Delta offered retirement and buyout packages to employees on Thursday, an effort to cut costs as the coronavirus continues to hammer the airline business. “While we never dreamed just a few months ago that we would be talking about a smaller Delta – this was expected to be a year of growth, after all – this is the reality we’re facing,” CEO Ed Bastian said in a note to staff. “Every voluntary departure helps to protect the jobs of those who most need them.” Delta’s announcement comes a day after American Airlines said it plans to reduce its management and administrative employees by 30%, or about 5,000 people. Delta had about 91,000 employees as of the end of 2019, according to a company filing. The Atlanta-based airline is also planning to offer early retirement to its unionized pilots, with details coming out next week. Delta employees who take the buyout offer will get four to 20 weeks of severance, a year of paid medical coverage and a year of travel benefits, according to an internal video message. Those who qualify for early retirement would receive up to 26 weeks of severance, two years of medical coverage and a year of travel benefits.<br/>