OREANDA-NEWS. With the help of Kenny Perry, 14-time PGA Tour Champion, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) and Adams Golf had fun surprising unsuspecting golfers on the course at Houston's Wildcat Golf Club. Little did the golfers know, they would soon be presented with an opportunity that doesn't come around often. After sharing a few tips on the game, Kenny and a Southwest Airlines representative asked the golfers if they'd like to play golf at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, site of the 2008 U.S. Open Championship. After obvious agreement, the golfers were presented with airline tickets for the trip of a lifetime! The only catch? They had to leave immediately!

"We have a brand new set of Adams Golf clubs, golf clothing and gear, and Southwest Airlines roundtrip tickets to San Diego for each of you," announced Kenny. "But you have to drop everything and come with us right now—your plane is waiting!"

This Ultimate Golf Course Surprise celebrates Southwest Airlines and Adams Golf as the two extend their partnership through 2014. View the Ultimate Golf Course Surprise.

As the "Official Airline of Golf Lovers," and where golf bags fly free®, Southwest and Adams Golf first teed off this exciting partnership in 2013, building initiatives on their commitment to those who love the game of golf. In addition to this extended partnership with Adams Golf, maker of the #1 Hybrids on tour, Southwest has a dedicated landing page, www.southwest.com/golf, featuring great fares to popular golf destinations, golf vacation packages, the ability to book tee times at more than 5,000 courses nationwide, and the opportunity to purchase golf merchandise and unique golf experiences using Rapid Rewards points.

"We're excited about extending our partnership in 2014 and think that golfers and Southwest Customers will appreciate the fun and unique promotional events we have planned," said Scott Blevins, Adams Golf Senior Vice President of Marketing. "It gives us new ways to share our Own The Second Shot story and to reach audiences who may not know about our innovative and industry-leading products."

For Southwest Customers traveling this summer, they may come across a Southwest Airlines and Adams Golf co-branded hitting bay in select airports. Time waiting for flights will fly by as Customers test the newest Adams Golf clubs like the Tight Lies Fairway Wood and Pro Hybrid.

"Teaming up with Adams Golf provides Southwest Airlines the opportunity to connect with our Customers whose passions take them out to the golf course," said Dave Ridley, Southwest Airlines Senior Vice President of Business Development. "We're the Official Airline of Golf Lovers and we want to be their number one choice for ease and convenience when planning their next golf trip."

Southwest's partnership with Adams Golf centers on its sponsorship of Adams PGA Tour and Web.com Tour staff professionals who carry co-branded bags designed in the signature blue and red colors of the Southwest aircraft livery.
 Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today reported financial results for the March 2014 quarter.  Key points include:

Delta's pre-tax income for the March 2014 quarter was USD 444 million, excluding special items1, an increase of USD 363 million over the March 2013 quarter on a similar basis. 
Delta's net income for the March 2014 quarter was USD 281 million, or USD 0.33 per diluted share, excluding special items1.  This is USD 196 million higher year over year despite USD 163 million of non-cash tax expense now recognized after the reversal of the company's valuation allowance.
On a GAAP basis including special items, Delta's pre-tax income was USD 335 million and net income was USD 213 million, or USD 0.25 per diluted share.
Delta cancelled more than 17,000 flights due to severe weather in January and February, double the number of flights cancelled for weather in 2013.  These cancellations resulted in USD 90 million of lost revenue and USD 55 million lower pre-tax income.
Results include USD 99 million in profit sharing expense in recognition of Delta employees' contributions toward achieving the company's financial goals.
Delta generated USD 951 million of operating cash flow and USD 390 million of free cash flow in the March 2014 quarter.  This strong cash generation allowed the company to reduce its adjusted net debt to USD 9.1 billion, contribute more than USD 600 million of funding to its defined benefit pension plans, and return USD 176 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.
Delta Air Lines and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to nearly 370 destinations on six continents. For more information visit news.delta.com
"The March quarter's record results in the face of unprecedented weather show the strength and resilience of Delta.  By delivering the industry's best customer service, operational reliability and financial performance, Delta people continue to show that they are the very best in the business," said Richard Anderson, Delta's chief executive officer.  "Our work is not finished, and there is great opportunity ahead as we expect the June quarter to produce 14% - 16% operating margins.  We are transforming Delta into a high-quality S&P 500 company that consistently delivers strong earnings growth and shareholder returns."

Revenue Environment
Delta's operating revenue improved 5 percent, or USD 416 million, in the March 2014 quarter compared to the March 2013 quarter, despite USD 90 million of lost revenue due to weather-related cancellations.  Traffic increased 3.5 percent on a 1.7 percent increase in capacity.

Passenger revenue increased 5 percent, or USD 357 million, compared to the prior year period. Passenger unit revenue (PRASM) increased 3.2 percent year over year with a 1.3 percent improvement in yield.
Cargo revenue decreased 9 percent, or USD 21 million, driven by lower freight volumes and lower yields.
Other revenue increased 8 percent, or USD 80 million, driven by higher joint venture and SkyMiles revenues.
"March quarter's top line growth of 5 percent shows the strength of Delta's revenue momentum even through the revenue loss from weather and a shift of the Easter holiday traffic into April," said Ed Bastian, Delta's president. "We see continued revenue strength as we move through the year from corporate revenue gains, the benefits of the Virgin Atlantic joint venture and improved ancillary revenues.  These initiatives, coupled with a solid demand environment, should lead to unit revenue growth in the mid-single digits for the June quarter."

Cost Performance
Total operating expense in the quarter increased USD 18 million year-over-year driven by the impact of employee investments including USD 79 million higher profit sharing expense.  These cost increases were almost fully offset by lower fuel expense, savings from Delta's structural cost initiatives, and receipt of a USD 25 million insurance claim related to Superstorm Sandy.

Consolidated unit cost excluding fuel expense, profit sharing and special items (CASM-Ex2), was 0.3 percent higher in the March 2014 quarter on a year-over-year basis, driven by the impact of employee investments and 1 point of pressure from weather-related cancellations.  GAAP consolidated CASM decreased 1.4 percent.

Fuel expense, excluding mark-to-market adjustments, declined USD 167 million as a result of lower market fuel prices and better settled hedge performance. Delta's average fuel price3 was USD 3.03 per gallon for the March quarter, which includes USD 107 million in settled hedge gains.  On a GAAP basis, consolidated fuel expense for the March quarter decreased USD 109 million year-over-year, driven by lower market fuel prices and mark-to-market adjustments on fuel hedges.

Operations at the Trainer refinery produced a USD 41 million loss for the March quarter as a result of the same lower market fuel prices that lowered Delta's overall fuel spend.  During the quarter, one of the major crude units at the refinery was taken offline for scheduled modifications which lowered throughput levels.  These modifications will yield a higher level of jet and diesel distillates going forward and improve the profitability of Trainer.  In addition, refinery profitability was negatively impacted by an increase in Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) expense.   

Non-operating expense for the quarter increased by USD 66 million, driven by a USD 31 million seasonal loss associated with Delta's 49% ownership stake in Virgin Atlantic, an USD 18 million loss on extinguishment of debt driven by Delta's debt reduction initiatives, and USD 39 million higher foreign exchange impact, including a USD 23 million loss associated with the devaluation of the Venezuelan currency.  These losses were offset by USD 34 million lower interest expense.

"The March quarter marks another quarter with non-fuel unit cost growth below 2 percent, and the growing momentum of our domestic refleeting and other cost initiatives provide the platform to maintain this performance," said Paul Jacobson, Delta's chief financial officer.  "We are addressing all parts of our cost base through executing our structural cost initiatives, lowering our fuel expense with the refinery and hedging, and reducing our interest burden with additional debt reduction."

Cash Flow
Cash from operations during the March 2014 quarter was USD 951 million, driven by the company's March quarter profit and the normal seasonal increase in advance ticket sales.  Cash from operations is net of USD 605 million of contributions made by Delta to its defined benefit pension plans during the quarter.  The company generated USD 390 million of free cash flow.

Capital expenditures during the March 2014 quarter were USD 570 million, including USD 514 million in fleet investments. During the quarter, Delta's net debt maturities and capital leases were USD 353 million.

In the March quarter, the company returned USD 176 million to shareholders.  On March 14, the company paid USD 51 million to shareholders, which represents a USD 0.06 per share quarterly dividend.  In addition, the company repurchased four million shares at an average price of USD 30.94 for a total of USD 125 million.  The company has completed USD 375 million of the USD 500 million share repurchase plan authorized by Delta's Board of Directors in May 2013.

Delta ended the quarter with USD 5.6 billion of unrestricted liquidity and adjusted net debt of USD 9.1 billion.  The company has now achieved nearly USD 8 billion in net debt reduction since 2009.
ompany Highlights
Delta has a strong commitment to its employees, customers and the communities it serves.  Key accomplishments in the March 2014 quarter include:

Recognizing the achievements of Delta employees toward meeting the company's financial and operational goals with USD 114 million of incentives so far this year, including USD 99 million in employee profit sharing and USD 15 million in Shared Rewards;
Ranking in Fortune's Top 50 of the World's Most Admired Companies for the first time in the company's history, and named as World's Most Admired Airline for the third time in four years;
Unveiling of new SkyMiles program that will take effect in 2015 that will better reward our most valuable customers for what they spend instead of distance flown.  Delta is the first of the legacy carriers to make this transition to a revenue-based model;
Launching of immunized joint venture with Virgin Atlantic allowing coordination on pricing and scheduling, and also co-locating London Heathrow departures to Boston, New York JFK, and Seattle to Terminal 3 at Heathrow to enhance the customer experience.
Supporting the communities served through the Habitat for Humanity International partnership and building 10 homes in four days on a Global Build in the Philippines.  This marks the ninth year that Delta has partnered with Habitat for Humanity on a Global Build.
Special Items
Delta recorded a net USD 68 million special items charge in the March 2014 quarter, including:

a USD 31 million charge associated with Delta's domestic fleet restructuring;
a USD 21 million mark-to-market adjustment on fuel hedges; and
a USD 16 million charge for debt extinguishment and other.
Delta recorded a net USD 78 million special items charge in the March 2013 quarter, including:

a USD 102 million charge for facilities, fleet and other, primarily associated with Delta's domestic fleet restructuring; and
a USD 24 million mark-to-market adjustment on fuel hedges.
Other Matters
Included with this press release are Delta's unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013; a statistical summary for those periods; selected balance sheet data as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013; and a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures.