Delta celebrates Chapter 11 ruling, SkyMiles landmark

Delta Air Lines has two reasons to celebrate this week, as its frequent-flier program turned 25 years, and the bankruptcy courts accepted its pivotal Plan of Reorganization.

The Atlanta-based carrier is now due to emerge from Chapter 11 protection on Monday, April 30, as a $2.5 billion financing deal is completed. The ruling by the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York also applies to the airline's subsidiaries.

"This is an exciting day for everyone at Delta," said Gerald Grinstein, Chief Executive of Delta, discussing the hearing verdict yesterday (Wednesday, April 25). He praised the dedication of his staff for "achieving a turnaround of this magnitude in little more than 19 months".

As a year and a half of bankruptcy protection nears an end, Delta marked another landmark at the weekend with a sweepstake to mark the 25th anniversary of the SkyMiles loyalty program.

David Shafer was honored at the ceremony for being the most loyal SkyMiles member, having been a Platinum Medallion flier since 1994, and its first customer to have accumulated ten million miles.

Rewarding staff that had made notable contributions to the program, Delta's Jim Whitehurst said: "We look forward to providing our members with additional mileage earning and redemption opportunities."

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