Delta boosts employee salaries by a 5%, their second pay raise in 12 months

Signs of a remarkable recovery in the airline industry can be seen in Delta Air Lines' latest move: they have increased staff pay twice within a year — an initial 4% rise in May, before the pandemic, followed by a 5% boost recently.

What’s going on:

In an impressive sign of a swift turnaround in the airline industry, Delta Air Lines has increased staff pay twice within a year: a 5% boost just recently, following a 4% rise back in May, before the pandemic hit.

The new wage boost will bring the total pay raise for all non-bargaining agreement workers since May to an impressive 9%. This applies to both ground staff and flight attendants, who are affiliated with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.

Why it matters:

“Considering the depths of losses we suffered during the pandemic, including a $1 billion first quarter loss just last year, this is truly a remarkable achievement,” CEO Ed Bastian said in a staff note.

Atlanta’s Delta Airlines will be rewarding its employees with a staggering $550 million of shared profits later this month.

How it’ll impact the future:

Despite posting a record-breaking $1.32 billion profit last year following a staggering $12 billion loss in 2020, Delta’s pilots have yet to receive the pay hikes they have been voting on. Should the new contract proposal be ratified, they would receive a substantial 18% raise upon signing and a total of 34% over the next four years.