Delta boosts worker pay while signaling prices won’t drop
A Delta plane takes off near an air traffic control tower at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, US, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Airlines across the US began canceling flights scheduled for the coming days, as the
ATLANTA - Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is giving employees another raise — while making it clear travelers may keep paying more, even after fuel costs settle down.
What we know:
The airline announced a 4% pay increase for eligible workers, marking the fifth straight year of raises. It’s part of a broader push to invest in employees, coming on the heels of a $1.3 billion profit-sharing payout earlier this year — one of the largest in Delta’s history. The company is also routinely recognized as one of the best places to work, regularly landing on national rankings for workplace culture.
At the same time, Delta has been raising costs for customers.
Checked bag fees are going up by $10 to $50 depending on how many bags you check, a move the airline says is tied to higher fuel costs and other industry pressures, including the impact of the war involving Iran.
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What they're saying:
Even when those fuel costs ease, Delta doesn’t expect to roll prices back. CEO Ed Bastian said the company plans to "retain any of the pricing strength" it’s gained, using the current environment to help boost profits into next year.
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For many travelers, that could mean paying more at the airport without always seeing or understanding the business decisions driving those higher prices.