Delta Air Lines believes it has given back to its employees at an unprecedented pace, after paying out more than US$1b in profit-sharing for the fourth year in a row. The airline announced Tuesday that Delta's 80,000 employees earned a $1.1b payout for "delivering record-breaking operational and customer satisfaction performance as well as strong financial performance." The company's $1.5b of profit-sharing in 2016 was a company record. Delta CE Ed Bastian said that the 4 straight years of $1b profit sharing is a "milestone no company in history has ever achieved." The company said the profit-sharing program has paid out more than $5b over the past 5 years. Delta said most employees received more than 10% of their gross pay. <br/>
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Delta Air Lines is interested Boeing's new mid-size jet, according to reports, signalling that the two companies may be over their trade disagreement. "Delta finds it to be an interesting concept and could be a long-term replacement for some 757s and 767s," a spokesman said. "Delta is actively engaged with Boeing on this and we will continue a healthy dialogue with them as the program matures." Boeing prodded US officials to scrutinise Delta's purchase of Bombardier jets after accusing the Canadian rival of selling planes below market price, thanks to subsidies it gets from the Canadian govt. "We've engaged with our customers and the feedback we've received is the desire for an airplane that's bigger than the 757 with more range," a Boeing spokesman said. <br/>
The leader of Italy's right-wing Northern League, part of a coalition tipped to get the most votes at an election March 4, said Tuesday that Alitalia must not be sold off at cut rates. "Italy needs a flag carrier, no fire sales to multinationals or foreigners," League leader Matteo Salvini said. The govt is now trying to sell Alitalia, which has turned a profit only a few times in its more than 70-year history. Several foreign buyers have expressed interest in the troubled airline, but the govt has missed its self-imposed deadline of mid-January to start exclusive sale talks. Alitalia has played a central role in previous Italian election campaigns, including that led by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi in 2008. Berlusconi, who said at the time that he would favour an Italian buyer for the firm, is running in coalition with Salvini in the upcoming vote. <br/>