OREANDA-NEWS. Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) employees today will receive profit sharing as part of the company's \\$1.1 billion total payout for 2014 – the largest payment in the company's history – in recognition for their industry-leading performance.

"At Delta, we believe that people, values and culture drive our success," said Richard Anderson, Delta's chief executive officer. "We call it the 'Delta Difference.' It is essential for our employees to have an ownership stake in our business and share in the record-breaking achievements they helped create. Thank you to Delta's 80,000 people worldwide, who made 2014 an exceptional year by taking great care of our customers."

Total individual payouts will equal more than 16 percent of employees' eligible 2014 earnings, which equates to an average of nearly two months' salary. In October 2014, Delta paid a 5 percent advance on profit sharing to employees.

The 2014 payout is a record for the airline industry, and among the highest for any U.S. corporation.

In addition to profit sharing, Delta's Shared Rewards program pays out monthly bonuses for meeting corporate operational goals throughout the year.

In 2014, Delta employees earned more than \\$84 million in Shared Rewards as the company achieved history-making operational and financial results. Delta has paid out \\$2.9 billion to employees in profit sharing and Shared Rewards during the past five years.