As much as we may criticize Delta for its SkyMiles initiative and its mostly outdated aircraft, one must acknowledge the airline for how much it values its employees through shared achievements. With the airline recently revealing its complete financial results for 2025, details about the annual profit sharing for employees have also emerged.
## Delta employees will receive 8.9% profit sharing for 2025
Since 2007, Delta has implemented the most lavish profit sharing program in the airline sector. Every year on Valentine’s Day (a day Delta refers to as Profit Sharing Day), employees receive their profit sharing checks, which mirror the carrier’s results for the year.
For 2025, Delta employees will receive a profit sharing amounting to 8.9% of their eligible income, which translates to approximately four weeks of salary. For some frontline staff, this could total a few thousand dollars, whereas for certain pilots, it may reach into the tens of thousands.
With this recent profit sharing payment, Delta’s profit sharing system since 2007 has disbursed over $13 billion. Typically, Delta’s profit sharing is higher than the combined payouts of all other US airlines. Within the last 11 years, the airline has distributed over $1 billion in profits annually on eight occasions.
This is no insignificant amount — Delta’s overall profits for 2025 were around $5 billion, meaning this year’s distribution equals roughly 30% of the profits. For context, the profit sharing for 2025 is somewhat lower than the previous year.
In 2024, employees received profit sharing at roughly 10% of their pay, equating to about five weeks of salary. This reflects the fact that Delta didn’t achieve a record year in profitability, amid various uncertainties.
As expected, this profit sharing has substantial implications for the economies of regions with a large number of Delta employees, with hundreds of millions of dollars to be allocated in Georgia and significant sums in New York, Michigan, California, Washington, Utah, and beyond.
While this profit sharing surpasses what is available at any other US airlines, it’s noteworthy to mention some impressive profit sharing arrangements observed with foreign carriers recently. In light of 2024 profits, Singapore Airlines provided employees with a 32-week salary bonus, while Emirates offered a 22-week salary bonus.
## This profit sharing is an essential aspect of Delta’s success formula
Delta has maintained a superior corporate culture compared to American and United, and the profit sharing program has played a pivotal role in that success. Employees are significantly more engaged in the airline’s success than those at competing carriers.
That said, I believe Delta has somewhat diminished its service quality since the pandemic began, considering the proportion of new staff within Delta’s workforce. Nevertheless, the airline remains a step above others regarding its care for and appreciation of customers.
Delta’s generous profit sharing arrangements often stir discontent among employees at other airlines. For instance, in 2024, American Airlines staff received only 1-1.5% in profit sharing, which led to considerable frustration. However, American doesn’t have substantial profits to distribute, so… 😉
Delta’s objectives behind its profit sharing approach extend beyond just fostering a positive corporate culture. It boasts the highest percentage of non-unionized employees among major US airlines, with flight attendants not being part of a union.
Thus, the airline not only actively provides salary increases for flight attendants but also maintains generous profit sharing to create a rewarding compensation package for its employees. While unions also negotiate for profit sharing, it’s challenging to envision employees at other airlines achieving better outcomes compared to those at Delta.
## Bottom line
Delta employees will receive $1.3 billion in profit sharing for 2025, which corresponds to roughly 8.9% of their eligible annual income, or around five weeks of pay. Delta stands alone in this regard, as it allocates more in profit sharing than all other US airlines combined. Although I have numerous critiques of Delta, the relationship the carrier has with its employees is not one of them, and it’s a quality the company merits recognition for.
**What are your thoughts on Delta’s profit sharing program?**