the Department of Homeland Security, are responsible for certain civil aviation security matters, including passenger and baggage screening at U.S. airports and international passenger prescreening prior to entry into or departure from the U.S.

Airlines are also subject to various other federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations. For example, the U.S. Department of Justice has jurisdiction over airline competition matters. The U.S. Postal Service has authority over certain aspects of the transportation of mail. Labor relations in the airline industry, as discussed below, are generally governed by the Railway Labor Act. Environmental matters are regulated by various federal, state, local and foreign governmental entities. Privacy of passenger and employee data is regulated by domestic and foreign laws and regulations.

Fares and Rates

Airlines set ticket prices in most domestic and international city pairs without governmental regulation, and the industry is characterized by significant price competition. Certain international fares and rates are subject to the jurisdiction of the DOT and the governments of the foreign countries involved. Many of our tickets are sold by travel agents, and fares are subject to commissions, overrides and discounts paid to travel agents, brokers and wholesalers.

Route Authority

Our flight operations are authorized by certificates of public convenience and necessity and, to a limited extent, by exemptions issued by the DOT. The requisite approvals of other governments for international operations are controlled by bilateral agreements with, or permits or approvals issued by, foreign countries. Because international air transportation is governed by bilateral or other agreements between the U.S. and the foreign country or countries involved, changes in U.S. or foreign government aviation policies could result in the alteration or termination of such agreements, diminish the value of our international route authorities or otherwise affect our international operations. Bilateral agreements between the U.S. and various foreign countries served by us are subject to renegotiation from time to time.

Certain of our international route and codesharing authorities are subject to periodic renewal requirements. We request extension of these authorities when and as appropriate. While the DOT usually renews temporary authorities on routes where the authorized carrier is providing a reasonable level of service, there is no assurance this practice will continue in general or with respect to a specific renewal. Dormant route authority may not be renewed in some cases, especially where another U.S. carrier indicates a willingness to provide service.

Airport Access

Operations at four major domestic airports and certain foreign airports served by us are regulated by governmental entities through allocations of “slots” or similar regulatory mechanisms which limit the rights of carriers to conduct operations at those airports. Each slot represents the authorization to land at or take off from the particular airport during a specified time period.

In the U.S., the FAA currently regulates the allocation of slots, slot exemptions, operating authorizations, or similar capacity allocation mechanisms at Reagan in Washington, D.C., O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, and LaGuardia and JFK in New York. Our operations at these airports generally require the allocation of slots or analogous regulatory authorities. Similarly, our operations at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, London’s Gatwick Airport, London’s Heathrow Airport (beginning in late March 2008) and other international airports are regulated by local slot coordinators pursuant to the International Air Transport Association’s Worldwide Scheduling Guidelines and applicable local law. We currently have sufficient slots or analogous authorizations to operate our

 

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existing flights, and we have generally been able to obtain the rights to expand our operations and to change our schedules. There is no assurance, however, that we will be able to do so in the future because, among other reasons, such allocations are subject to changes in governmental policies.

Environmental Matters

The Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 recognizes the rights of operators of airports with noise problems to implement local noise abatement programs so long as such programs do not interfere unreasonably with interstate or foreign commerce or the national air transportation system. This statute generally provides that local noise restrictions on Stage 3 aircraft first effective after October 1, 1990, require FAA approval. While we have had sufficient scheduling flexibility to accommodate local noise restrictions in the past, our operations could be adversely impacted if locally-imposed regulations become more restrictive or widespread.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) is authorized to regulate aircraft emissions and has historically implemented emissions control standards previously adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (“ICAO”). Our aircraft comply with the existing EPA standards as applicable by engine design date. ICAO has adopted additional aircraft engine emissions standards applicable to engines certified after December 31, 2007, but the EPA has not yet proposed a rule that incorporates these new ICAO standards.

We are also subject to various other federal, state and local laws governing environmental matters, including the management and disposal of chemicals, waste and hazardous materials, protection of surface and subsurface waters, and regulation of air emissions and drinking water. Concern about climate change and greenhouse gases may result in additional regulation of aircraft emissions in the U.S. and abroad. We are carefully monitoring and evaluating the potential impact of such regulatory developments. Regulation of greenhouse gases could result in significant costs for us and the airline industry.

We have been identified by the EPA as a potentially responsible party (a “PRP”) with respect to certain Superfund Sites, and have entered into consent decrees regarding some of these sites. Our alleged disposal volume at each of these sites is small when compared to the total contributions of all PRPs at each site and liability at many of these sites have been or will be resolved through our Chapter 11 proceedings. We are aware of soil and/or ground water contamination present on our current or former leaseholds at several domestic airports. To address this contamination, we have a program in place to investigate and, if appropriate, remediate these sites. Although the ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management believes that the resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Civil Reserve Air Fleet Program

We participate in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program (the “CRAF Program”), which permits the U.S. military to use the aircraft and crew resources of participating U.S. airlines during airlift emergencies, national emergencies or times of war. We have agreed to make available under the CRAF Program a portion of our international range aircraft from October 1, 2007 until September 30, 2008. As of October 1, 2007, the following numbers of our international range aircraft are available for CRAF activation:

 

Stage   

Description of

Event Leading to

                    Activation                     

   International
Passenger
Aircraft Allocated
   Number of
Aeromedical
Aircraft
Allocated
   Total
Aircraft by
Stage

I

   Minor Crisis    3    N/A    3

II

   Major Theater Conflict    16    25    41

III

   Total National Mobilization    55    105    160

The CRAF Program has only been activated twice, both times at the Stage I level, since it was created in 1951.

 

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Regulatory and Legislative Proposals

A number of Congressional bills and proposed DOT regulations have been considered in recent years to address airline competition and other issues. Some of these proposals would require large airlines with major operations at certain airports to divest or make available to other airlines slots, gates, facilities and other assets at those airports. Other measures would limit the service or pricing responses of major carriers that appear to target new entrant airlines. In addition, concerns about airport congestion issues have caused the DOT and FAA to consider various proposals for access to certain airports, including “congestion-based” landing fees and programs that would withdraw slots from existing carriers and reallocate those slots (either by lottery or auction to the highest bidder) to carriers with little or no current presence at such airports. These proposals, if enacted, could negatively impact our existing services and our ability to respond to competitive actions by other airlines. Furthermore, recent events related to extreme weather delays have caused Congress, the DOT and individual states to consider and, in at least one case, enact proposals related to airlines’ handling of lengthy flight delays during extreme weather conditions.

Employee Matters

Railway Labor Act

Our relations with labor unions in the U.S. are governed by the Railway Labor Act. Under the Railway Labor Act, a labor union seeking to represent an unrepresented craft or class of employees is required to file with the National Mediation Board (the “NMB”) an application alleging a representation dispute, along with authorization cards signed by at least 35% of the employees in that craft or class. The NMB then investigates the dispute and, if it finds the labor union has obtained a sufficient number of authorization cards, conducts an election to determine whether to certify the labor union as the collective bargaining representative of that craft or class. Under the NMB’s usual rules, a labor union will be certified as the representative of the employees in a craft or class only if more than 50% of those employees vote for union representation. A certified labor union then enters into negotiations toward a collective bargaining agreement with the employer.

Under the Railway Labor Act, a collective bargaining agreement between an airline and a labor union does not expire, but instead becomes amendable as of a stated date. Either party may request that the NMB appoint a federal mediator to participate in the negotiations for a new or amended agreement. If no agreement is reached in mediation, the NMB may determine, at any time, that an impasse exists and offer binding arbitration. If either party rejects binding arbitration, a 30-day “cooling off” period begins. At the end of this 30-day period, the parties may engage in “self help,” unless the President of the U.S. appoints a Presidential Emergency Board (“PEB”) to investigate and report on the dispute. The appointment of a PEB maintains the “status quo” for an additional 60 days. If the parties do not reach agreement during this period, the parties may then engage in “self help.” “Self help” includes, among other things, a strike by the union or the imposition of proposed changes to the collective bargaining agreement by the airline. Congress and the President have the authority to prevent “self help” by enacting legislation that, among other things, imposes a settlement on the parties.

Collective Bargaining

As of December 31, 2007, we had a total of 55,044 full-time equivalent employees. Approximately 17% of these employees are represented by unions.

 

Employee Group    Approximate
Number of
Employees
Represented
   Union    Date on which Collective
Bargaining Agreement
Becomes Amendable

Delta Pilots

   6,300    ALPA    December 31, 2009

Delta Flight Superintendents

   180    PAFCA    January 1, 2010

Comair Pilots

   1,440    ALPA    March 2, 2011

Comair Maintenance Employees

   530    IAM    December 31, 2010

Comair Flight Attendants

   980    IBT    December 31, 2010

 

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Labor unions periodically engage in organizing efforts to represent various groups of employees of Delta and Comair that are not represented for collective bargaining purposes. In February 2008, the Association of Flight Attendants/Communication Workers of America filed an application for election with the National Mediation Board, asking it to conduct a representation election among Delta flight attendants. The timing and outcome of this matter cannot presently be determined.

Executive Officers

Richard H. Anderson, Age 52: Chief Executive Officer of Delta since September 1, 2007. Executive Vice President of UnitedHealth Group and President of its Commercial Services Group (December 2006 to August 2007); Executive Vice President of UnitedHealth Group and Chief Executive Officer of its Ingenix subsidiary (January 2005 to December 2006); and Executive Vice President of UnitedHealth Group (November 2004 to January 2005); Chief Executive Officer of Northwest Airlines Corporation and its principal subsidiary, Northwest (2001 to November 2004).

Edward H. Bastian, Age 50: President and Chief Financial Officer of Delta since September 2007; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Delta (July 2005—September 2007; Chief Financial Officer, Acuity Brands (June 2005—July 2005); Senior Vice President—Finance and Controller of Delta (2000—April 2005); Vice President and Controller of Delta (1998 – 2000).

Michael H. Campbell, Age 59: Executive Vice President—HR, Labor & Communications of Delta since December 2007; Executive Vice President—Human Resources and Labor Relations of Delta (July 2006—December 2007); Of Counsel, Ford & Harrison (January 2005—July 2006); Senior Vice President—Human Resources and Labor Relations, Continental Airlines, Inc. (1997 – 2004); Partner, Ford & Harrison (1978 – 1996).

Stephen E. Gorman, Age 52: Executive Vice President—Operations of Delta since December 2007; President and Chief Executive Officer of Greyhound Lines, Inc. (June 2003—October 2007); President, North America and Executive Vice President Operations Support at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (August 2001—June 2003); Executive Vice President, Technical Operations and Flight Operations of Northwest (February 2001—August 2001), Senior Vice President, Technical Operations of Northwest (January 1999—February 2001), and Vice President, Engine Maintenance Operations of Northwest (1996 to January 1999).

Glen W. Hauenstein, Age 47: Executive Vice President—Network Planning and Revenue Management since April 2006; Executive Vice President and Chief of Network and Revenue Management (August 2005—April 2006); Vice General Director—Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Alitalia (2003—2005); Senior Vice President—Network, Continental Airlines (2003); Senior Vice President—Scheduling, Continental Airlines (2001 – 2003); Vice President Scheduling, Continental Airlines (1998 – 2001).

Kenneth F. Khoury, Age 56: Executive Vice President and General Counsel since September 2006; Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Weyerhaeuser Company (April 2006—September 2006); Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Georgia-Pacific Corporation (1990 – 2005); Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Shearson Lehman Hutton, Inc. (1988 – 1990).

Lee A. Macenczak, Age 46: Executive Vice President—Sales and Marketing since April 2007; Executive Vice President—Sales and Customer Service (April 2006—April 2007); Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Service Officer (July 2005—April 2006); Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Service Officer (2004 – 2005); Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer (June 2004—October 2004); Senior Vice President—Sales and Distribution (2000 – 2004); Vice President—Customer Service (1999 – 2000); Vice President—Reservation Sales (1998 – 1999); Vice President—Reservation Sales & Distribution Planning (1996 – 1998).

Additional Information

We make available free of charge on our website our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information on our website is not incorporated into this Form 10-K or our other securities filings and is not a part of those filings.

 

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ITEM 1A.     RISK FACTORS

Risk Factors Relating to Delta

Our business and results of operations are dependent on the price and availability of aircraft fuel. Continuing high fuel costs or further cost increases could have a materially adverse effect on our operating results. Likewise, significant disruptions in the supply of aircraft fuel would materially adversely affect our operations and operating results.

Our operating results are significantly impacted by changes in the price and availability of aircraft fuel. Fuel prices have increased substantially in the last five years. In 2007, our average fuel price per gallon rose 5% to $2.21, as compared to an average price of $2.10 in 2006, which was 15% higher than our average price of $1.79 in 2005. In 2004, our average fuel price per gallon was $1.16 and in 2003, our average fuel price per gallon was 81.78¢. The fuel costs represented 26%, 25%, and 24% of our operating expenses in 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively. These increasing costs have had a significant negative effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our ability to pass along the increased costs of fuel to our customers is limited by the competitive nature of the airline industry. We often have not been able to increase our fares to fully offset the effect of increased fuel costs in the past and we may not be able to do so in the future.

In addition, our aircraft fuel purchase contracts do not provide material protection against price increases or assure the availability of our fuel supplies. We purchase most of our aircraft fuel under contracts that establish the price based on various market indices. We also purchase aircraft fuel on the spot market, from offshore sources and under contracts that permit the refiners to set the price. To attempt to manage our exposure to changes in fuel prices, we use derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, which are comprised of crude oil, heating oil and jet fuel swap and collar contracts, though we may not be able to successfully manage this exposure. Depending on the type of hedging instrument used, our ability to benefit from declines in fuel prices may be limited.

We are currently able to obtain adequate supplies of aircraft fuel, but it is impossible to predict the future availability or price of aircraft fuel. Weather-related events, natural disasters, political disruptions or wars involving oil-producing countries, changes in governmental policy concerning aircraft fuel production, transportation or marketing, changes in aircraft fuel production capacity, environmental concerns and other unpredictable events may result in additional fuel supply shortages and fuel price increases in the future. Additional increases in fuel costs or disruptions in fuel supplies could have additional negative effects on us.

Our substantial indebtedness may limit our financial and operating activities and may adversely affect our ability to incur additional debt to fund future needs.

We have substantial indebtedness, which could:

 

   

require us to dedicate a substantial portion of cash flow from operations to the payment of principal, and interest on, indebtedness, thereby reducing the funds available for other purposes;

 

   

make us more vulnerable to economic downturns, adverse industry conditions or catastrophic external events;

 

   

limit our ability to withstand competitive pressures;

 

   

reduce our flexibility in planning for or responding to changing business and economic conditions; and/or

 

   

place us at a competitive disadvantage to competitors that have relatively less debt than we have.

In addition, a substantial level of indebtedness could limit our ability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms or at all for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. We have

 

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historically had substantial liquidity needs in the operation of our business. These liquidity needs could vary significantly and may be affected by general economic conditions, industry trends, performance and many other factors not within our control.

Our exit financing credit facility includes financial and other covenants that impose restrictions on our financial and business operations.

Our exit financing credit facility contains financial covenants that require us to maintain a minimum fixed charge ratio, minimum unrestricted cash reserves and minimum collateral coverage ratios. In addition, our exit financing credit facility restricts our ability to, among other things, incur additional secured indebtedness, make investments, sell assets if not in compliance with coverage ratio tests, pay dividends or repurchase stock. These covenants may have a material adverse impact on our operations. In addition, if we fail to comply with the covenants in the exit financing credit facility and are unable to obtain a waiver or amendment, an event of default would result under the exit financing credit facility.

The exit financing credit facility also contains other events of default customary for financings of this type, including cross defaults to certain other material indebtedness and certain change of control events. If an event of default were to occur, the lenders could, among other things, declare outstanding borrowings under these agreements immediately due and payable. We cannot provide assurance that we would have sufficient liquidity to repay or refinance borrowings under the exit financing credit facility if such borrowings were accelerated upon an event of default. In addition, an event of default or declaration of acceleration under the exit financing credit facility could also result in an event of default under other indebtedness agreements.

Employee strikes and other labor-related disruptions may adversely affect our operations.

Our business is labor intensive, utilizing large numbers of pilots, flight attendants and other personnel. Approximately 17% of our workforce is unionized. Strikes or labor disputes with our unionized employees may adversely affect our ability to conduct business. Relations between air carriers and labor unions in the U.S. are governed by the Railway Labor Act, which provides that a collective bargaining agreement between an airline and a labor union does not expire, but instead becomes amendable as of a stated date. The Railway Labor Act generally prohibits strikes or other types of self-help actions both before and after a collective bargaining agreement becomes amendable, unless and until the collective bargaining processes required by the Railway Labor Act have been exhausted.

In addition, if we or our affiliates are unable to reach agreement with any of our unionized work groups on future negotiations regarding the terms of their collective bargaining agreements or if additional segments of our workforce become unionized, they may be subject to work interruptions or stoppages, subject to the requirements of the Railway Labor Act. Likewise, if third party regional carriers with whom we have contract carrier agreements are unable to reach agreement with their unionized work groups on current or future negotiations regarding the terms of their collective bargaining agreements, those carriers may be subject to work interruptions or stoppages, subject to the requirements of the Railway Labor Act, which could have a negative impact on our operations.

Interruptions or disruptions in service at one of our hub airports could have a material adverse impact on our operations.

Our business is heavily dependent on our operations at the Atlanta Airport and at our other hub airports in Cincinnati, New York-JFK and Salt Lake City. Each of these hub operations includes flights that gather and distribute traffic from markets in the geographic region surrounding the hub to other major cities and to other Delta hubs. A significant interruption or disruption in service at the Atlanta airport or at one of our other hubs could have a serious impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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We are increasingly dependent on technology in our operations, and if our technology fails or we are unable to continue to invest in new technology, our business may be adversely affected.

We have become increasingly dependent on technology initiatives to reduce costs and to enhance customer service in order to compete in the current business environment. For example, we have made significant investments in delta.com, check-in kiosks, “Delta Direct” phone banks and related initiatives. The performance and reliability of the technology are critical to our ability to attract and retain customers and our ability to compete effectively. These initiatives will continue to require significant capital investments in our technology infrastructure to deliver these expected benefits. If we are unable to make these investments, our business and operations could be negatively affected.

In addition, any internal technology error or failure or large scale external interruption in technology infrastructure we depend on, such as power, telecommunications or the internet, may disrupt our technology network. Any individual, sustained or repeated failure of technology could impact our customer service and result in increased costs. Like all companies, our technology systems and related data may be vulnerable to a variety of sources of interruption due to events beyond our control, including natural disasters, terrorist attacks, telecommunications failures, computer viruses, hackers and other security issues. While we have in place, and continue to invest in, technology security initiatives and disaster recovery plans, these measures may not be adequate or implemented properly to prevent a business disruption and its adverse financial consequences to our business.

If we experience losses of senior management personnel and other key employees, our operating results could be adversely affected.

We are dependent on the experience and industry knowledge of our officers and other key employees to execute our business plans. Our financial performance that culminated in our recent Chapter 11 proceedings created uncertainty that led to a significant increase in unwanted attrition. If we experience a substantial turnover in our leadership and other key employees, our performance could be materially adversely impacted. Furthermore, we may be unable to attract and retain additional qualified executives as needed in the future.

Our credit card processors have the ability to take significant holdbacks in certain circumstances. The initiation of such holdbacks likely would have a material adverse effect on our liquidity.

We sell a substantial number of tickets that are paid for by customers who use credit cards. Our Visa/MasterCard credit card processing agreement provides that no future holdback of receivables or reserve is required except in certain circumstances. Under its processing agreement with us, Amex has the right, in certain circumstances, to impose a holdback of our receivables for tickets purchased using an American Express credit card. If circumstances were to occur that would allow either processor to initiate a holdback, the negative impact on our liquidity likely would be significant.

We are at risk of losses and adverse publicity stemming from any accident involving our aircraft.

An aircraft crash or other accident could expose us to significant tort liability. The insurance we carry to cover damages arising from any future accidents may be inadequate. In the event that the insurance is not adequate, we may be forced to bear substantial losses from an accident. In addition, any accident involving an aircraft that we operate or an aircraft that is operated by an airline that is one of our codeshare partners could create a public perception that our aircraft are not safe or reliable, which could harm our reputation, result in air travelers being reluctant to fly on our aircraft and harm our business. For a description of the Comair flight 5191 accident in August 2006, see “Item 3. Legal Proceedings—Comair Flight 5191.”

Any “ownership change” could limit our ability to utilize our net operating losses carryforwards.

Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), a corporation is generally allowed a deduction in any taxable year for net operating losses carried forward from prior years. As of December 31, 2007, we had approximately $9.1 billion of federal and state net operating loss carryforwards.

 

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A corporation’s use of its net operating loss carryforwards is generally limited under section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change.” When an “ownership change” occurs pursuant to the implementation of a plan of reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code, the general limitation under section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code may not apply if certain requirements are satisfied under either section 382(l)(5) or section 382(l)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. We experienced an “ownership change” in connection with the Plan of Reorganization in our Chapter 11 proceedings, but we have not yet determined whether we will be eligible for or rely on the special rule under section 382(l)(5) or the special rule under section 382(l)(6). Assuming we rely on section 382(l)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code, a second “ownership change” within two years from the effective date of our Plan of Reorganization confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court in our Chapter 11 proceedings would eliminate completely our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryovers. Regardless of whether we rely on section 382(l)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code, an “ownership change” after the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization could significantly limit our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards for taxable years including or following such “ownership change.”

Transfer restrictions on our stock issued in connection with our Plan of Reorganization may limit the liquidity of our stock.

To reduce the risk of a potential adverse effect on our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryovers, our certificate of incorporation contains certain restrictions on the transfer of our stock issued in connection with the Plan of Reorganization. These transfer restrictions will be effective for two years following the effective date of the Plan of Reorganization, subject to extension for an additional three years. These transfer restrictions may adversely affect the ability of certain holders of our stock to dispose of or acquire shares of our stock during the period the restrictions are in place. Furthermore, while the purpose of these transfer restrictions is to prevent an “ownership change” from occurring within the meaning of section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, no assurance can be given that such an ownership change will not occur.

Risk Factors Relating to the Airline Industry

The airline industry is highly competitive and, if we cannot successfully compete in the marketplace, our business, financial condition and operating results will be materially adversely affected.

We face significant competition with respect to routes, services and fares. Our domestic routes are subject to competition from both new and established carriers, some of which have lower costs than we do and provide service at low fares to destinations served by us. In particular, we face significant competition at our hub airports in Atlanta and New York-JFK from other carriers. In addition, our operations at our hub airports also compete with operations at the hubs of other airlines that are located in close proximity to our hubs. We also face increasing competition in smaller to medium-sized markets from rapidly expanding regional jet operators.

The growth of low-cost carriers, including Southwest, AirTran and JetBlue, in the U.S. has placed significant competitive pressure on us and other network carriers in the domestic market. In addition, other network carriers have also significantly reduced their costs over the last several years. Our ability to compete effectively depends, in part, on our ability to maintain a competitive cost structure. If we cannot maintain our costs at a competitive level, then our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected. In light of increased jet fuel costs and other issues in recent years, we expect consolidation to occur in the airline industry. As a result of consolidation, we may face significant competition from larger carriers that may be able to generate higher amounts of revenue and compete more efficiently.

In addition, we compete with foreign carriers, both on interior U.S. routes, due to marketing and codesharing arrangements, and in international markets. International marketing alliances formed by domestic and foreign carriers, including the Star Alliance (among United Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines and others) and the oneworld Alliance (among American Airlines, British Airways and others) have significantly increased competition in international markets. The adoption of liberalized Open Skies Aviation Agreements with an

 

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increasing number of countries around the world, including in particular the Open Skies agreement with the Member States of the European Union, has accelerated this trend. Through marketing and codesharing arrangements with U.S. carriers, foreign carriers have obtained access to interior U.S. passenger traffic. Similarly, U.S. carriers have increased their ability to sell international transportation, such as transatlantic services to and beyond European cities, through alliances with international carriers.

Terrorist attacks or international hostilities may adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 caused fundamental and permanent changes in the airline industry, including substantial revenue declines and cost increases, which resulted in industry-wide liquidity issues. Additional terrorist attacks or fear of such attacks, even if not made directly on the airline industry, would negatively affect us and the airline industry. The potential negative effects include increased security, insurance and other costs and lost revenue from increased ticket refunds and decreased ticket sales. Our financial resources might not be sufficient to absorb the adverse effects of any further terrorist attacks or other international hostilities involving the U.S.

The airline industry is subject to extensive government regulation, and new regulations may increase our operating costs.

Airlines are subject to extensive regulatory and legal compliance requirements that result in significant costs. For instance, the FAA from time to time issues directives and other regulations relating to the maintenance and operation of aircraft that necessitate significant expenditures. We expect to continue incurring expenses to comply with the FAA’s regulations.

Other laws, regulations, taxes and airport rates and charges have also been imposed from time to time that significantly increase the cost of airline operations or reduce revenues. For example, the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which became law in November 2001, mandates the federalization of certain airport security procedures and imposes additional security requirements on airports and airlines, most of which are funded by a per ticket tax on passengers and a tax on airlines. The federal government has on several occasions proposed a significant increase in the per ticket tax. The proposed ticket tax increase, if implemented, could negatively impact our revenues.

Recently, proposals to address congestion at certain airports or in certain airspace, particularly in the Northeast U.S., have included concepts such as “congestion pricing,” “slot auctions” or other alternatives that could impose a significant cost on the airlines operating in those airports or airspace. Furthermore, events related to extreme weather delays in late 2006 and early 2007 have caused Congress and the DOT to consider proposals related to airlines’ handling of lengthy flight delays during extreme weather conditions. The enactment of such proposals could have a significant negative impact on our operations. In addition, some states have also enacted or considered enacting such regulations.

Future regulatory action concerning climate change and aircraft emissions could have a significant effect on the airline industry. For example, the European Commission is seeking to impose an emissions trading scheme applicable to all flights operating in the European Union, including flights to and from the U.S. Laws or regulations such as this emissions trading scheme or other U.S. or foreign governmental actions may adversely affect our operations and financial results.

 

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We and other U.S. carriers are subject to domestic and foreign laws regarding privacy of passenger and employee data that are not consistent in all countries in which we operate. In addition to the heightened level of concern regarding privacy of passenger data in the U.S., certain European government agencies are initiating inquiries into airline privacy practices. Compliance with these regulatory regimes is expected to result in additional operating costs and could impact our operations and any future expansion.

Our insurance costs have increased substantially as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and further increases in insurance costs or reductions in coverage could have a material adverse impact on our business and operating results.

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 coverage currently extends through August 31, 2008. 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 that 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 expenses or may not be obtainable at all, resulting in an interruption to our operations.

ITEM 1B.     UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Flight Equipment

Our active aircraft fleet at December 31, 2007 is summarized in the following table:

 

     Current Fleet     
Aircraft Type    Owned    Capital
Lease
   Operating
Lease
   Total    Average
Age

B-737-800

   71    —      —      71    7.2

B-757-200

   68    34    18    120    16.3

B-757-200ER

   —      2    11    13    10.0

B-767-300

   4    —      17    21    16.9

B-767-300ER

   50    —      9    59    11.9

B-767-400ER

   21    —      —      21    6.8

B-777-200ER

   8    —      —      8    7.9

MD-88

   63    33    21    117    17.5

MD-90

   16    —      —      16    12.1

CRJ-100

   28    13    49    90    10.3

CRJ-200

   5    —      12    17    5.2

CRJ-700

   17    —      —      17    4.2

CRJ-900

   8    —      —      8    0.2

Total

   359    82    137    578    12.4
 

 

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Our purchase commitments (firm orders) for aircraft, as well as options to purchase additional aircraft, as of December 31, 2007 are shown in the following tables:

 

     Delivery in Calendar
Years Ending
 
Aircraft on Firm Order(3)    2008    2009    2010    Total  

B-737-700

   7    3    —      10  

B-737-800

   7    14    19    40 (1)

B-777-200LR

   3    5    —      8  

CRJ-900

   13    5    —      18 (2)
   

Total

   30    27    19    76  
   

 

(1)

Include 38 aircraft, which we have entered into definitive agreements to sell to third parties immediately following delivery of these aircraft to us by the manufacturer.

(2)

Excludes 16 aircraft orders we assigned to a regional air carrier in April 2007.

(3)

For additional information, see “Aircraft Order Commitments” in Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

     Delivery in Calendar Years Ending
Aircraft on Option(1)    2009    2010    2011    2012    After
2012
   Total    Rolling
Options

B-737-800

   —      14    24    22    —      60    120

B-767-300/300ER

   1    2    1    1    5    10    —  

B-767-400

   1    2    2    2    9    16    —  

B-777-200LR

   —      3    4    4    —      11    12

CRJ-200

   11    5    —      —      —      16    —  

CRJ-700

   14    6    —      —      —      20    —  

CRJ-900

   18    9    —      —      —      27    —  
 

Total

   45    41    31    29    14    160    132
 

 

(1)

Aircraft options have scheduled delivery slots, while rolling options replace options and are assigned delivery slots as options expire or are exercised.

Ground Facilities

We lease most of the land and buildings that we occupy. Our largest aircraft maintenance base, various computer, cargo, flight kitchen and training facilities and most of our principal offices are located at or near the Atlanta Airport, on land leased from the City of Atlanta generally under long-term leases. We own a portion of our principal offices, our Atlanta reservations center and other real property in Atlanta.

We lease ticket counter and other terminal space, operating areas and air cargo facilities in most of the airports that we serve. At most airports that we serve, we have entered into use agreements which provide for the non-exclusive use of runways, taxiways, and other improvements and facilities; landing fees under these agreements normally are based on the number of landings and weight of aircraft. These leases and use agreements generally run for periods of less than one year to 30 years or more, and often contain provisions for periodic adjustments of lease rates, landing fees and other charges applicable under that type of agreement. Examples of major leases and use agreements at Delta hub or other significant airports that will expire in the next several years include, among others: (1) Atlanta central passenger terminal lease and the airport use agreement, which expire in 2010; (2) Salt Lake City airport use and lease agreement, which expires in 2008; and (3) LaGuardia terminal lease, which expires in 2008. We also lease aircraft maintenance facilities and air cargo facilities at certain airports, including, among others, our main Atlanta maintenance base, Atlanta air cargo facilities and hangar and air cargo facilities at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and Salt

 

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Lake City International Airport. Our aircraft maintenance facility leases generally require us to pay the cost of providing, operating and maintaining such facilities, including, in some cases, amounts necessary to pay debt service on special facility bonds issued to finance their construction. We also lease marketing, ticketing and reservations offices in certain locations for varying terms.

In recent years, some airports have increased or sought to increase the rates charged to airlines to levels that we believe are unreasonable. The extent to which such charges are limited by statute or regulation and the ability of airlines to contest such charges has been subject to litigation and to administrative proceedings before the DOT. If the limitations on such charges are relaxed, or the ability of airlines to challenge such proposed rate increases is restricted, the rates charged by airports to airlines may increase substantially.

The City of Atlanta, with our support and the support of other airlines, is currently implementing portions of a ten year capital improvement program (the “CIP”) at the Atlanta Airport. Implementation of the CIP should increase the number of flights that may operate at the airport and reduce flight delays. The CIP includes, among other things, a 9,000 foot full-service runway that opened in May 2006, related airfield improvements, additional terminal and gate capacity, new cargo and other support facilities and roadway and other infrastructure improvements. If fully implemented, the CIP is currently estimated by the City of Atlanta to cost approximately $6.8 billion, which exceeds the $5.4 billion CIP approved by the airlines in 1999. The CIP runs through 2010, with individual projects scheduled to be constructed at different times. A combination of federal grants, passenger facility charge revenues, increased user rentals and fees, and other airport funds are expected to be used to pay CIP costs directly and through the payment of debt service on bonds. Certain elements of the CIP have been delayed, and there is no assurance that the CIP will be fully implemented. Failure to implement certain portions of the CIP in a timely manner could adversely impact our operations at the Atlanta Airport.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Chapter 11 Proceedings

As discussed elsewhere in this Form 10-K, on September 14, 2005, we and certain of our subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court. On April 25, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order approving and confirming the Plan of Reorganization and the Plan of Reorganization became effective, allowing Delta to emerge from bankruptcy on April 30, 2007. The reorganization cases were jointly administered under the caption “In re Delta Air Lines, Inc., et al., Case No. 05-17923-ASH.” As of the date of the Chapter 11 filing, then pending litigation was generally stayed, and absent further order of the Bankruptcy Court, most parties may not take any action to recover on pre-petition claims against Delta and our subsidiaries that were a part of the Chapter 11 proceedings.

On April 24, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court approved the Cincinnati Airport Settlement Agreement with the Kenton County Airport Board (“KCAB”) and UMB Bank, N.A., the trustee (the “Bond Trustee”) for the Series 1992 Bonds (as defined below), to restructure certain of our lease and other obligations at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (the “Cincinnati Airport”). The Series 1992 Bonds include: (1) the $419 million Kenton County Airport Board Special Facilities Revenue Bonds, 1992 Series A (Delta Air Lines, Inc. Project), $397 million of which were then outstanding; and (2) the $19 million Kenton County Airport Board Special Facilities Revenue Bonds, 1992 Series B (Delta Air Lines, Inc. Project), $16 million of which were then outstanding.

The Cincinnati Airport Settlement Agreement, among other things:

 

   

provides for agreements under which we will continue to use certain facilities at the Cincinnati Airport at substantially reduced costs;

 

   

settles all disputes among us, the KCAB, the Bond Trustee and the former, present and future holders of the 1992 Bonds (the “1992 Bondholders”);

 

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gives the Bond Trustee, on behalf of the 1992 Bondholders, a $260 million allowed general, unsecured pre-petition claim in our bankruptcy proceedings; and

 

   

provides for our issuance of $66 million principal amount of senior unsecured notes to the Bond Trustee on behalf of the 1992 Bondholders.

On May 3, 2007, the parties to the Cincinnati Airport Settlement Agreement implemented that agreement in accordance with its terms. A small number of 1992 Bondholders (the “Objecting Bondholders”) challenged the settlement in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “District Court”). In August 2007, the District Court affirmed the Bankruptcy Court’s order approving the settlement. The Objecting Bondholders have appealed the decision of the District Court to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Delta Family-Care Savings Plan Litigation

On March 16, 2005, a retired Delta employee filed an amended class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against Delta, certain current and former Delta officers and certain current and former Delta directors on behalf of himself and other participants in the Delta Family-Care Savings Plan (“Savings Plan”). The amended complaint alleges that the defendants were fiduciaries of the Savings Plan and, as such, breached their fiduciary duties under ERISA to the plaintiff class by (1) allowing class members to direct their contributions under the Savings Plan to a fund invested in Delta common stock; and (2) continuing to hold Delta’s contributions to the Savings Plan in Delta’s common and preferred stock. The amended complaint seeks damages unspecified in amount, but equal to the total loss of value in the participants’ accounts from September 2000 through September 2004 from the investment in Delta stock. Defendants deny that there was any breach of fiduciary duty, and have moved to dismiss the complaint. The District Court stayed the action against Delta due to the bankruptcy filing and granted the motion to dismiss filed by the individual defendants. The plaintiffs appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit the District Court’s decision to dismiss the complaint against the individual defendants but voluntarily dismissed this appeal, pending resolution of the automatic stay of their claim against Delta. The parties have reached an agreement in principle to resolve this matter on a class-wide basis under which the plaintiffs would receive a $4.5 million general, unsecured pre-petition claim in Delta’s Chapter 11 proceedings. The settlement is subject to the completion of definitive documentation and Bankruptcy Court approval.

Comair Flight 5191

On August 27, 2006, Comair Flight 5191 crashed shortly after take-off in a field near the Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky. All 47 passengers and two members of the flight crew died in the accident. The third crew member survived with severe injuries. Lawsuits arising out of this accident have been filed against our wholly owned subsidiary, Comair, on behalf of 44 passengers. A number of lawsuits also name Delta as a defendant. The lawsuits generally assert claims for wrongful death and related personal injuries, and seek unspecified damages, including punitive damages in most cases. As of January 28, 2008, settlements have been reached with the families of 15 of the 47 passengers. All the passenger lawsuits are currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and have been consolidated as “In Re Air Crash at Lexington, Kentucky, August 27, 2006, Master File No. 5:06-CV-316.”

Comair and Delta continue to pursue settlement negotiations with the plaintiffs in these lawsuits. The settled cases have been dismissed with prejudice.

Comair has filed direct actions in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky against the United States (based on the actions of the Federal Aviation Administration), and in state court in Fayette County, Kentucky, against the Lexington Airport Board and certain other Lexington airport defendants. Comair has also filed third party complaints against these same parties in each of the pending passenger lawsuits. These actions seek to apportion liability for damages arising from this accident among all responsible parties.

 

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We carry aviation risk liability insurance and believe that this insurance is sufficient to cover any liability likely to arise from this accident.

***

For a discussion of certain environmental matters, see “Business—Environmental Matters” in Item 1.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No matters were submitted to a vote of our security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information

Shares of our common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to April 30, 2007 (the “Old Common Stock”) traded on the Pink Sheets Electronic Quotation Service (“Pink Sheets”) maintained by Pink Sheets LLC for the National Quotation Bureau, Inc. The ticker symbol “DALRQ” was assigned to our Old Common Stock for over-the-counter quotations. On April 30, 2007, the Old Common Stock was canceled pursuant to the terms of our Plan of Reorganization and we have no continuing obligations with respect to the Old Common Stock.

Pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization, we issued or reserved for issuance up to 400 million shares of common stock (the “New Common Stock”), consisting of (1) 386 million shares to holders of allowed general, unsecured claims (including our pilots) and (2) 14 million shares to our approximately 39,000 eligible non-contract, non-management employees. The new common stock was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and began trading under the ticker symbol “DAL” on May 3, 2007.

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated, the highest and lowest sales price for our Old Common Stock as reported on the Pink Sheets for the period through April 27, 2007 and for our New Common Stock as reported on the NYSE for the period beginning April 30, 2007. The quotations from the Pink Sheets reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail markup, markdown or commissions, and may not represent actual transactions.

 

     Old Common
Stock(1)
   New Common
Stock(2)
      High    Low    High    Low

Fiscal 2006

           

First Quarter

   $ 0.88    $ 0.30      —        —  

Second Quarter

     0.81      0.50      —        —  

Third Quarter

     1.78      0.63      —        —  

Fourth Quarter

     1.77      0.96      —        —  

Fiscal 2007

           

First Quarter

   $ 1.48    $ 0.21      —        —  

Second Quarter

   $ 0.48    $ 0.01    $ 21.95    $ 18.02

Third Quarter

     —        —      $ 21.80    $ 14.94

Fourth Quarter

     —        —      $ 21.10    $ 14.04

 

(1)

The Old Common Stock was canceled pursuant to the terms of our Plan of Reorganization and no further trading occurred after April 27, 2007.

(2)

The New Common Stock commenced trading on April 30, 2007 on a “when-issued” basis and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and began trading under the ticker symbol “DAL” on May 3, 2007.

Holders

As of January 31, 2008, there were approximately 115 holders of record of our New Common Stock.

Dividends

We suspended the payment of dividends on our Old Common Stock in 2003. We expect to retain any future earnings to fund our operations and meet our cash and liquidity needs. In addition, our ability to pay dividends or repurchase New Common Stock is restricted under credit facilities that we entered into in connection with our emergence from bankruptcy. Therefore, we do not anticipate paying any dividends on our New Common Stock for the foreseeable future.

 

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Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

Information required by this Item regarding the securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans is included in the section captioned “Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans” of our Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held June 3, 2008. This Proxy Statement will be filed with the SEC, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Stock Performance Graph

The following graph compares the cumulative total returns during the period from April 30, 2007 to December 31, 2007 of our New Common Stock to the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index and the Amex Airline Index. The comparison assumes $100 was invested on April 30, 2007 in each of our New Common Stock and the indices and assumes that all dividends were reinvested. Data for periods prior to April 30, 2007 is not shown because of the period we were in bankruptcy and the financial results of the Successor are not comparable with the results of the Predecessor.

LOGO

The Amex Airline Index (ticker symbol XAL) consists of AirTran Holdings, Inc., Alaska Air Group, Inc., AMR Corporation, Continental, Delta, ExpressJet Holdings, Inc., Frontier Airlines, Holdings, Inc., GOL Linhas Areas Inteligentes S.A., JetBlue Airways Corporation, Northwest Airlines Corporation, SkyWest, Inc., Southwest Airlines Company, UAL Corporation, and US Airways Group, Inc.

 

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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following shares of Common Stock were withheld in 2007 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.

 

Period    Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased(1)
   Average
Price Paid
Per Share
   Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs(1)
   Maximum Number of
Shares (or Approximate
Dollar Value) of Shares
That May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plan or Programs
 

May 1-31, 2007

   5,913,542    $ 20.61    5,913,542                 (2)

June 1-30, 2007

   279,869      20.35    279,869                 (2)

July 1-31, 2007

   29,444      17.93    29,444                 (2)

August 1-31, 2007

   19,748      17.36    19,748                 (2)

September 1-30, 2007

   96,617      17.05    96,617                 (2)

October 1-31, 2007

   848,028      20.65    848,028                 (2)

November 1-30, 2007

   15,950      18.86    15,950                 (2)

December 1-31, 2007

   35,775      18.21    35,775                 (2)
    

Total

   7,238,973    $ 20.52    7,238,973   
    

 

(1)

Shares were withheld from employees to satisfy certain tax obligations due in connection with grants of stock under our Performance Compensation Plan and in connection with bankruptcy claims. The Company disclosed these matters generally in its Disclosure Statement dated February 7, 2007, as amended, and the Plan of Reorganization, which were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Form 8-K.

(2)

The Performance Compensation Plan and the Plan of Reorganization provides for the withholding of shares to satisfy tax obligations. Neither specify a maximum number of shares that can be withheld for this purpose. See Note 1 and Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements elsewhere in this Form 10-K for more information about the Plan of Reorganization and the Performance Compensation Plan, respectively.

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table presents selected financial and operating data. We derived the Statement of Operations Data for (1) the eight months ended December 31, 2007 of the Successor and (2) the four months ended April 30, 2007 and the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003 of the Predecessor and we derived the Balance Sheet for (1) the year ended December 31, 2007 of the Successor and (2) the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003 of the Predecessor from our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto.

Upon emergence from Chapter 11 on April 30, 2007 the Effective Date, we adopted fresh start reporting in accordance with SOP 90-7. The adoption of fresh start reporting resulted in our becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, consolidated financial data on or after May 1, 2007 is not comparable to the consolidated financial data prior to that date.

Due to Delta’s adoption of fresh start reporting on April 30, 2007, the following table includes selected summary financial and operating data for (1) the eight months ended December 31, 2007 of the Successor and (2) the four months ended April 30, 2007 and the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003 of the Predecessor.

Consolidated Summary of Operations(1)

 

     Successor          Predecessor  
    

Eight Months
Ended
December 31,

2007(2)

        

Four Months
Ended

April 30,

2007(3)

    Year Ended December 31,  
(in millions, except share data)          2006(4)(10)     2005(5)(10)     2004(6)     2003(7)  
                                                      

Operating revenue

   $ 13,358         $ 5,796     $ 17,532     $ 16,480     $ 15,235     $ 14,308  

Operating expense

     12,562           5,496       17,474       18,481       18,543       15,093  

Operating income (loss)

     796           300       58       (2,001 )     (3,308 )     (785 )

Interest expense, net(8)

     (276 )         (248 )     (801 )     (973 )     (787 )     (721 )

Miscellaneous income, net(9)

     5           27       (19 )     (1 )     94       317  

Gain on extinguishment of debt, net

     —             —         —         —         9       —    

Income (loss) before reorganization items, net

     525           79       (762 )     (2,975 )     (3,992 )     (1,189 )

Reorganization items, net

     —             1,215       (6,206 )     (884 )     —         —    

Income (loss) before income taxes

     525           1,294       (6,968 )     (3,859 )     (3,992 )     (1,189 )

Income tax (provision) benefit

     (211 )         4       765       41       (1,206 )     416  

Net income (loss)

     314           1,298       (6,203 )     (3,818 )     (5,198 )     (773 )

Preferred stock dividends

     —             —         (2 )     (18 )     (19 )     (17 )

Net income (loss) attributable to common shareowners

   $ 314           1,298     $ (6,205 )   $ (3,836 )   $ (5,217 )   $ (790 )
   

Basic earnings (loss) per share

   $ 0.80         $ 6.58     $ (31.58 )   $ (23.75 )   $ (41.07 )   $ (6.40 )
   

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

   $ 0.79         $ 4.63     $ (31.58 )   $ (23.75 )   $ (41.07 )   $ (6.40 )
   

Dividends declared per common share

   $ —           $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 0.05  
   

 

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Other Financial and Statistical Data

 

    Successor          Predecessor  
   

Eight Months
Ended
December 31,

2007(2)

        

Four Months
Ended

April 30,

2007(3)

    Year Ended December 31,  
          2006(4)(10)     2005(5)(10)     2004(6)     2003(7)  
                                                     

Revenue passenger miles (millions)(1)

    85,029           37,036       116,133       119,954       113,311       102,301  

Available seat miles (millions)(1)

    104,427           47,337       147,995       156,793       151,679       139,505  

Passenger mile yield(1)

    13.88 ¢         13.84 ¢     13.34 ¢     12.16 ¢     12.17 ¢     12.73 ¢

Passenger revenue per available seat mile(1)

    11.30 ¢         10.83 ¢     10.47 ¢     9.31 ¢     9.09 ¢     9.17 ¢

Operating cost per available seat mile(1)

    12.03 ¢         11.61 ¢     11.80 ¢     11.79 ¢     12.23 ¢     10.82 ¢

Passenger load factor(1)

    81.4 %         78.2 %     78.5 %     76.5 %     74.7 %     73.3 %

Breakeven passenger load factor(1)

    75.9 %         73.7 %     78.2 %     87.0 %     92.6 %     77.8 %

Fuel gallons consumed (millions)

    1,458           659       2,111       2,492       2,527       2,370  

Average price per fuel gallon, net of hedging gains

  $ 2.34         $ 1.93     $ 2.10     $ 1.79     $ 1.16     $ 0.82  
                                                     
                                         
    Successor                Predecessor  
   

December 31,

2007(2)

               December 31,  
          2006(4)(10)     2005(5)(10)     2004(6)     2003(7)  
                                                     

Total assets (millions)(1)

  $ 32,423           $ 19,622     $ 20,039     $ 21,801     $ 25,939  

Long-term debt and capital leases (excluding current maturities) (millions)(1)

  $ 7,986           $ 6,509     $ 6,557     $ 13,005     $ 11,538  

Shareowners’ equity (deficit) (millions)(1)

  $ 10,113           $ (13,593 )   $ (9,895 )   $ (5,796 )   $ (659 )

Common stock outstanding

    292,225,696             197,335,938       189,343,018       139,830,443       123,544,945  

Full-time equivalent employees, end of period

    55,044             51,322       55,650       69,148       70,600  
                                                     

 

(1)

Includes the operations under contract carrier agreements with unaffiliated regional air carriers:

 

   

SkyWest Airlines, Inc. and Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. for all periods presented;

 

   

Shuttle America Corporation for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and from September 1 through December 31, 2005;

 

   

Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and from September 8 through December 31, 2005;

 

   

Freedom Airlines, Inc. for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and from October 1 through December 31, 2005;

 

   

ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. from June 1 to December 31, 2007;

 

   

Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. from December 1 to December 31, 2007; and

 

   

Flyi, Inc. (formerly Atlantic Coast Airlines) from January 1, 2003 through November 1, 2004.

 

(2)

Includes a $157 million or $0.40 diluted EPS for fresh start accounting adjustments; and a $211 million income tax provision or $0.53 diluted EPS (see Item 7).

 

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(3)

Includes a $1.2 billion non-cash gain or $5.20 diluted EPS for reorganization costs; and a $4 million income tax benefit or $0.02 diluted EPS (see Item 7).

(4)

Includes a $6.2 billion non-cash charge or $31.58 diluted EPS for reorganization costs; a $310 million non-cash charge or $1.58 diluted EPS associated with certain accounting adjustments; and a $765 million income tax benefit or $3.89 diluted EPS (see Item 7).

(5)

Includes an $888 million charge or $5.49 diluted EPS for restructuring, asset writedowns, pension settlements and related items, net and an $884 million non-cash charge or $5.47 diluted EPS for reorganization costs (see Item 7).

(6)

Includes a $1.9 billion charge or $14.76 diluted EPS related to the impairment of intangible assets; a $1.2 billion charge or $9.51 diluted EPS for deferred income tax valuation; a $123 million gain, or $0.97 diluted EPS from the sale of investments; and a $41 million gain or $0.33 diluted EPS from restructuring, asset writedowns, pension settlements and related items, net.

(7)

Includes a $268 million charge ($169 million net of tax, or $1.37 diluted EPS) for restructuring, asset writedowns, pension settlements and related items, net; a $398 million gain ($251 million net of tax, or $2.03 diluted EPS) for Appropriations Act compensation; and a $304 million gain ($191 million net of tax, or $1.55 diluted EPS) for certain other income and expense items.

(8)

Includes interest income.

(9)

Includes (losses) gains from the sale of investments and fair value adjustments of derivatives.

(10)

The 2006 and 2005 Consolidated Summary of Operations and Financial and Statistical Data above have been updated to conform to current period presentation for certain reclassifications made upon emergence from bankruptcy (see Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Background

We are a major air carrier that provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States (“U.S.”) and around the world. We offered service, including Delta Connection carrier service, to 321 destinations in 58 countries in January 2008. We are a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including our SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, we offered flights to 485 worldwide destinations in 106 countries in January 2008.

On September 14, 2005 (the “Petition Date”), we and substantially all of our subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Bankruptcy Court”). Our reorganization in Chapter 11 involved a fundamental transformation of our business.

On April 30, 2007 (the “Effective Date”), we emerged from bankruptcy as a competitive airline with a global network. In connection with our emergence from bankruptcy, we began issuing shares of new common stock pursuant to the Debtors’ Joint Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan of Reorganization”). References in this Form 10-K to “Successor” refer to Delta on or after May 1, 2007, after giving effect to (1) the cancellation of Delta common stock issued prior to the Effective Date, (2) the issuance of new Delta common stock and certain debt securities in accordance with the Plan of Reorganization and (3) the application of fresh start reporting. References to “Predecessor” refer to Delta prior to May 1, 2007.

Combined Financial Results of the Predecessor and Successor

Upon emergence from Chapter 11, we adopted fresh start reporting in accordance with American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Statement of Position 90-7, “Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code” (“SOP 90-7”). The adoption of fresh start reporting resulted in our becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the Consolidated Financial Statements on or after May 1, 2007 are not comparable to the Consolidated Financial Statements prior to that date. Due to our adoption of fresh start reporting on April 30, 2007, the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations include the results of operations for (1) the eight months ended December 31, 2007 of the Successor, (2) the four months ended April 30, 2007 of the Predecessor and (3) the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 of the Predecessor.

For purposes of management’s discussion and analysis of the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2007 in this Form 10-K, we combined the results of operations for the four months ended April 30, 2007 of the Predecessor with the eight months ended December 31, 2007 of the Successor. We then compared the combined results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2007 with the corresponding period in the prior year of the Predecessor and discussed significant fresh start reporting adjustments (“Fresh Start Adjustments”) which impacted comparability.

We believe the combined results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2007 provide management and investors with a more meaningful perspective on Delta’s ongoing financial and operational performance and trends than if we did not combine the results of operations of the Predecessor and the Successor in this manner. Similarly, we combine the financial results of the Predecessor and the Successor when discussing our sources and uses of cash for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Overview of Combined 2007 Results

In 2007, we recorded combined consolidated net income of $1.6 billion, which includes a $1.2 billion gain from reorganization items, net, primarily reflecting a $2.1 billion gain in connection with our emergence from bankruptcy. From an operational perspective, we reported operating income of $1.1 billion for 2007.

 

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Due to the record high fuel costs experienced over the last several years, aircraft fuel expense and related taxes have become our largest cost. In an effort to manage these costs, we hedged 38% of our fuel consumption in 2007, resulting in an average fuel price per gallon of $2.21. We realized $111 million in cash gains on fuel hedge contracts settled during the year.

Consistent with our positive operating financial results for 2007, cash flows from operations generated $1.4 billion, which are net of $875 million in cash used under the Plan of Reorganization to satisfy our bankruptcy-related obligations to the Air Line Pilots Association (“ALPA”) and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the “PBGC”). During 2007, we strengthened our balance sheet through the payment of $1.0 billion in net debt, including two then outstanding debtor-in-possession financing facilities (the “DIP Facility”), our bankruptcy-related obligations to ALPA and the PBGC and certain other higher interest-bearing debt maturities. We also invested more than $1.0 billion in capital expenditures, focused primarily on customer service initiatives, such as new flight equipment and improvements at our Atlanta and New York-JFK hubs.

Business Initiatives

Recent initiatives that we expect will generate positive momentum in our business include:

 

   

A joint venture agreement with Air France announced on October 17, 2007, to share revenue and cost on certain transatlantic routes. The initial implementation of the joint venture in April 2008 will include flights operated by both carriers between Air France’s Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Orly and Lyon hubs and our Atlanta, Cincinnati, New York-JFK and Salt Lake City hubs, as well as all flights between London Heathrow Airport and the U.S. By 2010, the joint venture is scheduled to be extended to all transatlantic flights operated by Air France and Delta between North America and Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as all flights between Los Angeles and Tahiti.

 

   

The right to offer nonstop flights between our hub in Atlanta and Shanghai, China, effective March 30, 2008.

 

   

The completion of the conversion of 11 B-767-400 aircraft from domestic to international service, with three remaining B-767-400 aircraft to be converted by spring 2008. These aircraft support our international expansion strategy. In addition, we launched 16 new international routes including service from Atlanta to Dubai, Lagos, Prague, Seoul, and Vienna and from New York-JFK to Bucharest and Pisa.

 

   

The announcement of our New York strategy to improve our customers’ travel experience at New York-JFK by adding a premium customer check-in facility in our international terminal and redesigning our schedule to permit significant growth in international routes while helping to reduce congestion and delays at peak times.

In late 2007, our Board of Directors established a special committee of the Board to work with management to review and analyze strategic options, including potential consolidation transactions, to assist us in maintaining our leadership position in the airline industry. Any decision of the Board of Directors regarding strategic options will be based on the best, long-term interests of all Delta stakeholders, including stockholders, employees, customers and the communities we serve.

 

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Fresh Start Adjustments

During the eight months ended December 31, 2007, Fresh Start Adjustments impacted our Consolidated Financial Statements. These adjustments resulted in a $157 million increase to pre-tax income for the year ended December 31, 2007. The Fresh Start Adjustments consist of the following:

 

(in millions)    Increase/(Decrease)
to Pre-tax Income
for 2007
 

Operating revenue

   $ 188  

Operating expense

  

Aircraft fuel expense and related taxes

     (46 )

Depreciation

     127  

Amortization

     (146 )

Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs

     (52 )

Other

     19  
   

Total operating expense

     (98 )
   

Operating income

     90  

Other income (primarily interest expense)

     67  
   

Income before income taxes

   $ 157  
   

SkyMiles Frequent Flyer Program. We revalued our frequent flyer award liability to estimated fair value and changed our accounting policy from an incremental cost method to a deferred revenue method. Fair value represents the estimated price that third parties would require us to pay for them to assume the obligation of redeeming miles under the SkyMiles program. Fresh Start Adjustments for the SkyMiles program (including the change in accounting policy for that program) increased operating revenue by $188 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Fuel Hedging. Prior to the adoption of fresh start reporting on April 30, 2007, we recorded as a component of shareowners’ deficit in other comprehensive loss $46 million of deferred gains related to our fuel hedging program. This gain would have been recognized as an offset to fuel expense as the underlying fuel hedge contracts were settled. However, as required by fresh start reporting, accumulated other comprehensive loss prior to emergence from Chapter 11 was reset to zero. Accordingly, Fresh Start Adjustments resulted in a non-cash increase to fuel expense of $46 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Depreciation. We revalued property and equipment to fair value, which reduced the net book value of these assets by $1.0 billion. In addition, we adjusted the depreciable lives of flight equipment to reflect revised estimated useful lives. As a result, depreciation expense decreased by $127 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Amortization of Intangible Assets. We valued our intangible assets at fair value, which increased the net book value of intangible assets (excluding goodwill) by $2.9 billion, of which $956 million relates to amortizable intangible assets. As a result, amortization expense increased by $146 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Aircraft Maintenance Materials and Outside Repairs. We changed the way we account for certain maintenance parts that were previously capitalized and depreciated. After emergence, we expense these parts as they are placed on the aircraft. This change resulted in an increase in aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs expense of $52 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Interest Expense. The revaluation of our debt and capital lease obligations resulted in a decrease in interest expense due to the amortization of premiums from adjusting these obligations to fair value. During 2007, $33 million in future premium credits were accelerated in connection with accounting for (1) the amendment to our

 

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spare parts credit facility (the “Spare Parts Loan”) with General Electric Capital Corporation (“GECC”) and (2) the prepayment of certain secured debt with the proceeds from the sale of $1.4 billion of Pass Through Certificates, Series 2007-1 (the “2007-1 Certificates”). As a result, interest expense decreased by $70 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Other Fresh Start Adjustments. We recorded other Fresh Start Adjustments relating primarily to the revaluation of our aircraft leases. These adjustments increased operating expense by $19 million and non-operating expense by $3 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Share-Based Compensation Expense

Upon emergence from bankruptcy and in connection with our Plan of Reorganization, we adopted a new compensation program which was approved by the Bankruptcy Court for our approximately 1,200 officers, director level employees and other management personnel (the “Management Program”). Under the Management Program, officers received restricted stock, stock options and performance shares; director-level employees received restricted stock and stock options; and other management personnel received restricted stock. During the eight months ended December 31, 2007, the total compensation expense related to the Management Program was $109 million.

Accounting Adjustments

During 2006, we recorded certain out-of-period adjustments (“Accounting Adjustments”) in our Consolidated Financial Statements that affect the comparability of our results for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. These adjustments resulted in a net non-cash charge approximating $310 million to our Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2006, consisting of:

 

   

A $112 million charge in landing fees and other rents. This adjustment is associated primarily with our airport facility leases at New York-JFK. It resulted from historical differences associated with recording escalating rent expense based on actual rent payments instead of on a straight-line basis over the lease term as required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 13, “Accounting for Leases.”

 

   

A $108 million net charge related to the sale of mileage credits under our SkyMiles frequent flyer program. This includes an $83 million decrease in passenger revenue, a $106 million decrease in other, net revenue, and an $81 million decrease in other operating expense. This net charge primarily resulted from the reconsideration of our position with respect to the timing of recognizing revenue associated with the sale of mileage credits that we expect will never be redeemed for travel.

 

   

A $90 million charge in salaries and related costs to adjust our accrual for postemployment healthcare benefits. This adjustment is due to healthcare payments applied to this accrual over several years, which should have been expensed as incurred.

We believe the Accounting Adjustments, considered individually and in the aggregate, are not material to our Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. In making this assessment, we considered qualitative and quantitative factors, including our substantial net loss in these years, the non-cash nature of the Accounting Adjustments, our substantial shareowners’ deficit at the end of these years and our status as a debtor-in-possession under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code during these years.

Reclassifications

Upon emergence and as a result of fresh start reporting, we changed the classification of certain items on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. We also reclassified prior period amounts to conform to current period presentations. These changes have no impact on operating or net income in any period prior or subsequent to our emergence from bankruptcy. For more information about these reclassifications, see Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Sale of ASA

On September 7, 2005, we sold Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. (“ASA”), our wholly owned subsidiary, to SkyWest, Inc. (“SkyWest”). After the sale, the revenue and expense related to our contract carrier agreement with ASA are reported as regional affiliates passenger revenue and contract carrier arrangements, respectively, in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Prior to the sale, expenses related to ASA were reported in the applicable expense line item in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. For additional information on the sale of ASA, see Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Combined Results of Operations—2007 Compared to 2006

Net Income (Loss)

We had consolidated net income of $1.6 billion for 2007, and a consolidated net loss of $6.2 billion for 2006. The results for 2007 include a $1.2 billion gain from reorganization items, net, primarily reflecting a $2.1 billion gain in connection with our emergence from bankruptcy. The results for 2006 include (1) a $6.2 billion charge to reorganization items, net, (2) a $310 million charge associated with the Accounting Adjustments discussed above and (3) a $765 million income tax benefit discussed below.

Operating Revenue

 

     Combined    Predecessor          
(in millions)    Year Ended
December 31,
2007
   Year Ended
December 31,
2006
   Increase
(Decrease)
   %
Increase
(Decrease)

Operating Revenue:

           

Passenger:

           

Mainline

   $ 12,758    $ 11,640    $ 1,118    10 %

Regional affiliates

     4,170      3,853      317     8 %
    

Total passenger revenue

     16,928      15,493      1,435    9 %

Cargo

     482      498      (16)    (3)%

Other, net

     1,744      1,541      203    13 %
    

Total operating revenue

   $ 19,154    $ 17,532    $ 1,622    9 %
 

Operating revenue totaled $19.2 billion for 2007, a $1.6 billion, or 9%, increase compared to 2006. Passenger revenue increased 9% on a 3% increase in available seat miles (“ASMs”), or capacity, and a 1.9 point increase in load factor. The increase in passenger revenue reflects a rise of 4% and 7% in passenger mile yield and passenger revenue per available seat mile (“PRASM”), respectively. Mainline passenger revenue increased primarily due to (1) strong passenger demand, (2) our increased service to more profitable international destinations, (3) increased SkyMiles revenue associated with Fresh Start Adjustments discussed above and (4) the negative impact of Accounting Adjustments recorded in 2006 as discussed above. Passenger revenue of regional affiliates increased primarily due to increased flying by our contract carriers, which resulted in an 8% increase in revenue passenger miles (“RPMs”), or traffic, on 7% greater capacity. Other, net revenue increased primarily due to (1) increased SkyMiles revenue due to a change in accounting methodology and Fresh Start Adjustments discussed above, (2) increased administrative service charges and baggage handling fees, (3) growth in aircraft maintenance and staffing services to third parties and (4) the negative impact of Accounting Adjustments recorded in 2006 as discussed above.

 

        Increase (Decrease)
Year Ended December 31, 2007 vs. 2006
    Combined  
(in millions)  

Year Ended
December 31,

2007

  Passenger
Revenue
    RPMs     ASMs    

Passenger

Mile

Yield

    PRASM    

Load

Factor

Passenger Revenue:

             

North America

  $ 12,062   3 %   —   %   (3 )%   3 %   7 %   2.5 pts

International

    4,745   28 %   17 %   16 %   9 %   11 %   1.0 pts

Charter

    121   1 %   21 %   12 %   (17 )%   (9 )%   3.2 pts
             

Total passenger revenue

  $ 16,928   9 %   5 %   3 %   4 %   7 %   1.9 pts
 

 

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North American Passenger Revenue. North American passenger revenue increased 3%, driven by a 2.5 point increase in load factor and a 7% increase in PRASM on a 3% decline in capacity. The passenger mile yield increased 3%. The increases in passenger revenue and PRASM reflect (1) strong passenger demand and (2) revenue and network productivity improvements, including right-sizing capacity to better meet customer demand and the continued restructuring of our route network to reduce less productive short haul domestic flights and reallocate widebody aircraft to international routes. As a result of our efforts to right-size capacity in domestic markets, we increased flying by our contract carriers.

International Passenger Revenue. International passenger revenue increased 28%, generated by a 17% increase in RPMs on a 16% increase in capacity and an 11% increase in PRASM. The passenger mile yield increased 9%. These results reflect increases in service to more profitable international destinations, primarily in the Atlantic and Latin America markets, from the restructuring of our route network. Our mix of domestic versus international capacity was 67% and 33%, respectively, for 2007, compared to 71% and 29%, respectively, for 2006.

Operating Expense

 

     Combined    Predecessor          
(in millions)    Year Ended
December 31,
2007
   Year Ended
December 31,
2006
   Increase
(Decrease)
   %
Increase
(Decrease)

Operating Expense:

           

Aircraft fuel and related taxes

   $ 4,686    $ 4,433    $ 253    6 %

Salaries and related costs

     4,189      4,365      (176)    (4)%

Contract carrier arrangements

     3,152      2,656      496    19%

Depreciation and amortization

     1,164      1,276      (112)    (9)%

Contracted services

     996      918      78    8 %

Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs

     983      921      62    7 %

Passenger commissions and other selling expenses

     933      888      45    5 %

Landing fees and other rents

     725      881      (156)    (18)%

Passenger service

     338      332      6    2 %

Aircraft rent

     246      316      (70)    (22)%

Profit sharing

     158      —        158    NM

Restructuring, asset writedowns, pension settlements and related items, net

     —        13      (13)    (100)%

Other

     488      475      13    3 %
    

Total operating expense

   $ 18,058    $ 17,474    $ 584    3 %
 

Operating expense was $18.1 billion for 2007, a $584 million, or 3%, increase compared to 2006. Operating capacity increased 3% to 151.8 billion ASMs due mainly to increases in service to international destinations, primarily in the Atlantic and Latin America markets, from the restructuring of our route network and higher contract carrier flying from our initiatives to right-size capacity. Cost per available seat mile (“CASM”) increased 1% to 11.90¢.

Aircraft fuel and related taxes. Aircraft fuel and related taxes increased primarily due to higher average fuel prices and increased Mainline consumption. These increases were partially offset by gains on our fuel hedging derivatives. Fuel prices averaged $2.21 per gallon, including fuel hedge gains of $51 million, for 2007, compared to $2.10 per gallon, including fuel hedge losses of $108 million, for 2006.

Salaries and related costs. The decrease in salaries and related costs reflects a decline of (1) $382 million due to benefit cost reductions for our pilot and non-pilot employees and (2) $90 million due to a charge during 2006 associated with Accounting Adjustments discussed above. These decreases were partially offset by

 

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(1) expense associated with share-based compensation and (2) an 8% increase in Mainline headcount due to our expansion at New York-JFK and our assumption of ASA ramp operations in Atlanta.

Contract carrier arrangements. Contract carrier arrangements expense increased due to a 16% growth in contract carrier flying from our business plan initiatives to right-size capacity in domestic markets and due to higher average fuel prices. Fuel prices for our contract carriers averaged $2.37 per gallon for 2007, compared to $2.22 per gallon for 2006.

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation expense decreased primarily due to (1) a lower depreciable asset base resulting from $127 million in Fresh Start Adjustments discussed above and (2) 2006 adjustments to accelerate depreciation on certain limited life parts and aircraft. These decreases were partially offset by amortization expense of $146 million related to intangibles created in connection with the Fresh Start Adjustments discussed above.

Contracted services. The increase in contracted services is primarily due to (1) higher outsourcing related to information technology, cargo handling services and our aircraft cleaning services, (2) international expansion and (3) New York-JFK facility improvements.

Landing fees and other rents. Landing fees and other rents decreased primarily due to a charge recorded in 2006 associated with Accounting Adjustments discussed above and due to benefits of restructuring certain contracts and lease obligations in bankruptcy.

Aircraft Rent. The decline in aircraft rent expense is primarily due to the renegotiation and rejection of certain leases in connection with our restructuring under Chapter 11 and Fresh Start Adjustments discussed above.

Profit sharing. Our broad-based employee profit sharing plan provides that, for each year in which we have an annual pre-tax profit (as defined), we will pay at least 15% of that profit to eligible employees. Based on our pre-tax earnings, we accrued $158 million under the profit sharing plan for 2007.

Operating Income and Operating Margin

We reported operating income of $1.1 billion and $58 million for 2007 and 2006, respectively. Operating margin, which is the ratio of operating income to operating revenues, was 6% and less than 1% for 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Other (Expense) Income

Other expense, net for 2007 was $492 million, compared to $820 million for 2006. This change is substantially attributable to (1) a 25%, or $218 million, net decrease in interest expense primarily due to the repayment of the DIP Facility in connection with our emergence from Chapter 11 and Fresh Start Adjustments discussed above, partially offset by interest expense on borrowings under a senior secured exit financing facility, which we entered into in conjunction with our emergence from bankruptcy (the “Exit Facilities”), (2) a $59 million increase in interest income primarily from interest earned due to bankruptcy initiatives that was classified within reorganization items, net, in 2006 and (3) a $51 million increase to miscellaneous, net, primarily related to fuel hedge losses in 2006 and foreign currency gains in 2007 due to an increased number of transactions denominated in foreign currencies.

 

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Reorganization Items, Net

Reorganization items, net totaled a $1.2 billion gain for 2007, primarily consisting of the following:

 

   

Emergence gain. A net $2.1 billion gain due to our emergence from bankruptcy, comprised of (1) a $4.4 billion gain related to the discharge of liabilities subject to compromise in connection with the settlement of claims, (2) a $2.6 billion charge associated with the revaluation of our SkyMiles frequent flyer obligation and (3) a $238 million gain from the revaluation of our remaining assets and liabilities to fair value. For additional information regarding this emergence gain, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

   

Aircraft financing renegotiations and rejections. A $440 million charge for estimated claims primarily associated with the restructuring of the financing arrangements for 143 aircraft and adjustments to prior claims estimates.

 

   

Contract carrier agreements. A net charge of $163 million in connection with amendments to certain contract carrier agreements. For additional information regarding this charge and our contract carrier agreements, see Notes 1 and 8, respectively, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

   

Emergence compensation. In accordance with the Plan of Reorganization, we made $130 million in lump-sum cash payments to approximately 39,000 eligible non-contract, non-management employees. We also recorded an additional charge of $32 million related to our portion of payroll related taxes associated with the issuance, as contemplated by the Plan of Reorganization, of approximately 14 million shares of common stock to those employees. For additional information regarding the common stock issuance, see Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

   

Pilot collective bargaining agreement. An $83 million allowed general, unsecured claim in connection with the agreement between Comair, Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary (“Comair”), and ALPA to reduce Comair’s pilot labor costs.

 

   

Facility leases. A net $43 million gain, which primarily reflects (1) a $126 million net gain related to our settlement agreement with the Massachusetts Port Authority partially offset by (2) a net $80 million charge from an allowed general, unsecured claim in connection with the settlement relating to the restructuring of certain of our lease and other obligations at the Cincinnati Airport. For additional information regarding these matters, see Notes 1, 6 and 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Reorganization items, net totaled a $6.2 billion charge for 2006, primarily consisting of the following:

 

   

Pilot pension termination. $2.2 billion and $801 million allowed general, unsecured claims in connection with our settlement agreements with the PBGC and a group representing retired pilots, respectively. Charges for these claims were offset by $1.3 billion in settlement gains associated with the derecognition of the previously recorded obligations for the qualified defined benefit pension plan for pilots (the “Pilot Plan”) and the related pilot non-qualified plans upon the termination of these plans. For additional information regarding these settlement agreements and the termination of these plans, see Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

   

Pilot collective bargaining agreement. A $2.1 billion allowed general, unsecured claim in connection with our comprehensive agreement with ALPA reducing our pilot labor costs.

 

   

Aircraft financing renegotiations and rejections. A $1.7 billion charge for estimated claims associated with restructuring the financing arrangements for 188 aircraft and the rejection of 16 aircraft leases.

 

   

Retiree healthcare benefit claims. A $539 million charge for allowed general, unsecured claims in connection with agreements that we reached with committees representing both pilot and non-pilot retired employees reducing their postretirement healthcare benefits. For additional information regarding this matter, see Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Income Tax (Provision) Benefit

For 2007, we recorded an income tax provision totaling $207 million. We have recorded a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets, excluding the effect of the deferred tax liabilities that are unable to be used as a source of income against these deferred tax assets, based on our belief that it is more likely than not that the asset will not be realized in the future. We will continue to assess the need for a full valuation allowance in future periods. In accordance with SOP 90-7, the reduction of the valuation allowance associated with the realization of pre-emergence deferred tax assets will sequentially reduce the value of our recorded goodwill followed by other indefinite-lived intangible assets until the net carrying cost of these assets is zero. Accordingly, during 2007, we reduced goodwill by $211 million with respect to the realization of pre-emergence deferred tax assets.

For 2006, we recorded an income tax benefit totaling $765 million. The amount primarily reflects a decrease to our deferred tax asset valuation allowances from the reversal of accrued pension liabilities associated with the Pilot Plan and pilot non-qualified plan obligations upon each plan’s termination.

For additional information about the income tax valuation allowance, see Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Results of Operations—2006 Compared to 2005

Net Loss

Our consolidated net loss was $6.2 billion and $3.8 billion in 2006 and 2005, respectively. The results for 2006 include (1) a $6.2 billion charge to reorganization items, net, (2) a $310 million charge associated with the Accounting Adjustments discussed above and (3) a $765 million income tax benefit. The results for 2005 include an $888 million charge to restructuring, asset writedowns, pension settlements and related items, net, and an $884 million charge to reorganization items, net.

Operating Revenue

 

     Predecessor          
     Year Ended
December 31,
   Increase
(Decrease)
   %
Increase
(Decrease)
(in millions)    2006    2005      

Operating Revenue:

           

Passenger:

           

Mainline

   $ 11,640    $ 11,367    $ 273    2 %

Regional affiliates

     3,853      3,225      628    19 %

Total passenger revenue

     15,493      14,592      901    6 %

Cargo

     498      524      (26)    (5)%

Other, net

     1,541      1,364      177    13 %

Total operating revenue

   $ 17,532    $ 16,480    $ 1,052    6 %
 

Operating revenue totaled $17.5 billion for 2006, a $1.1 billion, or 6%, increase compared to 2005. Passenger revenue increased 6%, while capacity decreased 6%. The increase in passenger revenue is due to a rise of 10% and 12% in passenger mile yield and PRASM, respectively, from fare increases that reflect strong passenger demand as well as actions we took during our Chapter 11 proceedings to achieve revenue and network productivity improvements. Passenger revenue and other, net revenue were negatively impacted by Accounting Adjustments discussed above. Passenger revenue of regional affiliates increased due to (1) a change in how we classify ASA’s revenue as a result of its sale to SkyWest and (2) new contract carrier agreements with Shuttle America Corporation (“Shuttle America”) and Freedom Airlines, Inc. (“Freedom”), effective September 1, 2005

 

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and October 1, 2005, respectively. Other, net revenue increased primarily due to increased Skymiles revenue due to a change in accounting methodology and growth in our aircraft maintenance in-sourcing business.

 

          Increase (Decrease)
Year Ended December 31, 2006 vs. 2005
     Predecessor                                   
(in millions)   

Year Ended
December 31,

2006

   Passenger
Revenue
    RPMs     ASMs    

Passenger

Mile

Yield

    PRASM     Load
Factor

Passenger Revenue:

               

North America

   $ 11,678    2 %   (10) %   (13) %   14 %   18 %   2.8 pts

International

     3,695    23 %   20 %   21 %   2 %   2 %   (0.6)pts

Charter revenue

     120    2 %   (21) %   (9) %   28 %   12 %   (5.3)pts
              

Total passenger revenue

   $ 15,493    6 %   (3) %   (6) %   10 %   12 %   2.0 pts
 

North American Passenger Revenue. North American passenger revenue increased 2%, driven by a 14% increase in passenger mile yield and a 2.8 point increase in load factor, which were partially offset by a 13% decline in capacity. PRASM increased 18%. The decline in capacity, partially offset by the increase in load factor, resulted in a 10% decline in RPMs. The increases in passenger revenue, passenger mile yield and PRASM reflect (1) fare increases implemented as part of the improved industry revenue environment and (2) the positive impact of our strategic initiatives, including right-sizing capacity to better meet customer demand and increasing point-to-point flying and simplifying our domestic hubs to achieve a greater local traffic mix.

International Passenger Revenue. International passenger revenue increased 23%, generated by a 20% increase in RPMs from a 21% increase in capacity. The passenger mile yield and PRASM both increased by 2%. These results reflect increases in service to international destinations, primarily in the Atlantic and Latin America markets, from the restructuring of our route network. Our mix of domestic versus international capacity was 71% and 29%, respectively, for 2006, compared to 77% and 23%, respectively, for 2005.

Operating Expense

 

     Predecessor   

Increase
(Decrease)

   %
Increase
(Decrease)
     Year Ended
December 31,
     
(in millions)    2006    2005      

Operating Expense:

           

Aircraft fuel and related taxes

   $ 4,433    $ 4,466    $ (33)    (1)%

Salaries and related costs

     4,365      5,290      (925)    (17)%

Contract carrier arrangements

     2,656      1,318      1,338    102 %

Depreciation and amortization

     1,276      1,273      3    —  %

Contracted services

     918      936      (18)    (2) %

Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs

     921      893      28    3 %

Passenger commissions and other selling expenses

     888      948      (60)    (6)%

Landing fees and other rents

     881      878      3    —  %

Passenger service

     332      348      (16)    (5)%

Aircraft rent

     316      543      (227)    (42)%

Restructuring, asset writedowns, pension settlements and related items, net

     13      888      (875)    (99)%

Other

     475      700      (225)    (32)%
    

Total operating expense

   $ 17,474    $ 18,481    $ (1,007)    (5)%
 

 

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Operating expense was $17.5 billion for 2006, a $1.0 billion, or 5%, decrease compared to 2005. Operating capacity decreased 6% to 148.0 billion ASMs primarily due to the reduction of our aircraft fleet as part of our business plan initiatives. CASM remained relatively constant at 11.80¢.

Aircraft fuel and related taxes. Aircraft fuel and related taxes remained relatively constant due to reduced consumption despite higher fuel prices. Our average fuel price per gallon increased 17% to $2.10. Fuel gallons consumed decreased 15% primarily due to a reduction in Mainline capacity and our sale of ASA. As a result of this sale, ASA’s fuel gallons are no longer part of our fuel gallons consumed. Aircraft fuel expense includes fuel hedge losses of $108 million in 2006. We had no fuel hedge gains or losses in 2005.

Salaries and related costs. The decrease in salaries and related costs primarily reflects an 11% decline due to lower Mainline headcount and our sale of ASA, and an 8% decrease from salary rate and benefit cost reductions for our pilot and non-pilot employees, partially offset by Accounting Adjustments discussed above.

Contract carrier arrangements. Contract carrier arrangements expense increased primarily due to a 73% increase from the change in how we classify ASA’s expense as a result of its sale to SkyWest and an 18% increase from new contract carrier agreements with Shuttle America and Freedom.

Landing fees and other rents. Landing fees and other rents remained relatively constant due to (1) a 4% decrease from the change in how we classify ASA’s expense as a result of its sale to SkyWest and (2) a net 4% decrease due to our shifting of capacity from domestic to international offset by Accounting Adjustments discussed above.

Aircraft rent. The decline in aircraft rent expense is primarily due to a 29% decrease from the renegotiation and rejection of certain leases in connection with our restructuring efforts and an 8% decrease from the change in how we classify ASA’s expense as a result of its sale to SkyWest.

Restructuring, asset writedowns, pension settlements and related items, net. For 2006, restructuring, asset writedowns, pension settlements and related items, net totaled a $13 million charge, primarily due to the following:

 

   

Workforce Reduction. A $29 million charge related to our decision in 2005 to reduce staffing by approximately 7,000 to 9,000 jobs by December 2007. This charge was partially offset by a $21 million reduction in accruals associated with prior year workforce reduction programs.

For 2005, restructuring, asset writedowns, pension settlements and related items, net totaled an $888 million charge consisting of the following:

 

   

Pension curtailment charge. A $447 million curtailment charge related to the Pilot Plan and the qualified defined benefit pension plan for eligible non-pilot employees and retirees (the “Non-Pilot Plans”). This charge relates to the freeze of service accruals under the Pilot Plan effective December 31, 2004, and the impact of the planned reduction of 6,000 to 7,000 jobs announced in November 2004 on the Non-Pilot Plan (see Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

   

Pension settlements. $388 million in settlement charges primarily related to the Pilot Plan due to a significant increase in pilot retirements and lump sum distributions from plan assets (see Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

   

Workforce reduction. A $46 million charge related to our decision in 2005 to reduce staffing by approximately 7,000 to 9,000 jobs by December 2007. This charge was partially offset by a net $3 million reduction in accruals associated with prior year workforce reduction programs.

 

   

Asset charges. A $10 million charge related to the removal from service of six B-737-200 aircraft prior to their lease expiration dates.

 

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Other. The decrease in other operating expense primarily reflects (1) a 13% decrease due to an adjustment related to certain non-income tax reserves, (2) a 12% decrease from the Accounting Adjustments discussed above and (3) a 10% decrease related to the change in how we classify ASA’s expense as a result of its sale to SkyWest.

Operating Income (Loss) and Operating Margin

We reported operating income of $58 million for 2006, compared to an operating loss of $2.0 billion for 2005. Operating margin, which is the ratio of operating income (loss) to operating revenue, was less than 1% and (12%) for 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Other (Expense) Income

Other expense, net was $820 million for 2006, compared to $974 million for 2005. This change is substantially attributable to (1) a 16%, or $162 million, decrease in interest expense primarily due to a $206 million decrease associated with the accounting treatment of certain interest charges under our Chapter 11 proceedings in accordance with SOP 90-7 (see Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements), partially offset by a $97 million increase from a higher level of debt outstanding and higher interest rates and (2) a $19 million increase to miscellaneous, net, primarily related to the ineffective portion of our fuel hedge positions.

Reorganization Items, Net

Reorganization items, net totaled a $6.2 billion charge for 2006. For additional information about these items, see “Combined Results of Operations—2007 Compared to 2006.”

Reorganization items, net totaled an $884 million charge for 2005, primarily consisting of the following:

 

   

Aircraft financing renegotiations, rejections and repossessions. A $611 million charge for estimated claims associated with restructuring the financing arrangements for seven aircraft, the rejection of 50 aircraft leases and the repossession of 15 aircraft.

 

   

Debt issuance and discount costs. A $163 million charge associated with the write-off of certain debt issuance costs and discounts in conjunction with the valuation of our unsecured and undersecured debt.

 

   

Facility leases. An $88 million charge for estimated claims in connection with the rejection of certain unexpired facility leases and the related bond obligations.

Income Tax Benefit

For 2006, we recorded an income tax benefit totaling $765 million. The amount primarily reflects a decrease to our deferred tax asset valuation allowances from the reversal of accrued pension liabilities associated with the Pilot Plan and pilot non-qualified plan obligations upon each plan’s termination.

For 2005, we recorded an income tax benefit totaling $41 million. The amount is primarily the result of a $1.6 billion adjustment to our deferred tax asset valuation allowance due to increases in the deferred tax asset related to our additional minimum pension liability and net operating loss carryforwards.

For additional information about the income tax valuation allowance, see Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Financial Condition and Liquidity

We expect to meet our cash needs for 2008 from cash flows from operations, cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments and financing arrangements. We also have an undrawn $1.0 billion revolving credit facility that is a part of our Exit Facilities. Our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were $2.8 billion at December 31, 2007, compared to $2.6 billion at December 31, 2006.

 

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Significant Liquidity Events

Significant liquidity events during 2007 were as follows:

 

   

We entered into the Exit Facilities to borrow up to $2.5 billion from a syndicate of lenders. We used a portion of the proceeds from the Exit Facilities and existing cash to repay the DIP Facility. Our Exit Facilities include certain affirmative, negative and financial covenants. We were in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2007.

 

   

We completed the sale of $1.4 billion of the 2007-1 Certificates. The proceeds from this transaction were primarily used to prepay $961 million of existing aircraft-secured financing, effectively lowering the interest rate and deferring more than $560 million in maturities originally due in 2010 and 2011. The additional proceeds of $449 million are available for general corporate purposes.

 

   

We funded $875 million associated with two bankruptcy-related obligations in accordance with our comprehensive agreement with ALPA and our settlement agreement with the PBGC.

 

   

We entered into an amendment to our Visa/MasterCard credit card processing agreement (the “Amended Processing Agreement”) that, among other things, resulted in the release by the credit card processor of the then existing $804 million cash reserve under the agreement and extended the term of the agreement to October 31, 2008.

 

   

We entered into an amendment to the Spare Parts Loan with GECC. As a result of this amendment, among other things, the outstanding principal amount under the Spare Parts Loan was increased to $415 million, providing an incremental $181 million in proceeds, and the interest rate we pay under this facility was reduced.

 

   

We entered into an agreement to borrow up to $233 million to finance certain pre-delivery payments payable by us to Boeing with respect to future deliveries of 10 B-737-700 aircraft and eight B-777-200LR aircraft.

 

   

Our wholly owned subsidiary, Comair, entered into a long-term debt agreement to borrow up to $290 million to finance the acquisition of 14 CRJ-900 aircraft. We have provided a guarantee to the lender covering payment on behalf of Comair in the event of default. Our obligations under this debt agreement are secured by the underlying aircraft. As of December 31, 2007, $160 million of borrowings were outstanding with respect to delivery of eight aircraft.

For additional information about these events, see Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Combined Sources and Uses of Cash

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash provided by operating activities was $1.4 billion and $993 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively. Cash flows from operating activities in 2007 reflect $875 million in cash used under the Plan of Reorganization to satisfy bankruptcy-related obligations under our comprehensive agreement with ALPA and settlement agreement with the PBGC. Cash flows from operating activities during 2007 also reflect (1) the release of $804 million from restricted cash under the Amended Processing Agreement, (2) revenue and network productivity improvements, including right-sizing capacity to better meet customer demand and the continued restructuring of our route network to reduce less productive short haul domestic flights and reallocate widebody aircraft to international routes and (3) a $476 million decrease in short-term investments primarily from sales of auction rate securities.

Cash flows provided by operating activities in 2006 reflect an increase of $401 million in working capital compared to 2005. This increase was primarily a result of revenue and network productivity improvements, restructuring initiatives and labor cost reductions implemented during our Chapter 11 proceedings and an

 

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improved revenue environment. Our 2006 cash flows from operating activities also include a $116 million decrease in our restricted cash balance primarily due to a release of cash from restricted to operating under agreements we reached with certain vendors. In 2005, our restricted cash balance increased significantly primarily due to cash holdbacks under our Visa/MasterCard credit card processing agreement.

Cash flows from investing activities

Cash used in investing activities totaled $625 million and $361 million for 2007 and 2006, respectively. Cash used in investing activities in 2007 reflects an increase in investment of $545 million for flight equipment and advanced payments for aircraft commitments and $78 million for ground property and equipment. During 2007, restricted cash decreased by $185 million. In addition, we received $34 million and $83 million from the sale of our investments in priceline.com Incorporated and ARINC Incorporated, respectively.

Cash used in investing activities totaled $361 million for 2006, compared to cash provided by investing activities of $22 million for 2005. This change reflects a $401 million decrease in cash used for the purchase of flight and ground equipment in 2006. Our 2005 cash flows from investing activities include $842 million in proceeds from our sale of ASA and certain flight equipment.

Cash flows from financing activities

Cash used in financing activities totaled $120 million and $606 million for 2007 and 2006, respectively. Cash used in financing activities in 2007 primarily reflects (1) the repayment of the DIP Facility with a portion of the proceeds available under the Exit Facilities and existing cash, (2) the prepayment of $863 million of secured debt with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the 2007-1 Certificates and (3) scheduled principal payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations. During 2007, we also received proceeds from an amendment to the Spare Parts Loan, as discussed above.

Cash used in financing activities totaled $606 million for 2006, compared to cash provided by financing activities of $830 million for 2005. This change is primarily due to the net proceeds we received under the DIP Facility shortly after our Chapter 11 filing in 2005. While in Chapter 11, we ceased making payments on our unsecured debt.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2007 that relate to debt, operating leases, aircraft order commitments, capital leases, contract carrier obligations, other material, noncancelable purchase obligations and other commitments. The table does not include commitments that are contingent on events or other factors that are uncertain or unknown at this time, some of which are discussed in footnotes to this table and in the text immediately following the footnotes.

 

     Contractual Obligations by Year
(in millions)    2008    2009    2010    2011    2012    After
2012
   Total

Long-term debt(1)

   $ 1,478    $ 1,035    $ 1,857    $ 1,588    $ 1,567    $ 3,964    $ 11,489

Operating lease payments(2)

     1,231      1,062      969      824      758      3,854      8,698

Aircraft order commitments(3)

     1,295      1,248      712      —        —        —        3,255

Capital lease obligations(4)

     128      125      125      118      84      112      692

Contract carrier obligations(5)

     2,411      2,520      2,575      2,574      2,458      13,978      26,516

Other purchase obligations(6)

     161      69      60      50      36      14      390

Other commitments(7)

     41      40      40      40      40      20      221
 

Total(8)

   $ 6,745    $ 6,099    $ 6,338    $ 5,194    $ 4,943    $ 21,942    $ 51,261
 

(1)

Interest payments related to long-term debt are included in the table. The principal portion of these obligations is included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Estimated amounts for future interest and

 

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related payments in connection with our long-term debt obligations are based on the fixed and variable interest rates specified in the associated debt agreements. Estimates on variable rate interest were calculated using implied short-term LIBOR based on LIBOR at December 31, 2007. Also included in the table are other debt-related payments which represent credit enhancements required in conjunction with certain financing agreements.

(2)

This amount includes our noncancelable operating leases and our lease payments related to aircraft under our contract carrier agreements with ASA, Chautauqua, ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. (“ExpressJet”), Freedom, Pinnacle Airlines, Inc. (“Pinnacle”), Shuttle America and SkyWest Airlines.

(3)

For additional information regarding our aircraft order commitments, see Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(4)

Interest payments related to capital lease obligations are included in the table. The present value of these obligations, excluding interest, is included on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(5)

This amount represents our minimum fixed obligation under our contract carrier agreements with ASA, Chautauqua, ExpressJet, Freedom, Pinnacle, Shuttle America and SkyWest Airlines (excluding contract carrier lease payments accounted for as operating leases).

(6)

Includes purchase obligations pursuant to which we are required to make minimum payments for goods and services, including but not limited to insurance, outsourced human resource services, marketing, maintenance, obligations related to Comair, technology, sponsorships and other third party services and products.

(7)

Represents commitments to certain vendors for which we are obligated to generate specified amounts of revenue related to ticket booking fees.

(8)

In addition to the contractual obligations included in the table, we have significant cash obligations that are not included in the table. For example, we will pay wages required under collective bargaining agreements, fund pension plans (as discussed below), purchase capacity under contract carrier arrangements (as discussed below), settle tax contingency reserves (as discussed below) and pay credit card processing fees and fees for other goods and services, including those related to fuel, maintenance and commissions. While we are parties to legally binding contracts regarding these goods and services, the actual commitment is contingent on certain factors such as volume and/or variable rates that are uncertain or unknown at this time. Therefore, these items are not included in the table. In addition, purchase orders made in the ordinary course of business are excluded from the table and any amounts which we are liable for under the purchase orders are included in current liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Payments under our profit-sharing plan or pursuant to our 2007 Performance Compensation Plan are contingent on factors unknown at this time and, therefore, are not included in this table.

The following items are not included in the table above:

Pension Plans. We sponsor qualified defined contribution and defined benefit pension plans for eligible employees and retirees. Our funding obligations for these plans are governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”). Estimates of pension plan funding requirements can vary materially from actual funding requirements because the estimates are based on various assumptions, including those described below.

Defined Contribution Pension Plans (“DC Plans”). During 2007, we contributed approximately $112 million to our DC Plans, which include the Delta Family-Care Savings Plan and the Delta Pilots Defined Contribution Plan. In addition to the $112 million contribution, we paid approximately $61 million directly to employees that otherwise would have been contributed to the DC Plans on their behalf, but for limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Code on contributions to such plans. In 2008, we expect to contribute approximately $195 million to our DC Plans or directly to employees once they reach the applicable Internal Revenue Code limits.

 

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Defined Benefit Pension Plans (“DB Plans”). During 2007, we contributed approximately $116 million to our DB Plans. Under our settlement agreement with the PBGC, the Pilot Plan was terminated effective September 2, 2006. In addition, our non-qualified defined benefit pension plans for pilots were terminated effective September 2, 2006.

Effective December 31, 2005, future pay and service accruals under the Non-Pilot Plan were frozen. Effective April 1, 2007, we elected the alternative funding schedule under Section 402(a)(1) of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 with respect to the Non-Pilot Plan. We also rejected in bankruptcy our non-qualified defined benefit plans for non-pilot employees. As a result, no further benefits will be paid from these non-qualified plans. The Pension Protection Act of 2006 allows us to reduce the funding obligations for the Non-Pilot Plan over the next several years. While this legislation makes our funding obligations for the Non-Pilot Plan more predictable, factors outside our control will continue to have an impact on the funding requirements for that plan.

Estimates of future funding requirements for the Non-Pilot Plan are based on various assumptions, including, among other things, the actual and projected market performance of assets of the Non-Pilot Plan; statutory requirements; the terms of the Non-Pilot Plan; and demographic data for participants in the Non-Pilot Plan, including the number of participants and the rate of participant attrition.

Assuming current funding rules, we estimate that the funding requirements under the Non-Pilot Plan for 2008 to 2012 will aggregate approximately $500 million.

Contract Carrier Agreements. We have long-term capacity purchase agreements with several regional air carriers. Under these agreements, the carriers operate some or all of their aircraft using our flight code, and we schedule those aircraft, sell the seats on those flights and retain the related revenue. We pay those airlines an amount, as defined in the applicable agreement, which is based on a determination of their cost of operating those flights and other factors intended to approximate market rates for those services.

Under these long-term capacity purchase agreements, we are obligated to pay certain minimum fixed obligations, which are included in the table above. The remaining estimated expense is not included in the table because this expense is contingent based on the costs associated with the operation of contract carrier flights by those air carriers as well as rates that are unknown at this time. We cannot reasonably estimate at this time our expense under the contract carrier agreements in 2008 and thereafter.

For information regarding payments we may be required to make in connection with certain terminations of our capacity purchase agreements with Chautauqua and Shuttle America, see “Contingencies Related to Termination of Contract Carrier Agreements” in Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

FIN 48. We adopted FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2007 is $143 million. We have accrued $54 million for the payment of interest and $8 million for the payment of penalties related to these unrecognized tax benefits.

We are currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service for the 2005 and 2006 tax years.

 

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It is reasonably possible that during 2008 the settlement of bankruptcy claims will result in significant changes to the amount of unrecognized tax benefits on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. We cannot presently estimate the range of the reasonably possible outcomes.

Legal Contingencies. We are involved in various legal proceedings relating to employment practices, environmental issues 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.

Other Contingent Obligations under Contracts. In addition to the contractual obligations discussed above, 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.

For additional information about other contingencies not discussed above, as well as information related to general indemnifications, see Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Application of Critical Accounting Policies

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. We periodically evaluate these estimates and assumptions, which are based on historical experience, changes in the business environment and other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates.

Fresh-Start Reporting. As previously noted, upon emergence from Chapter 11, we adopted fresh start reporting, which required us to revalue our assets and liabilities to fair value. In estimating fair value, we based our estimates and assumptions on the guidance prescribed by SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which we were required to adopt in connection with our adoption of fresh start reporting. SFAS 157, among other things, defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements.

To facilitate the calculation of the enterprise value of the Successor, management developed a set of financial projections for the Successor using a number of estimates and assumptions. The enterprise and corresponding reorganization value of the Successor was based on financial projections using various valuation methods, including (1) a comparison of our projected performance to the market values of comparable companies; (2) a review and analysis of several recent transactions in the airline industry; and (3) a calculation of the present value of future cash flows based on our projections. Utilizing these methodologies, the reorganization value of the Successor was estimated to be in the range of $9.4 billion to $12.0 billion. The enterprise value, and corresponding reorganization value, is dependent upon achieving the future financial results set forth in our projections, as well as the realization of certain other assumptions. There can be no assurance that the projections will be achieved or that the assumptions will be realized. The excess reorganization value (using the low end of the range) over the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible assets, net of liabilities, has been reflected as goodwill in the Fresh Start Consolidated Balance Sheet. The financial projections and estimates of enterprise and reorganization value are not incorporated into this Form 10-K.

All estimates, assumptions and financial projections, including the fair value adjustments, the financial projections, and the enterprise value and reorganization value projections, are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and the resolution of contingencies beyond our control. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the estimates, assumptions and financial projections will be realized, and actual results could vary materially.

 

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For the impact that the adoption of fresh start reporting had on our Consolidated Balance Sheet, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Frequent Flyer Program (the “SkyMiles Program”). We have a frequent flyer program offering incentives to increase travel on Delta. This program allows participants to earn mileage credits by flying on Delta, Delta Connection Carriers and participating airlines, as well as through participating companies such as credit card companies, hotels and car rental agencies. We also sell mileage credits to other airlines and to non-airline businesses. Mileage credits can be redeemed for free or upgraded air travel on Delta and participating airlines, for membership in our Crown Room Club and for other program awards.

As a result of the adoption of fresh start reporting upon emergence from bankruptcy, we revalued our SkyMiles frequent flyer award liability to estimated fair value. The fair value of our SkyMiles frequent flyer award liability was determined based on the estimated price that third parties would require us to pay for them to assume the obligation for miles expected to be redeemed under the SkyMiles Program. This estimated price was determined based on the weighted average equivalent ticket value of a SkyMiles award, redeemed for travel on Delta or a participating airline. The weighted average equivalent ticket value contemplates differing classes of service, domestic and international itineraries and the carrier providing the award travel. At April 30, 2007, we recorded deferred revenue equal to $0.0083 for each mile we estimate will ultimately be redeemed under the SkyMiles Program.

Upon emergence from bankruptcy, we changed our accounting policy to a deferred revenue model for all frequent flyer miles. We now account for all miles earned and sold as separate deliverables in a multiple element revenue arrangement as prescribed by EITF 00-21, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables.”

We use the residual method for revenue recognition of mileage credits. The fair value of the mileage credit component is determined based on the low end of the range of the prices at which we sell mileage credits to other airlines, which price is currently $0.0054 per mile and will be re-evaluated annually. Under the residual method, the portion of the revenue from the sale of mileage credits that approximates fair value is deferred and recognized as passenger revenue when miles are redeemed and services are provided based on the weighted average price of all miles that have been deferred. The portion of the revenue received in excess of the fair value, the marketing premium, is recognized in income when the related services are provided and classified as other, net revenue.

For mileage credits which we estimate are not likely to be redeemed (“Breakage”), we recognize the associated value proportionally during the period in which the remaining mileage credits are expected to be redeemed. The estimate of Breakage, which is currently 22%, is based on historical redemption patterns. A change in assumptions as to the period over which mileage credits are expected to be redeemed, the actual redemption activity for mileage credits or our estimate of the fair value of mileage credits expected to be redeemed could have a material impact on our revenue in the year in which the change occurs and in future years. At December 31, 2007, the aggregate deferred revenue balance associated with the SkyMiles program was $3.3 billion. A hypothetical 1% change in our outstanding number of miles estimated to be redeemed would result in a $27 million impact on our deferred revenue liability.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Goodwill reflects the excess of the reorganization value of the Successor over the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible assets, net of liabilities, from the adoption of fresh start reporting. We recorded $12.3 billion of goodwill upon emergence from bankruptcy.

Identifiable intangible assets consist primarily of trade name, takeoff and arrival slots, SkyTeam alliance agreements, marketing agreements, customer relationships and certain contracts. These intangible assets, excluding marketing agreements, customer relationships and certain contracts, are indefinite-lived assets and are not amortized. Marketing agreements, customer relationships and certain contracts are definite-lived intangible assets and are amortized over the estimated economic life of the respective agreements and contracts.

 

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In accordance with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” we apply a fair value-based impairment test to the net book value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets on an annual basis and, if certain events or circumstances indicate that an impairment loss may have been incurred, on an interim basis. The annual impairment test date for our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets is October 1.

In evaluating our goodwill for impairment, we first compare our one reporting unit’s fair value to its carrying value. We estimate the fair value of our reporting unit by considering (1) our market capitalization, (2) any premium to our market capitalization an investor would pay for a controlling interest (“Control Premium”), (3) the potential value of synergies and other benefits that could result from such interest, (4) market multiple and recent transactions values of peer companies and (5) projected discounted future cash flows, if reasonably estimable. If the reporting unit’s fair value exceeds its carrying value, no further testing is required. If, however, the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, we then determine the amount of the impairment charge, if any. We recognize an impairment charge if the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value.

We perform the impairment test for our indefinite-lived intangible assets by comparing the asset’s fair value to its carrying value. Fair value is estimated based on recent market transactions where available or projected discounted future cash flows. We recognize an impairment charge if the asset’s carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value.

At October 1, 2007, we performed the annual required impairment test of our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, which resulted in no impairment charge. For both goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, changes in assumptions or circumstances, including, but not limited to, (1) long-term negative trends in our market capitalization, (2) continued escalation of fuel prices, (3) interruption to our operations due to employee strike, terrorist attack, etc. and/or (4) consolidation of competitors within the industry, which are not offset by other factors such as improved yield or an increase in Control Premiums, could result in an impairment in the year in which the change occurs and in future years. For additional information about our accounting policy for goodwill and other intangible assets, see Notes 2 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Long-Lived Assets. Our flight equipment and other long-lived assets have a recorded value of $11.7 billion on our Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2007. This value is based on various factors, including the assets’ estimated useful lives and their estimated salvage values. In accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“SFAS 144”), we record impairment losses on long-lived assets used in operations when events and circumstances indicate the assets might be impaired and the estimated future cash flows generated by those assets are less than their carrying amounts. The impairment loss recognized is the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its estimated fair value.

In order to evaluate potential impairment as required by SFAS 144, we group assets at the fleet type level (the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows) and then estimate future cash flows based on projections of passenger yield, fuel costs, labor costs and other relevant factors. We estimate aircraft fair values using published sources, appraisals and bids received from third parties, as available. For additional information about our accounting policy for the impairment of long-lived assets, see Notes 2 and 5 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Income Tax Valuation Allowance and Contingencies. In accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” deferred tax assets should be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The future realization of our net deferred tax assets depends on the availability of sufficient future taxable income. In making this determination, we consider all available positive and negative evidence and make certain assumptions. We consider, among other things, our deferred tax liabilities, the overall business environment, our historical earnings and losses, our industry’s historically cyclical periods of earnings and losses, and potential, current and future tax planning strategies.

 

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Our income tax provisions are based on calculations and assumptions that are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. Although we believe that the positions taken on previously filed tax returns are reasonable, we have established tax and interest reserves in recognition that various taxing authorities may challenge the positions we have taken, which could result in additional liabilities for taxes and interest. We review the reserves as circumstances warrant and adjust the reserves as events occur that affect our potential liability, such as lapsing of applicable statutes of limitations, conclusion of tax audits, a change in exposure based on current calculations, identification of new issues, release of administrative guidance, or the rendering of a court decision affecting a particular issue. We adjust the income tax provision in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known. In the event that the adjustment pertains to a pre-emergence tax position, we would adjust goodwill followed by other indefinite-lived intangible assets until the net carrying value of these assets is zero. Beginning January 1, 2009, any adjustments to pre-emergence tax positions will be made through the income tax provision pursuant to SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141R”).

For additional information about income taxes, see Notes 2 and 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Pension Plans. We sponsor DB Plans for our eligible employees and retirees. The impact of these DB Plans on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the eight months ended December 31, 2007, the four months ended April 30, 2007 and the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 is presented in Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. We currently estimate that our defined benefit pension plan expense related to our Non-Pilot Plan in 2008 will be approximately $35 million. The effect of our DB Plans on our Consolidated Financial Statements is subject to many assumptions. We believe the most critical assumptions are (1) the weighted average discount rate and (2) the expected long-term rate of return on the assets of our DB Plans. The Pilot Plan and pilot non-qualified defined benefit pension plans were terminated during 2006. For additional information regarding these terminations, see Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

We determine our weighted average discount rate on our measurement date primarily by reference to annualized rates earned on high quality fixed income investments and yield-to-maturity analysis specific to our estimated future benefit payments. We used a weighted average discount rate of 6.08% and 5.88% at December 31, 2007 and September 30, 2006, respectively. Additionally, our weighted average discount rate for net periodic benefit cost in each of the past three years has varied from the rate selected on our measurement date, ranging from 5.67% to 6.01% between 2005 and 2007, due to remeasurements throughout the year. The impact of a 0.50% change in our weighted average discount rate is shown in the table below.

The expected long-term rate of return on the assets of our DB Plans is based primarily on plan specific investment studies using historical returns on our DB Plans’ assets. The investment strategy for pension plan assets is to utilize a diversified mix of global public and private equity portfolios, public and private fixed income portfolios, and private real estate and natural resource investments to earn a long-term investment return that meets or exceeds a 9% annualized return target. Our historical annualized three, five, 10 and 15 year rate of return on plan assets is approximately 13%, 14%, 8% and 11%, respectively, as of December 31, 2007. The impact of a 0.50% change in our expected long-term rate of return is shown in the table below.

 

Change in Assumption    Effect on 2008
Pension Expense
   Effect on Accrued
Pension Liability at
December 31, 2007

0.50% decrease in discount rate

   - 9 million    + 452 million

0.50% increase in discount rate

   + 6 million    - 426 million

0.50% decrease in expected return on assets

   + 23 million    —  

0.50% increase in expected return on assets

   - 23 million    —  
 

For additional information about our pension plans, see Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS 141R. SFAS 141R provides guidance for recognizing and measuring goodwill acquired in a business combination and requires disclosure of information to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning on January 1, 2009. For additional information regarding SFAS 141R, see Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Market Risks Associated with Financial Instruments

We have significant market risk exposure related to aircraft fuel prices and interest rates. Market risk is the potential negative impact of adverse changes in these prices or rates on our Consolidated Financial Statements. To manage the volatility relating to these exposures, we periodically enter into derivative transactions pursuant to stated policies (see Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements). We expect adjustments to the fair value of financial instruments accounted for under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” to result in ongoing volatility in earnings and shareowners’ equity.

The following sensitivity analyses do 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 may be materially impacted by changes in the price of aircraft fuel. We periodically use derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, which are comprised of crude oil, heating oil and jet fuel swap, collar and call option contracts, in an effort to manage our exposure to changes in aircraft fuel prices.

For 2007, aircraft fuel and related taxes accounted for 26% of our total operating expenses. Aircraft fuel and related taxes for 2007 increased 6% compared to 2006 primarily due to higher average fuel prices. Fuel prices averaged $2.21 per gallon, including fuel hedge gains of $51 million, for 2007 compared to $2.10 per gallon, including fuel hedge losses of $108 million, for 2006.

As of January 31, 2008, we have hedged a portion of our projected fuel requirements, including those of our contract carriers under capacity purchase agreements, for the three years ending December 31, 2010, using crude oil and heating oil call option and swap contracts as follows:

 

(in millions, unless otherwise stated)    Weighted
Average
Contract
Strike Price
per Gallon
   Percentage of
Projected Fuel
Requirements
Hedged
    Contract Fair
Value at
January 31,
2008(1)
   Contract Fair
Value Based
Upon 10% Rise
in Futures
Prices(1)(2)
   Increase in
Aircraft Fuel
Expense Due to
10% Rise in Jet
Fuel Price(3)

2008

             

Heating oil

             

Call options

   $ 2.43    22 %   $ 91    $ 157    $ 529

Swaps

   $ 2.44    2       2      15      47
       

Total

      24 %   $ 93    $ 172    $ 576
 

2009

             

Crude oil

             

Call options

   $ 2.05    9 %   $ 61    $ 70    $ 723
       

Total

      9 %   $ 61    $ 70    $ 723
 

 

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(in millions, unless otherwise stated)    Weighted
Average
Contract
Strike Price
per Gallon
   Percentage of
Projected Fuel
Requirements
Hedged
    Contract Fair
Value at
January 31,
2008(1)
   Contract Fair
Value Based
Upon 10% Rise
in Futures
Prices(1)(2)
   Increase in
Aircraft Fuel
Expense Due to
10% Rise in Jet
Fuel Price(3)

2010

             

Crude oil

             

Call options

   $ 2.04            2 %   $ 16    $ 17    $ 787
       

Total

              2 %   $ 16    $ 17    $ 787
 

(1)

Contract fair value includes the cost of premiums paid.

(2)

Projection based upon average futures prices per gallon by contract settlement month.

(3)

Projection based upon estimated average jet fuel price per gallon of $2.70, $2.81 and $2.93 and estimated aircraft fuel consumption of 2.5 billion gallons, 2.6 billion gallons and 2.7 billion gallons for 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, inclusive of the impact of fuel hedge instruments.

For additional information regarding our exposure to market risks, see Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Interest Rate Risk

Our exposure to market risk from volatility in interest rates is primarily associated with our long-term debt obligations. 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. We had $4.5 billion of fixed-rate debt and $3.8 billion of variable-rate debt at December 31, 2007. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, a 10% increase in average annual interest rates would have decreased the estimated fair value of our fixed-rate long-term debt by $332 million and $114 million, respectively, and increased interest expense on our variable-rate long-term debt by $19 million and $24 million, respectively. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, we did not have any interest rate swaps or contractual arrangements that would reduce our interest expense. For additional information on our long-term debt, see Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Glossary of Defined Terms

ASM—Available Seat Mile. A measure of capacity. ASMs equal the total number of seats available for transporting passengers during a reporting period multiplied by the total number of miles flown during that period.

CASM—(Operating) Cost per Available Seat Mile. The amount of operating cost incurred per ASM during a reporting period, also referred to as “unit cost”.

Passenger Load Factor—A measure of utilized available seating capacity calculated by dividing RPMs by ASMs for a reporting period.

Passenger Mile Yield—The amount of passenger revenue earned per RPM during a reporting period.

RASM—(Operating or Passenger) Revenue per ASM. The amount of operating or passenger revenue earned per ASM during a reporting period. Passenger RASM is also referred to as “unit revenue.”

RPM—Revenue Passenger Mile. One revenue-paying passenger transported one mile. RPMs equal the number of revenue passengers during a reporting period multiplied by the number of miles flown by those passengers during that period, RPMs are also referred to as “traffic”.

 

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Index to Financial Statements
ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Information required by this item is set forth in Item 7—“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Market Risks Associated With Financial Instruments” and in Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Reference is made to the Index on page F-1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto contained in this Form 10-K.

 

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

For information about our change in independent registered public accounting firms from Deloitte & Touche LLP, our auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, to Ernst & Young LLP for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006, please refer to our Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 3, 2006.

 

ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our President 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 our President and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2007 to ensure that material information was accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our President and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes In Internal Control

Except as set forth below, during the three months ended December 31, 2007, 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.

During the December 2007 quarter, we implemented an automated process for interline receivables and eliminated manual processes previously utilized. Our approach to implementing new business processes and technology includes the design and implementation of internal control over financial reporting.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies may deteriorate.

Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 using the criteria issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Based on that evaluation, management believes that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2007.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareowners of Delta Air Lines, Inc.

We have audited Delta Air Lines, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Delta Air Lines, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying management’s report. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Delta Air Lines, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Delta Air Lines, Inc. as of December 31, 2007 (Successor) and 2006 (Predecessor), and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareowners’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for the eight-month period ended December 31, 2007 (Successor), four-month period ended April 30, 2007 (Predecessor) and the year ended December 31, 2006 (Predecessor) of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and our report dated February 13, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

February 13, 2008

 

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ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION.

None.

PART III

ITEM 10.    DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OF THE REGISTRANT

Information required by this item is set forth under the headings “Corporate Governance Matters,” “Certain Information About Nominees” and “Section 16 Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our Proxy Statement to be filed with the Commission related to our Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 3, 2008 (“Proxy Statement”), and is incorporated by reference. Pursuant to instruction 3 to paragraph (b) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K, certain information regarding executive officers is contained in Part I of this Form 10-K.

ITEM 11.    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information required by this item is set forth under the headings “Director Compensation,” “Corporate Governance Matters—Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Executive Compensation” in our Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference.

ITEM 12.    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Information required by this item is set forth under the headings “Beneficial Ownership of Securities” and under “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in our Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference.

ITEM 13.    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Information required by this item is set forth under the headings “Corporate Governance Matters—Director Independence” and “Corporate Governance Matters—Independence of Audit, Corporate Governance and Personnel & Compensation Committee Members” in our Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference.

ITEM 14.    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Information required by this item is set forth under the heading “Fees of Independent Auditors for 2007 and 2006” in our Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference.

 

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PART IV

ITEM 15.    EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

(a) (1), (2). The financial statements required by this item are listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-K. The schedule required by this item is included in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. All other financial statement schedules are not required or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.

(3). The exhibits required by this item are listed in the Exhibit Index to this Form 10-K. The management contracts and compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as an exhibit to this Form 10-K are listed as Exhibits 10.6 through 10.17 in the Exhibit Index.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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, on the 15th day of February, 2008.

 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC

By:

  /S/    RICHARD H. ANDERSON      
  Richard H. Anderson
  Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below on the 15th day of February, 2008 by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

/S/    RICHARD H. ANDERSON      

Richard H. Anderson

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

/S/    EDWARD H. BASTIAN      

Edward H. Bastian

  

President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and

Principal Accounting Officer)

/S/    JOHN S. BRINZO      

John S. Brinzo

   Director

/S/    DANIEL A. CARP      

Daniel A. Carp

   Chairman of the Board

/S/    EUGENE I. DAVIS      

Eugene I. Davis

   Director

/S/    RICHARD K. GOELTZ      

Richard K. Goeltz

   Director

/S/    DAVID R. GOODE      

David R. Goode

   Director

/S/    VICTOR L. LUND      

Victor L. Lund

   Director

/S/    WALTER E. MASSEY      

Walter E. Massey

   Director

/S/    PAULA ROSPUT REYNOLDS      

Paula Rosput Reynolds

   Director

/S/    KENNETH B. WOODROW      

Kenneth B. Woodrow

   Director

 

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Index to Financial Statements

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

  3.1       Delta’s Certificate of Incorporation (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Delta’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed on April 30, 2007).*
  3.2       Delta’s By-Laws (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Delta’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed on April 30, 2007).*

Delta is not filing any instruments evidencing any indebtedness because the total amount of securities authorized under any single such instrument does not exceed 10% of the total assets of Delta and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. Copies of such instruments will be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

10.1       Purchase Agreement No. 2022 between Boeing and Delta relating to Boeing Model 737-632/-732/-832 Aircraft (Filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Delta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998).*/**
10.2       Purchase Agreement No. 2025 between Boeing and Delta relating to Boeing Model 767-432ER Aircraft (Filed as Exhibit 10.4 to Delta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998).*/**
10.3       Letter Agreements related to Purchase Agreements No. 2022 and/or No. 2025 between Boeing and Delta (Filed as Exhibit 10.5 to Delta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998).*/**
10.4       Aircraft General Terms Agreement between Boeing and Delta (Filed as Exhibit 10.6 to Delta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998).*/**
10.5(a)   First Lien Revolving Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of April 30, 2007, among Delta Air Lines, Inc., as Borrower, the subsidiaries of the Borrower named, as Guarantors, each of the Lenders from time to time party, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and as collateral agent, J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc., as co-lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, UBS Securities LLC, as syndication agent and as joint bookrunner, and Calyon New York Brand and RBS Securities Corporation, as co-documentation agents (Filed as Exhibit 10.1(a) to Delta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007).*
10.5(b)   Second Lien Term Loan and Guaranty Agreement, dated as of April 30, 2007, among Delta Air Lines, Inc., as Borrower, the subsidiaries of the Borrower named, as Guarantors, each of the Lenders from time to time party, Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P. (“GSCP”), as administrative agent and as collateral agent, GSCP and Merrill Lynch Commercial Finance Corp., as co-lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, Barclays Capital, as syndication agent and as joint bookrunner, and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and C.I.T. Leasing Corporation, as co-documentation agents (Filed as Exhibit 10.1(b) to Delta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007).*
10.6       Offer of Employment dated July 20, 2005 between Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Edward H. Bastian (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Delta’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2005)*
10.7       Offer of Employment dated July 20, 2005 between Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Glen Hauenstein (Filed as Exhibit 10.17 to Delta’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed on April 27, 2007)*
10.8       Offer of Employment dated August 28, 2007 between Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Richard H. Anderson (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Delta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007).*
10.9(a)   Form of Delta 2007 Performance Compensation Plan Award Agreement for Officers (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Delta’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 30, 2007).*

 

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10.9(b)   Delta 2007 Performance Compensation Plan Award Agreement between Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Edward H. Bastian dated August 28, 2007 (Filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Delta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007).*
10.10     Form of Separation Agreement and General Release—Delta Air Lines, Inc. 2007 Officer and Director Severance Plan for Officers (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Delta’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 30, 2007).*
10.11     Delta Air Lines, Inc. 2007 Officer and Director Severance Plan, as amended October 14, 2007 (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Delta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007).*
10.12     Separation Agreement and General Release between Delta Air Lines, Inc. and James M. Whitehurst dated August 27, 2007 (Filed as Exhibit 10.4 to Delta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007).*
10.13     Description of Certain Benefits of Members of the Board of Directors and Executive Officers (Filed as Exhibit 10.5 to Delta’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007).*
10.14     Separation Agreement and General Release between Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Joseph C. Kolshak dated November 29, 2007.
10.15     The Delta Air Lines, Inc. 2008 Long Term Incentive Program (filed as Exhibit 99.1 to Delta’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 8, 2008).*
10.16     Model Award Agreement for the Delta Airlines, Inc. 2008 Long Term Incentive Program (filed as Exhibit 99.2 to Delta’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 8, 2008).*
10.17     The Delta Air Lines, Inc. 2008 Management Incentive Program (filed as Exhibit 99.3 to Delta’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 8, 2008).*
12.1     Statement regarding computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each fiscal year in the five-year period ended December 31, 2007.
21.1     Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23.1     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
31.1     Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
31.2     Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
32         Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002.

 

* Incorporated by reference.
** Portions of this exhibit have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Delta’s request for confidential treatment.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

INDEX TO

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Ernst & Young LLP)

   F-2

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Deloitte & Touche LLP)

   F-3

Consolidated Balance Sheets—December 31, 2007 and 2006

   F-4

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the eight months ended December 31, 2007, the four months ended April 30, 2007 and the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005

  

F-6

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the eight months ended December 31, 2007, the four months ended April 30, 2007 and the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005

  

F-7

Consolidated Statements of Shareowners’ Equity (Deficit) for the eight months ended December 31, 2007, the four months ended April 30, 2007 and the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005

  

F-8

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-9

 

F-1


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareowners of

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2007 (Successor) and 2006 (Predecessor), and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareowners’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for the eight-month period ended December 31, 2007 (Successor), four-month period ended April 30, 2007 (Predecessor) and year ended December 31, 2006 (Predecessor). These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, on April 25, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order confirming the plan of reorganization, which became effective on April 30, 2007. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with AICPA Statement of Position 90-7, “Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization Under the Bankruptcy Code,” for the Successor Company as a new entity with assets, liabilities and a capital structure having carrying values not comparable with prior periods as described in Note 1.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Delta Air Lines, Inc. at December 31, 2007 (Successor) and 2006 (Predecessor), and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the eight-month period ended December 31, 2007 (Successor), four-month period ended April 30, 2007 (Predecessor) and year ended December 31, 2006 (Predecessor), in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

As discussed in Notes 2 and 10 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)” in 2006 and adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” in 2007.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Delta Air Lines, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 (Successor), based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 13, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

February 13, 2008

 

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Index to Financial Statements

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareowners of Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Atlanta, Georgia

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, cash flows, and shareowners’ deficit of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Predecessor) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2005. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations, the cash flows, and the changes in shareowners’ deficit of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Predecessor) and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As discussed in Notes 1 and 2 to the 2005 consolidated financial statements (not presented herein), the Company filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. The 2005 financial statements do not purport to reflect or provide for the consequences of the bankruptcy proceedings. In particular, such financial statements do not purport to show (a) as to shareowner accounts, the effect of any changes that may be made in the capitalization of the Company; or (b) as to operations, the effect of any changes that may be made in its business.

The 2005 consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the 2005 consolidated financial statements (not presented herein), the Company’s recurring losses, labor issues and its bankruptcy filing result in uncertainty regarding the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities, without substantial adjustments and/or changes in ownership, and raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans concerning these matters are also described in Note 1 to the 2005 consolidated financial statements. The 2005 consolidated financial statements do not include adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

March 27, 2006

 

F-3


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Index to Financial Statements

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     Successor          Predecessor  

ASSETS

(in millions)

   December 31,
2007
         December 31,
2006
 

CURRENT ASSETS:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 2,648         $ 2,034  

Short-term investments

     138           614  

Restricted cash

     520           750  

Accounts receivable, net of an allowance for uncollectible accounts of $26 at December 31, 2007 and $21 at December 31, 2006

     1,066           915  

Expendable parts and supplies inventories, net of an allowance for obsolescence of $11 at December 31, 2007 and $161 at December 31, 2006

     262           181  

Deferred income taxes, net

     142           402  

Prepaid expenses and other

     464           489  
                    

Total current assets

     5,240           5,385  
                    
 

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:

        

Flight equipment

     9,525           17,641  

Accumulated depreciation

     (299 )         (6,800 )
                    

Flight equipment, net

     9,226           10,841  
                    

Ground property and equipment

     1,943           4,575  

Accumulated depreciation

     (246 )         (2,838 )
                    

Ground property and equipment, net

     1,697           1,737  
                    

Flight and ground equipment under capital leases

     602           474  

Accumulated amortization

     (63 )         (136 )
                    

Flight and ground equipment under capital leases, net

     539           338  
                    

Advance payments for equipment

     239           57  
                    

Total property and equipment, net

     11,701           12,973  
                    
 

OTHER ASSETS:

        

Goodwill

     12,104           227  

Identifiable intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $147 at December 31, 2007 and $190 at December 31, 2006

     2,806           89  

Other noncurrent assets

     572           948  
                    

Total other assets

     15,482           1,264  
                    

Total assets

   $ 32,423         $ 19,622  
                    

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets—(Continued)

 

     Successor          Predecessor  
LIABILITIES AND SHAREOWNERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(in millions, except share data)
   December 31,
2007
         December 31,
2006
 
        

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

        

Current maturities of long-term debt and capital leases

   $ 1,014         $ 1,503  

Air traffic liability

     1,982           1,797  

Deferred revenue

     1,100           363  

Accounts payable

     1,045           936  

Accrued salaries and related benefits

     734           405  

Taxes payable

     320           500  

Note payable

     295           —    

Other accrued liabilities

     115           265  
                    

Total current liabilities

     6,605           5,769  
                    

NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:

        

Long-term debt and capital leases

     7,986           6,509  

Pension and related benefits

     3,002           —    

Deferred revenue

     2,532           346  

Postretirement benefits

     865           —    

Deferred income taxes, net

     855           406  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     465           368  
                    

Total noncurrent liabilities

     15,705           7,629  
                    

LIABILITIES SUBJECT TO COMPROMISE

     —             19,817  
 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

        
 

SHAREOWNERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT):

        

Common stock:

        

Predecessor common stock at $0.01 par value; 900,000,000 shares authorized, 202,081,648 shares issued at December 31, 2006

     —             2  

Successor common stock at $0.0001 par value; 1,500,000,000 shares authorized, 299,464,669 shares issued at December 31, 2007

     —             —    

Additional paid-in capital

     9,512           1,561  

Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)

     314           (14,414 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     435           (518 )

Predecessor stock held in treasury, at cost, 4,745,710 shares at December 31, 2006

     —             (224 )

Successor stock held in treasury, at cost, 7,238,973 shares at December 31, 2007

     (148 )         —    
                    

Total shareowners’ equity (deficit)

     10,113           (13,593 )
                    

Total liabilities and shareowners’ equity (deficit)

   $ 32,423         $ 19,622  
                    

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

F-5


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

     Successor          Predecessor  
     Eight Months
Ended
December 31,
2007
         Four Months
Ended
April 30,
2007
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
(in millions, except per share data)             2006     2005  

OPERATING REVENUE:

            

Passenger:

            

Mainline

   $ 8,929         $ 3,829     $ 11,640     $ 11,367  

Regional affiliates

     2,874           1,296       3,853       3,225  

Cargo

     334           148       498       524  

Other, net

     1,221           523       1,541       1,364  
                                    

Total operating revenue

     13,358           5,796       17,532       16,480  
 

OPERATING EXPENSE:

            

Aircraft fuel and related taxes

     3,416           1,270       4,433       4,466  

Salaries and related costs

     2,887           1,302       4,365       5,290  

Contract carrier arrangements

     2,196           956       2,656       1,318  

Depreciation and amortization

     778           386       1,276       1,273  

Contracted services

     670           326       918       936  

Aircraft maintenance materials and outside repairs

     663           320       921       893  

Passenger commissions and other selling expenses

     635           298       888       948  

Landing fees and other rents

     475           250       881       878  

Passenger service

     243           95       332       348  

Aircraft rent

     156           90       316       543  

Profit sharing

     144           14       —         —    

Restructuring, asset writedowns, pension settlements and related items, net

     —             —         13       888  

Other

     299           189       475       700  
                                    

Total operating expense

     12,562           5,496       17,474       18,481  
                                    

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

     796           300       58       (2,001 )
 

OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME:

            

Interest expense (contractual interest expense totaled $366 for the four months ended April 30, 2007 and $1,200 and $1,169 for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively)

     (390 )         (262 )     (870 )     (1,032 )

Interest income

     114           14       69       59  

Miscellaneous, net

     5           27       (19 )     (1 )
                                    

Total other expense, net

     (271 )         (221 )     (820 )     (974 )
                                    

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE REORGANIZATION ITEMS, NET

     525           79       (762 )     (2,975 )

REORGANIZATION ITEMS, NET

     —             1,215       (6,206 )     (884 )
                                    

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     525           1,294       (6,968 )     (3,859 )

INCOME TAX (PROVISION) BENEFIT

     (211 )         4       765       41  
                                    

NET INCOME (LOSS)

     314           1,298       (6,203 )     (3,818 )

PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

     —             —         (2 )     (18 )
                                    

NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREOWNERS

   $ 314         $ 1,298     $ (6,205 )   $ (3,836 )
                                    

BASIC INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

   $ 0.80         $ 6.58     $ (31.58 )   $ (23.75 )
                                    

DILUTED INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

   $ 0.79         $ 4.63     $ (31.58 )   $ (23.75 )
                                    

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

F-6


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

 

     Successor          Predecessor  
     Eight Months
Ended
December 31,
2007
        

Four Months
Ended

April 30,
2007

    Year Ended
December 31,
 
(in millions)             2006     2005  

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:

                                    

Net income (loss)

   $ 314         $ 1,298     $ (6,203 )   $ (3,818 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

            

Depreciation and amortization

     778           386       1,276       1,273  

Deferred income taxes

     211           (4 )     (765 )     (41 )

Pension, postretirement and postemployment expense (less than) in excess of payments

     (604 )         (20 )     489       896  

Reorganization items, net

     —             (1,215 )     6,206       884  

Gain on extinguishment of debt, net

     (30 )         —         —         (9 )

Changes in certain current assets and liabilities:

            

Decrease (increase) in short-term investments, net

     50           426       (614 )     336  

Decrease (increase) in receivables

     22           (132 )     (152 )     (122 )

Decrease (increase) in restricted cash

     473           (390 )     116       (482 )

(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (111 )         2       41       (67 )

(Decrease) increase in air traffic liability

     (585 )         763       86       145  

(Decrease) increase in other payables, deferred revenue and accrued liabilities

     (359 )         —         154       667  

Other, net

     175           (89 )     359       31  
                                    

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     334           1,025       993       (307 )
 

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:

            

Property and equipment additions:

            

Flight equipment, including advance payments

     (643 )         (167 )     (265 )     (570 )

Ground property and equipment, including technology

     (185 )         (41 )     (148 )     (244 )

Decrease (increase) in restricted cash

     129           56       8       (96 )

(Increase) decrease in restricted investments related to the Boston airport terminal project

     —             —         (2 )     81  

Proceeds from sales of flight equipment

     84           21       40       425  

Proceeds from sales of investments

     83           34       —         —    

Proceeds from sale of wholly owned subsidiary, net of cash remaining with subsidiary

     —             —         —         417  

Other, net

     4           —         6       9  
                                    

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (528 )         (97 )     (361 )     22  
 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities:

            

Payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations

     (1,314 )         (166 )     (476 )     (1,615 )

Proceeds from Exit Facilities

     —             1,500       —         —    

Proceeds from long-term obligations

     2,005           —         —         295  

Proceeds from DIP Facility

     —             —         —         2,250  

Payments on DIP Facility

     —             (2,076 )     (124 )     (50 )

Other, net

     (19 )         (50 )     (6 )     (50 )
                                    

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     672           (792 )     (606 )     830  
 

Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     478           136       26       545  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     2,170           2,034       2,008       1,463  
                                    

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 2,648         $ 2,170     $ 2,034     $ 2,008  
                                    
 

Supplemental disclosure of cash paid (refunded) for:

            

Interest, net of amounts capitalized

   $ 363         $ 243     $ 728     $ 783  

Professional fee disbursements due to bankruptcy

     —             —         101       6  

Interest received from the preservation of cash due to Chapter 11 filing

     —             (50 )     (109 )     (15 )

Cash received from aircraft renegotiation

     —             —         (10 )     —    

Income taxes, net

     —             —         (1 )     2  
 

Non-cash transactions:

            

Flight equipment

     —             135       —         —    

Ground equipment

     31           —         —         —    

Aircraft delivered under seller-financing

     —             —         —         251  

Flight equipment under capital leases

     35           13       159       —    

Debt extinguishment from aircraft renegotiation

     33           —         171       —    

Dividends on Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock

     —             —         2       15  

Current maturities of long-term debt exchanged for shares of common stock

     —             —         —         45  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Shareowners’ Equity (Deficit)

 

(in millions, except share data)   Common
Stock
    Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
(Accumulated
Deficit)
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Treasury
Stock
    Total  

Balance at January 1, 2005 (Predecessor)

  $ 286     $ 3,052     $ (4,373 )   $ (2,358 )   $ (2,403 )   $ (5,796 )
   

Comprehensive loss:

           

Net loss

    —         —         (3,818 )     —         —         (3,818 )

Other comprehensive loss

    —         —         —         (364 )     —         (364 )
                 

Total comprehensive loss (See Note 13)

              (4,182 )

Dividends on Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock allocated shares

    —         —         (18 )     —         —         (18 )

Transfer of 34,378 shares of common from Treasury under stock incentive and other equity plans ($47.20 per share(1))

    —         (2 )     —         —         2       —    

Transfer of 38,140,673 shares of common from Treasury under ESOP ($47.20 per share(1))

    —         (1,738 )     —         —         1,800       62  

Issuance of 11,336,203 shares of common stock related to Delta’s transformation plan ($3.40 per share)

    5       34       —         —         —         39  

Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation to increase number of authorized shares of common stock from 450 million to 900 million and to decrease par value from $1.50 per share to $.01 per share

    (289 )     289       —         —         —         —    
   

Balance at December 31, 2005 (Predecessor)

    2       1,635       (8,209 )     (2,722 )     (601 )     (9,895 )
   

Comprehensive loss:

           

Net loss

    —         —         (6,203 )     —         —         (6,203 )

Other comprehensive income

    —         —         —         1,780       —         1,780  
                 

Total comprehensive loss (See Note 13)

              (4,423 )

Adoption of SFAS 158, net of tax

    —         —         —         424       —         424  

Dividends on Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock allocated shares

    —         —         (2 )     —         —         (2 )

Compensation expense associated with vesting stock options

    —         8       —         —         —         8  

Compensation expense associated with the rejection of stock options

    —         55       —         —         —         55  

Transfer of 7,996,125 shares of common from Treasury under ESOP ($47.20 per share(1))

    —         (137 )     —         —         377       240  
   

Balance at December 31, 2006 (Predecessor)

    2       1,561       (14,414 )     (518 )     (224 )     (13,593 )
   

Impact of adoption of FIN 48 (See Note 2)

    —         —         (30 )     —         —         (30 )
   

Balance at January 1, 2007 (Predecessor)

    2       1,561       (14,444 )     (518 )     (224 )     (13,623 )
   

Comprehensive income:

           

Net income from January 1 to April 30, 2007

    —         —         1,298       —         —         1,298  

Other comprehensive income

    —         —         —         75       —         75  
                 

Total comprehensive income (See Note 13)

              1,373  
   

Balance at April 30, 2007 (Predecessor)

    2       1,561       (13,146 )     (443 )     (224 )     (12,250 )
   

Fresh start adjustments:

           

Cancellation of Predecessor common stock

    (2 )     (1,561 )     —         —         224       (1,339 )

Elimination of Predecessor accumulated deficit and accumulated other comprehensive loss

    —         —         13,146       443       —         13,589  

Reorganization value ascribed to Successor

    —         9,400       —         —         —         9,400  
   

Balance at May 1, 2007 (Successor)

    —         9,400       —         —         —         9,400  
   

Issuance of 299,464,669 shares of common stock ($0.0001 per share), including 7,238,973 shares held in Treasury ($20.52 per share)(1)

    —         —         —         —         (148 )     (148 )

Comprehensive income:

           

Net income from May 1 to December 31, 2007

    —         —         314       —         —         314  

Other comprehensive income

    —         —         —         435       —         435  
                 

Total comprehensive income (See Note 13)

              749  

Compensation expense associated with equity awards

    —         112       —         —         —         112  
   

Balance at December 31, 2007 (Successor)

  $ —       $ 9,512     $ 314     $ 435     $ (148 )   $ 10,113  
   

 

(1)

Weighted average price per share

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

F-8


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. Background

General Information

Delta Air Lines, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is a major air carrier that provides air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States (“U.S.”) and around the world. Our Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiaries, including Comair, Inc. (“Comair”), which are collectively referred to as Delta.

On September 14, 2005 (the “Petition Date”), we and substantially all of our subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Bankruptcy Court”). The reorganization cases were jointly administered under the caption “In re Delta Air Lines, Inc., et al., Case No. 05-17923-ASH.” On April 25, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court approved the Debtors’ Joint Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan of Reorganization”). On April 30, 2007 (the “Effective Date”), we emerged from bankruptcy as a competitive airline with a global network.

Upon emergence from Chapter 11, we adopted fresh start reporting in accordance with American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Statement of Position 90-7, “Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code” (“SOP 90-7”). The adoption of fresh start reporting resulted in our becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the Consolidated Financial Statements on or after May 1, 2007 are not comparable to the Consolidated Financial Statements prior to that date.

Fresh start reporting requires resetting the historical net book value of assets and liabilities to fair value by allocating the entity’s reorganization value to its assets and liabilities pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141, “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141”). The excess reorganization value over the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible assets is recorded as goodwill on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Deferred taxes are determined in conformity with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (“SFAS 109”). For additional information regarding the impact of fresh start reporting on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of the Effective Date, see “Fresh Start Consolidated Balance Sheet” below.

References in this Form 10-K to “Successor” refer to Delta on or after May 1, 2007, after giving effect to (1) the cancellation of Delta common stock issued prior to the Effective Date; (2) the issuance of new Delta common stock and certain debt securities in accordance with the Plan of Reorganization; and (3) the application of fresh start reporting. References to “Predecessor” refer to Delta prior to May 1, 2007.

Effectiveness of Plan of Reorganization. Under the Plan of Reorganization, most holders of allowed general, unsecured claims against the Debtors received or will receive newly issued common stock in satisfaction of their claims. Holders of de minimis allowed general, unsecured claims received cash in satisfaction of their claims.

The Plan of Reorganization contemplates the distribution of 400 million shares of common stock, consisting of (1) 386 million shares to holders of allowed general, unsecured claims (including our pilots) and (2) up to 14 million shares to our approximately 39,000 eligible non-contract, non-management employees. The new common stock was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and began trading under the symbol “DAL” on May 3, 2007. As of January 31, 2008, we have made the following distributions of common stock in accordance with the Plan of Reorganization:

 

   

278 million shares of common stock to holders of allowed general, unsecured claims of $12.5 billion. We have reserved 108 million shares of common stock for future distributions to holders of allowed general, unsecured claims when disputed claims are resolved.

 

   

Approximately 14 million shares of common stock to eligible non-contract, non-management employees.

 

F-9


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The Bankruptcy Court also authorized the distribution of equity awards to our approximately 1,200 officers, director level employees and managers and senior professionals (“management personnel”). For additional information about these awards, see Note 12.

In addition, as of January 31, 2008, we have issued the following debt securities and made the following cash distributions under the Plan of Reorganization:

 

   

$66 million principal amount of senior unsecured notes in connection with our settlement agreement relating to the restructuring of certain of our lease and other obligations at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport (the “Cincinnati Airport Settlement Agreement”). For additional information on this subject, see Note 8;

 

   

an aggregate of $133 million in cash to holders in satisfaction of their claims, including to holders of administrative claims, state and local priority tax claims, certain secured claims and de minimis allowed unsecured claims;

 

   

$225 million in cash to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the “PBGC”) in connection with the termination of our qualified defined benefit pension plan for pilots (the “Pilot Plan”); and

 

   

$650 million in cash to fund an obligation (the “Pilot Obligation”) under our comprehensive agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association, International (“ALPA”), the collective bargaining representative of Delta’s pilots, to reduce pilot labor costs. In 2007, we paid $355 million of this amount and deposited the remaining $295 million in a grantor trust for the benefit of Delta pilots. The amount in the grantor trust is classified as restricted cash with a corresponding note payable on our Consolidated Balance Sheet until it was distributed in January 2008.

In accordance with the Plan of Reorganization, holders of our equity interests that were in existence prior to April 30, 2007, including our common stock, did not receive any distributions, and their equity interests were cancelled on the Effective Date.

On the Effective Date, we entered into a senior secured exit financing facility (the “Exit Facilities”) to borrow up to $2.5 billion from a syndicate of lenders. We used a portion of the proceeds from the Exit Facilities and existing cash to repay our two then outstanding debtor-in-possession financing facilities (the “DIP Facility”). For additional information regarding the Exit Facilities, see Note 6.

We continue to incur expenses related to our Chapter 11 proceedings, primarily professional fees that were classified as a reorganization item by the Predecessor. After we emerged from bankruptcy, these expenses are classified in their appropriate line item, primarily in other operating expense, in the Successor’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Resolution of Outstanding Claims

As permitted under the bankruptcy process, many of the Debtors’ creditors filed proofs of claim with the Bankruptcy Court. Through the claims resolution process, many claims were disallowed by the Bankruptcy Court because they were duplicative, amended or superseded by later filed claims, were without merit, or were otherwise overstated. Throughout the Chapter 11 proceedings, the Debtors also resolved many claims through settlements or by Bankruptcy Court orders following the filing of an objection. The Debtors will continue to settle claims and file additional objections with the Bankruptcy Court.

We currently estimate that the total allowed general, unsecured claims in our Chapter 11 proceedings will be approximately $15 billion, including the $12.5 billion of claims for which we have issued distributions of common stock. Differences between claim amounts filed and our estimates are being investigated and will be

 

F-10


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

resolved in connection with the claims resolution process. However, we believe there will be no further material impact to the Consolidated Statements of Operations of the Successor from the settlement of unresolved allowed general, unsecured claims against the Debtors because the holders of such claims will receive under the Plan of Reorganization only their pro rata share of the distribution of the newly issued common stock of the Successor.

The Plan of Reorganization provides that administrative and priority claims will be satisfied with cash. Certain administrative and priority claims remain unpaid, and we will continue to settle claims and file objections with the Bankruptcy Court with respect to such claims. All of these claims have been accrued by the Successor based upon the best available estimates of amounts to be paid. However, the claims resolution process is uncertain and the resolution of administrative and priority claims could result in material adjustments to the Successor’s financial statements.

In light of the substantial number and amount of claims filed, we expect the claims resolution process will take considerable time to complete. Accordingly, we do not presently know either the ultimate number and amount of, or the exact recovery with respect to, allowed claims.

Liabilities Subject to Compromise

The following table summarizes the components of liabilities subject to compromise included on our Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2006:

 

     Predecessor
(in millions)    2006

Pension, postretirement and other benefits

   $ 10,329

Debt and accrued interest

     5,079

Aircraft lease related obligations

     3,115

Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities

     1,294
 

Total liabilities subject to compromise

   $ 19,817
 

Liabilities subject to compromise refers to pre-petition obligations that were impacted by the Chapter 11 reorganization process. The amounts represented our estimate of known or potential obligations to be resolved in connection with our Chapter 11 proceedings.

At December 31, 2007, we did not have any liabilities subject to compromise due to our emergence from bankruptcy. For information regarding the discharge of liabilities subject to compromise, see “Fresh Start Consolidated Balance Sheet” below.

Differences between liabilities we have estimated and the claims filed will be investigated and resolved in connection with the claims resolution process.

 

F-11


Table of Contents
Index to Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

Reorganization Items, net

The following table summarizes the components of reorganization items, net on our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the four months ended April 30, 2007 and the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005:

 

     Predecessor  
    

Four Months
Ended
April 30,

2007

    Year Ended December 31,  
(in millions)          2006             2005      

Discharge of claims and liabilities(1)

   $ 4,424     $ —       $ —    

Revaluation of frequent flyer obligation(2)

     (2,586 )     —         —    

Revaluation of other assets and liabilities(3)

     238       —         —    

Aircraft financing renegotiations, rejections and repossessions(4)

     (440 )     (1,671 )     (611 )

Contract carrier agreements(5)

     (163 )     —         —    

Emergence compensation(6)

     (162 )     —         —    

Professional fees

     (88 )     (110 )     (39 )

Pilot collective bargaining agreement(7)

     (83 )     (2,100 )     —    

Interest income(8)

     50       109       17  

Facility leases(9)

     43       (8 )     (88 )

Vendor waived pre-petition debt

     29       36       —    

Retiree healthcare claims(10)

     (26 )     (539 )     —    

Debt issuance and discount costs

     —         (13 )     (163 )

Compensation expense(11)

     —         (55 )     —    

Pilot pension termination(12)

     —         (1,743 )     —    

Rejection of other executory contracts

     —         (89 )     —    

Other

     (21 )     (23 )     —    
   

Total reorganization items, net

   $ 1,215     $ (6,206 )   $ (884 )
   

 

(1)

The discharge of claims and liabilities primarily relates to allowed general, unsecured claims in our Chapter 11 proceedings, such as (a) ALPA’s claim under our comprehensive agreement reducing pilot labor costs; (b) the PBGC’s claim relating to the termination of the Pilot Plan; (c) claims relating to changes in postretirement healthcare benefits and the rejection of our non-qualified retirement plans; (d) claims associated with debt and certain municipal bond obligations based upon their rejection; (e) claims relating to the restructuring of financing arrangements or the rejection of leases for aircraft; and (f) other claims due to the rejection or modification of certain executory contracts, unexpired leases and contract carrier agreements.

In accordance with the Plan of Reorganization, we discharged our obligations to holders of allowed general, unsecured claims in exchange for the distribution of 386 million newly issued shares of common stock and the issuance of certain debt securities and obligations. Accordingly, in discharging our liabilities subject to compromise, we recognized a reorganization gain of $4.4 billion as follows:

 

(in millions)        

Liabilities subject to compromise

   $ 19,345  

Reorganization value

     (9,400 )

Liabilities reinstated

     (4,429 )

Issuance of new debt securities and obligations, net of discounts of $22

     (938 )

Other

     (154 )
   

Discharge of claims and liabilities

   $ 4,424  
   

 

(2)

We revalued our SkyMiles frequent flyer obligation at fair value as a result of fresh start reporting, which resulted in a $2.6 billion reorganization charge. For information about a change in our accounting policy for our frequent flyer program (the “SkyMiles Program”), see Note 2.

 

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(3)

We revalued our assets and liabilities at estimated fair value as a result of fresh start reporting. This resulted in a $238 million gain, primarily reflecting the fair value of newly recognized intangible assets, which was partially offset by reductions in the fair value of tangible property and equipment.

(4)

Estimated claims for the four months ended April 30, 2007 relate to the restructuring of the financing arrangements for 143 aircraft, the rejection of two aircraft leases and adjustments to prior claims estimates. Estimated claims for the year ended December 31, 2006 relate to the restructuring of the financing arrangements for 188 aircraft and the rejection of 16 aircraft leases. Estimated claims for the year ended December 31, 2005 relate to the restructuring of the financing arrangements of seven aircraft, the rejection of 50 aircraft leases and the repossession of 15 aircraft.

(5)

In connection with amendments to our contract carrier agreements with Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. (“Chautauqua”) and Shuttle America Corporation (“Shuttle America”), both subsidiaries of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. (“Republic Holdings”), which, among other things, reduced the rates we pay those carriers, we recorded (a) a $91 million allowed general, unsecured claim and (b) a $37 million net charge related to our surrender of warrants to purchase up to 3.5 million shares of Republic Holdings common stock. Additionally, in connection with an amendment to our contract carrier agreement with Freedom Airlines, Inc. (“Freedom”), a subsidiary of Mesa Air Group, Inc., which, among other things, reduced the rates we pay that carrier, we recorded a $35 million allowed general, unsecured claim.

(6)

In accordance with the Plan of Reorganization, we made $130 million in lump-sum cash payments to approximately 39,000 eligible non-contract, non-management employees. We also recorded an additional charge of $32 million related to our portion of payroll related taxes associated with the issuance, as contemplated by the Plan of Reorganization, of approximately 14 million shares of common stock to these employees. For additional information regarding the stock grants, see Note 12.

(7)

Allowed general, unsecured claims of $83 million for the four months ended April 30, 2007 and $2.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2006 in connection with Comair’s and Delta’s respective comprehensive agreements with ALPA reducing pilot labor costs.

(8)

Reflects interest earned due to the preservation of cash during our Chapter 11 proceedings.

(9)

For the four months ended April 30, 2007, we recorded a net $43 million gain, primarily reflecting a $126 million net gain in connection with our settlement agreement with the Massachusetts Port Authority (“Massport”) which was partially offset by a net $80 million charge from an allowed general, unsecured claim under the Cincinnati Airport Settlement Agreement. For additional information regarding our settlement agreement with Massport and the Cincinnati Airport Settlement Agreement, see Notes 6 and 8.

(10)

Allowed general, unsecured claims in connection with agreements reached with committees representing pilot and non-pilot retired employees reducing their postretirement healthcare benefits.

(11)

Reflects a charge for rejecting substantially all of our stock options in our Chapter 11 proceedings. For additional information regarding this matter, see Note 2.

(12)

$2.2 billion and $801 million allowed general, unsecured claims in connection with our settlement agreements with the PBGC and a group representing retired pilots, respectively. Charges for these claims were offset by $1.3 billion in settlement gains associated with the derecognition of previously recorded Pilot Plan and pilot non-qualified plan obligations upon each plan’s termination. For additional information regarding our settlement agreements and the termination of those plans, see Note 10.

Fresh Start Consolidated Balance Sheet

As previously noted, upon emergence from Chapter 11, we adopted fresh start reporting, which required us to revalue our assets and liabilities to fair value. In estimating fair value, we based the estimates and assumptions on guidance prescribed by SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157, among other things, defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. For additional information about SFAS 157, see Note 3.

To facilitate the calculation of the enterprise value of the Successor, management developed a set of financial projections for the Successor using a number of estimates and assumptions. The enterprise and corresponding reorganization value of the Successor was based on financial projections using various valuation methods, including (1) a comparison of our projected performance to the market values of comparable

 

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companies; (2) a review and analysis of several recent transactions in the airline industry; and (3) a calculation of the present value of future cash flows based on our projections. Utilizing these methodologies, the reorganization value of the Successor was estimated to be in the range of $9.4 billion and $12.0 billion. The enterprise value, and corresponding reorganization value, is dependent upon achieving the future financial results set forth in our projections, as well as the realization of certain other assumptions. There can be no assurance that the projections will be achieved or that the assumptions will be realized. The excess reorganization value (using the low end of the range) over the fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible assets, net of liabilities, has been reflected as goodwill in the Fresh Start Consolidated Balance Sheet. The financial projections and estimates of enterprise and reorganization value are not incorporated herein.

All estimates, assumptions and financial projections, including the fair value adjustments, the financial projections, and the enterprise value and reorganization value projections, are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and the resolution of contingencies beyond our control. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the estimates, assumptions and financial projections will be realized, and actual results could vary materially.

The adjustments set forth in the following Fresh Start Consolidated Balance Sheet in the columns captioned “Debt Discharge, Reclassifications and Distribution to Creditors,” “Repayment of DIP Facility and New Exit Financing” and “Revaluation of Assets and Liabilities” reflect the effect of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Plan of Reorganization, including the settlement of various liabilities, securities issuances, incurrence of new indebtedness and cash payments.

 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

The effects of the Plan of Reorganization and fresh start reporting on our Consolidated Balance Sheet at April 30, 2007 are as follows:

Fresh Start Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

(in millions)   Predecessor     Debt Discharge,
Reclassifications
and
Distribution
to Creditors
   

Repayment of
DIP Facility
and

New Exit
Financing

   

Revaluation of

Assets and
Liabilities

    Successor
  April 30,
2007
         

Reorganized
Balance Sheet
May 1,

2007

CURRENT ASSETS

                                     

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

  $ 2,915     $ —       $ (557 )   $ —       $ 2,358

Restricted cash

    1,069       —         —         —         1,069

Accounts receivable, net

    1,086       —         —         —         1,086

Expendable parts and supplies inventories, net

    183       —         —         58       241

Deferred income taxes, net

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