Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-167811      

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 7, 2011

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated June 28, 2010)

 

$134,646,000

 

2010-2B PASS THROUGH TRUST

PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2010-2B

 

Delta Air Lines, Inc. is creating a pass through trust that will issue Delta Air Lines, Inc. Class B Pass Through Certificates, Series 2010-2. The Class B Certificates are being offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement. Subject to the distribution provisions described herein, the Class B Certificates generally will rank junior to the Class A Pass Through Certificates, Series 2010-2. The Class A Certificates were, and the Class B Certificates will be, issued by separate trusts. The Class A Certificates were originally issued on November 22, 2010 and are not being offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement.

 

The Class B Certificates will represent interests in the assets of the related pass through trust. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Class B Certificates will be used on the date of issuance of the Class B Certificates, and the balance of such proceeds will initially be held in escrow and will thereafter be used, by such pass through trust to acquire the related series of equipment notes to be issued by Delta on a full recourse basis. Payments on the equipment notes held in such pass through trust will be passed through to the holders of the Class B Certificates. Distributions on the Class B Certificates will be subject to certain subordination provisions described herein. The Class B Certificates do not represent interests in, or obligations of, Delta or any of its affiliates.

 

The equipment notes expected to be held by the pass through trust for the Class B Certificates will be issued for each of (a) two Boeing 737-732 aircraft delivered new in 2009, (b) six Boeing 737-832 aircraft delivered new in 2000, (c) six Boeing 757-251 aircraft delivered new in 1996, (d) one Boeing 757-232 aircraft delivered new in 2001, (e) three Boeing 757-351 aircraft delivered new in 2003, (f) three Boeing 767-332ER aircraft delivered new in 2000, (g) one Boeing 777-232LR aircraft delivered new in 2009, (h) one Airbus A320-211 aircraft delivered new in 2003, (i) one Airbus A330-223 aircraft delivered new in 2004, (j) one Airbus A330-323 aircraft delivered new in 2005, and (k) three McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 aircraft delivered new from 1996 to 1997. The equipment notes held, or expected to be held, by the pass through trust for the Class A Certificates also have been, or will be, issued for each such aircraft. The equipment notes issued for each aircraft will be secured by a security interest in such aircraft. With respect to the Class B Certificates, interest on the issued and outstanding equipment notes will be payable semiannually on May 23 and November 23, commencing on May 23, 2011, and the entire principal on such equipment notes is scheduled for payment on November 23, 2015.

 

Natixis S.A., acting via its New York Branch, will provide a liquidity facility for the Class B Certificates in an amount sufficient to make three semiannual interest distributions on the outstanding balance of the Class B Certificates. Natixis S.A., acting via its New York Branch, also provides a separate liquidity facility for the Class A Certificates.

 

The Class B Certificates will be subject to transfer restrictions. They may be sold only to qualified institutional buyers, as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for so long as they are outstanding.

 

The Class B Certificates will not be listed on any national securities exchange.

 

Investing in the Class B Certificates involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-23.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The underwriters will purchase all of the Class B Certificates if any are purchased. The aggregate proceeds from the sale of the Class B Certificates will be $134,646,000. Delta will pay the underwriters a commission of $      . Delivery of the Class B Certificates in book-entry form will be made on or about          , 2011 against payment in immediately available funds.

 

 

 

 

Joint Bookrunners

 

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is          , 2011.

 

We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with information other than the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any related free writing prospectus issued by us (which we refer to as a “company free writing prospectus”) and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or to which we have referred you. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related company free writing prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, the securities offered by this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related company free writing prospectus in any jurisdiction to or from any person to whom or from whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation of an offer in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related company free writing prospectus or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of the applicable document. Neither the delivery of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related company free writing prospectus nor any distribution of securities pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects, or in the affairs of the Trusts, the Depositary or the Liquidity Provider, since the date of this prospectus supplement.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

 

Prospectus

 

 

 

These offering materials consist of two documents: (a) this prospectus supplement, which describes the terms of the Class B Certificates that we are currently offering, and (b) the accompanying prospectus, which provides general information about us and our pass through certificates, some of which may not apply to the Class B Certificates that we are currently offering. The information in this prospectus supplement replaces any inconsistent information included in the accompanying prospectus. To the extent the description of this offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. See “About this Prospectus” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

In this prospectus supplement, references to “Delta”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Delta Air Lines, Inc. and our wholly-owned subsidiaries. With respect to information as of dates prior to October 30, 2008, these references do not include our wholly-owned subsidiary, Northwest Airlines, LLC, formerly known as Northwest Airlines Corporation (“Northwest”), or the companies that were subsidiaries of Northwest at that time.

 

We have given certain capitalized terms specific meanings for purposes of this prospectus supplement. The “Index of Defined Terms” attached as Appendix I to this prospectus supplement lists the page in this prospectus supplement on which we have defined each such term.

 

At varying places in this prospectus supplement, we refer you to other sections for additional information by indicating the caption heading of such other sections. The page on which each principal caption included in this prospectus supplement can be found is listed in the foregoing Table of Contents. All such cross-references in this prospectus supplement are to captions contained in this prospectus supplement and not the accompanying prospectus, unless otherwise stated.

 

Statements in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any related company free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein (or otherwise made by us or on our behalf) that are not historical facts, including statements regarding our estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections or strategies for the future may be “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any related company free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference, the words “expects”, “believes”, “plans”, “anticipates”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections and strategies reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the risk factors discussed below under the heading “Risk Factors”. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this prospectus supplement.

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You may read and copy this information at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and at our website at http://www.delta.com. The contents of our website are not incorporated into this prospectus supplement.

 

This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC relating to the securities to be offered. This prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information we have included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, and we refer you to the omitted information. The statements this prospectus supplement makes pertaining to the content of any contract, agreement or other document that is an exhibit to the registration statement necessarily are summaries of their material provisions and do not describe all exceptions and qualifications contained in those contracts, agreements or documents. You should read those contracts, agreements or documents for information that may be important to you. The registration statement, exhibits and schedules are available at the SEC’s public reference room or through its Internet site.

 

We “incorporate by reference” in this prospectus supplement certain documents that we file with the SEC, which means:

 

 

The following documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC (Commission File Number 001-05424) are incorporated by reference (other than reports or portions thereof furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K):

 

 

All documents filed by us under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than reports or portions thereof furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K) from the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of this offering shall also be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

 

Any party to whom this prospectus supplement is delivered may request a copy of these filings (other than any exhibits unless specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus), at no cost, by writing or telephoning Delta at Delta Air Lines, Inc., Investor Relations, Dept. No. 829, P.O. Box 20706, Atlanta, GA 30320, telephone no. (404) 715-2600.

 

The Class A Certificates were originally issued on November 22, 2010 and are not being offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement. All statements relating to such Class A Certificates are for informational purposes only.

 

Concurrently with this offering, we are offering $100,447,000 aggregate face amount of our Class B Pass Through Certificates, Series 2010-1 in an underwritten offering pursuant to a separate prospectus supplement. The consummation of this offering is not contingent upon the consummation of the concurrent offering of such pass through certificates, and the consummation of the concurrent offering of such pass through certificates is not contingent upon the consummation of this offering. We cannot assure you that we will consummate the concurrent offering of such pass through certificates.

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

Summary of Terms of Certificates

		Class A		Class B
		Certificates(1)		Certificates
Aggregate face amount		$474,072,000		$134,646,000
Interest rate		4.95%		%
Initial loan to Aircraft value ratio (cumulative)(2)(3)		54.2%		70.3%
Expected maximum loan to Aircraft value ratio (cumulative)(3)		54.2%		70.3%
Expected principal distribution window (in years from issuance date)(4)		0.5-8.5		4.8
Initial average life (in years from issuance date)(4)		5.6		4.8
Regular Distribution Dates		May 23 and November 23		May 23 and November 23
Final expected Regular Distribution Date(5)		May 23, 2019		November 23, 2015
Final Legal Distribution Date(6)		November 23, 2020		May 23, 2017
Minimum denomination(7)		$2,000		$2,000
Section 1110 protection		Yes		Yes
Liquidity Facility coverage		3 semiannual interest payments		3 semiannual interest payments

(1)		The Class A Certificates were issued on November 22, 2010. The Class A Certificates are not being offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement.
(2)		These percentages are calculated assuming that each of the aircraft listed under “— Equipment Notes and the Aircraft” in this prospectus supplement summary has been subjected to an Indenture and that the Trusts have purchased the related Equipment Notes for each such aircraft as of November 23, 2011 (the first Regular Distribution Date that occurs after the Outside Termination Date). In calculating these percentages, we have assumed that the aggregate appraised value of all such aircraft is $834,252,870 as of such date. The appraisal value is only an estimate and reflects certain assumptions. See “Description of the Aircraft and the Appraisals — The Appraisals”.
(3)		See “— Loan to Aircraft Value Ratios” in this prospectus supplement summary for the method and assumptions we used in calculating the loan to Aircraft value ratios and a discussion of certain ways that such loan to Aircraft value ratios could change.
(4)		Measured, in the case of the Class A Certificates, from November 22, 2010 (the date of issuance of the Class A Certificates) and, in the case of the Class B Certificates, from the Class B Issuance Date.
(5)		The Series A Equipment Notes issued with respect to an Aircraft will mature on the Final Maturity Date for such Series A Equipment Notes, which will occur, depending on the Aircraft, on or prior to the final expected Regular Distribution Date for the Class A Certificates. The maturity date for all Series B Equipment Notes will be the same date as the Final Expected Regular Distribution Date for the Class B Certificates. See “Description of the Equipment Notes — Principal and Interest Payments”.

(6)		The Final Legal Distribution Date for each of the Class A Certificates and the Class B Certificates is the date which is 18 months from the final expected Regular Distribution Date for that class of Certificates, which represents the period corresponding to the applicable Liquidity Facility coverage of three successive semiannual interest payments.
(7)		The Class A Certificates were, and the Class B Certificates will be, issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 (or such other denomination that is the lowest integral multiple of $1,000 that is, at the time of issuance, equal to at least 1,000 euros) and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Equipment Notes and the Aircraft

										Initial				Initial
										Principal				Principal
										Amount of				Amount of
										Series A				Series B								Latest
		Registration		Manufacturer’s				Month of		Equipment				Equipment				Appraised				Equipment Note
Aircraft Type		Number		Serial Number				Delivery		Notes				Notes				Value(1)				Maturity Date(2)
Boeing 737-732		N308DE			29656			September 2009		$	20,563,000			$	5,686,000			$	36,720,136			November 2018
Boeing 737-732		N310DE			29665			October 2009			20,689,000				5,721,000				36,945,694			November 2018
Boeing 737-832		N3731T			30775			September 2000			13,567,000				3,819,000				24,667,342			May 2019
Boeing 737-832		N3732J			30380			October 2000			13,563,000				3,818,000				24,660,082			May 2019
Boeing 737-832		N3733Z			30539			October 2000			13,622,000				3,835,000				24,768,790			May 2019
Boeing 737-832		N3734B			30776			October 2000			13,504,000				3,802,000				24,553,434			May 2019
Boeing 737-832		N3735D			30381			November 2000			13,526,000				3,808,000				24,593,115			May 2019
Boeing 737-832		N3736C			30540			November 2000			13,678,000				3,851,000				24,869,338			May 2019
Boeing 757-251		N544US			26491			May 1996			8,315,000				2,575,000				16,630,000			November 2016
Boeing 757-251		N545US			26492			June 1996			8,435,000				2,612,000				16,870,000			November 2016
Boeing 757-251		N546US			26493			July 1996			8,330,000				2,580,000				16,660,000			November 2016
Boeing 757-251		N547US			26494			August 1996			8,495,000				2,631,000				16,990,000			November 2016
Boeing 757-251		N548US			26495			August 1996			8,510,000				2,635,000				17,020,000			November 2016
Boeing 757-251		N549US			26496			September 1996			8,520,000				2,638,000				17,040,000			November 2016
Boeing 757-232		N6716C			30838			March 2001			10,690,000				3,010,000				19,436,855			May 2019
Boeing 757-351		N591NW			32991			June 2003			15,418,000				4,341,000				28,033,390			November 2018
Boeing 757-351		N592NW			32992			June 2003			16,280,000				4,583,000				29,601,792			November 2018
Boeing 757-351		N593NW			32993			July 2003			16,294,000				4,587,000				29,626,858			November 2018
Boeing 767-332ER		N1608			30573			April 2000			20,311,000				5,718,000				36,930,000			May 2019
Boeing 767-332ER		N1609			30574			April 2000			20,372,000				5,735,000				37,040,000			May 2019
Boeing 767-332ER		N1610D			30594			April 2000			20,355,000				5,730,000				37,010,000			May 2019
Boeing 777-232LR		N708DN			39254			June 2009			75,342,000				20,832,000				134,540,000			November 2018
Airbus A320-211		N378NW			2092			August 2003			14,827,000				4,174,000				26,958,587			November 2018
Airbus A330-223		N853NW			0618			July 2004			37,642,000				10,597,000				68,440,000			November 2018
Airbus A330-323		N811NW			0690			July 2005			41,030,000				11,551,000				74,600,000			November 2018
McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30		N917DN			53552			December 1996			4,062,000				1,258,000				8,124,381			November 2016
McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30		N919DN			53553			November 1996			4,022,000				1,246,000				8,045,769			November 2016
McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30		N918DH			53576			September 1997			4,110,000				1,273,000				8,220,000			November 2016
Total:										$	474,072,000			$	134,646,000			$	869,595,563

(1)		The appraised value of each Aircraft set forth above is the lesser of the average and median appraised value of such Aircraft as appraised by three independent appraisal and consulting firms (Aircraft Information Services, Inc. (“AISI”), BK Associates, Inc. (“BK”) and Morten Beyer & Agnew, Inc. (“MBA”, and together with AISI and BK, the “Appraisers”)). Such appraisals indicate appraised base value, adjusted for the maintenance status of such Aircraft around the time of such appraisals (but assuming the related engines are in a half-time condition). The AISI appraisal is dated October 29, 2010; the BK appraisal is dated November 3, 2010; and the MBA appraisal is dated November 11, 2010. The appraisers based their appraisals on varying assumptions (which may not reflect current market conditions) and methodologies. See “Description of the Aircraft and the Appraisals — The Appraisals”. An appraisal is only an estimate of value and you should not rely on any appraisal as a measure of realizable value. See “Risk Factors — Risk Factors Relating to the Class B Certificates and the Offering — Appraisals should not be relied upon as a measure of realizable value of the Aircraft”.
(2)		The maturity date listed above is the maturity date for the Series A Equipment Notes issued or to be issued with respect to the related Aircraft. The Series B Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to each Aircraft will mature on November 23, 2015.

 

Loan to Aircraft Value Ratios

						Pool Balance(2)								LTV(3)
		Aggregate
		Assumed
		Aircraft				Class A				Class B				Class A				Class B
Regular Distribution Date		Value(1)				Certificates				Certificates				Certificates				Certificates
November 23, 2011		$	834,252,870			$	451,893,839			$	134,646,000				54.2	%			70.3	%
May 23, 2012			815,851,380				434,353,451				134,646,000				53.2				69.7
November 23, 2012			797,449,887				412,125,918				134,646,000				51.7				68.6
May 23, 2013			778,981,020				389,362,903				134,646,000				50.0				67.3
November 23, 2013			760,512,158				367,059,182				134,646,000				48.3				66.0
May 23, 2014			742,043,292				343,750,227				134,646,000				46.3				64.5
November 23, 2014			723,574,426				321,549,152				134,646,000				44.4				63.0
May 23, 2015			705,105,557				298,970,449				134,646,000				42.4				61.5
November 23, 2015			685,826,617				276,071,443				0				40.3				0.0
May 23, 2016			665,489,734				252,758,416				0				38.0				0.0
November 23, 2016			570,229,868				211,801,450				0				37.1				0.0
May 23, 2017			554,135,637				193,230,993				0				34.9				0.0
November 23, 2017			538,041,406				174,762,417				0				32.5				0.0
May 23, 2018			521,947,175				148,569,433				0				28.5				0.0
November 23, 2018			169,642,120				53,615,800				0				31.6				0.0
May 23, 2019			—				0				0				0.0				0.0

(1)		In calculating the aggregate Assumed Aircraft Value, we assumed that the appraised value of each Aircraft determined as described under “Description of the Aircraft and the Appraisals” declines in accordance with the Depreciation Assumption described under “Description of the Equipment Notes — Loan to Value Ratios of Equipment Notes”. Other rates or methods of depreciation could result in materially different LTVs. We cannot assure you that the depreciation rate and method assumed for purposes of the above table are the ones most likely to occur or predict the actual future value of any Aircraft. See “Risk Factors — Risk Factors Relating to the Class B Certificates and the Offering — Appraisals should not be relied upon as a measure of realizable value of the Aircraft”.
(2)		The “pool balance” for each class of Certificates indicates, as of any date, after giving effect to any principal distributions expected to be made on such date, the portion of the original face amount of such class of Certificates that has not been distributed to Certificateholders.

(3)		We obtained the LTVs for each Regular Distribution Date for each class of Certificates by dividing (i) the expected outstanding pool balance of such Class (together, in the case of the Class B Certificates, with the expected outstanding pool balance of the Class A Certificates) after giving effect to the principal distributions expected to be made on such date, by (ii) the aggregate Assumed Aircraft Value of all of the Aircraft expected to be included in the collateral pool on such date based on the assumptions described above. The outstanding pool balances and LTVs will change if any Equipment Notes are redeemed or purchased, if a default in payment on any Equipment Notes occurs, or if any Pre-Funded Aircraft is not subjected to a Pre-Funded Indenture and the related Equipment Notes are not acquired by the Trusts.

 

Cash Flow Structure

(1)		Delta issued or will issue, as the case may be, Series A Equipment Notes and Series B Equipment Notes in respect of each Aircraft. The Equipment Notes were issued or will be issued, as the case may be, under a separate Indenture with respect to each Aircraft.
(2)		The separate Liquidity Facility for each of the Class A Certificates and Class B Certificates is expected to cover up to three semiannual interest distributions on the Class A Certificates and Class B Certificates, respectively, except that the Liquidity Facilities will not cover interest on Deposits.
(3)		A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Class B Certificates will be used on the Class B Issuance Date to acquire the Series B Equipment Notes issued with respect to each of the Funded Aircraft under the related Amended Funded Aircraft Indenture. The balance of such proceeds will initially be held in escrow and deposited with the Depositary, as are a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Class A Certificates, pending the financing of each Pre-Funded Aircraft under the related Pre-Funded Aircraft Indenture. The Depositary will hold such funds as interest-bearing Deposits. Each Trust will withdraw funds from the Deposits relating to such Trust to purchase from Delta the related series of Equipment Notes from time to time as each Pre-Funded Aircraft is subjected to a Pre-Funded Aircraft Indenture. The Scheduled Payments of interest on the Equipment Notes held by, and on the Deposits relating to, a Trust, taken together, will be sufficient to pay accrued interest on the outstanding Certificates of such Trust. Under certain circumstances, funds in Deposits relating to a Trust will be withdrawn prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date and distributed to the holders of Certificates of such Trust, together with accrued

		and unpaid interest thereon, but without any premium. See “Description of the Deposit Agreements — Other Withdrawals and Return of Deposits”. If any funds remain as Deposits with respect to any Trust as of the Delivery Period Termination Date, such remaining funds will be distributed, with accrued and unpaid interest on such remaining funds, but without any premium, to the holders of the related class of Certificates. See “Description of the Deposit Agreements — Other Withdrawals and Return of Deposits”. No interest will accrue with respect to the Deposits after they have been fully withdrawn.

 

The Offering

Trusts		The Class B Trust will be formed pursuant to a trust supplement entered into between Delta and U.S. Bank Trust National Association to a basic pass through trust agreement between Delta and U.S. Bank Trust National Association (as successor trustee to State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association), as Trustee. The Class A Trust was previously formed pursuant to a separate trust supplement to such basic pass through trust agreement. The Class A Certificates represent, and the Class B Certificates will represent, fractional undivided interests in the related Trust.
Certificates Offered		Class B Certificates.
Previously Issued Certificates		The Class A Certificates were previously issued on November 22, 2010. We are not offering the Class A Certificates pursuant to this prospectus supplement.
Use of Proceeds		A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Class B Certificates will be used on the Class B Issuance Date to acquire the Series B Equipment Notes issued with respect to each of the Funded Aircraft under the related Amended Funded Aircraft Indenture. The balance of such proceeds will initially be held in escrow and deposited with the Depositary, pending the financing of each Pre-Funded Aircraft under the related Pre-Funded Aircraft Indenture. The Class B Trust will withdraw funds from such escrow to acquire from Delta the Series B Equipment Notes to be issued as the Pre-Funded Aircraft are subjected to the related Pre-Funded Aircraft Indentures.
		The Series B Equipment Notes will be full recourse obligations of Delta. The 2001-1 Aircraft are currently subject to liens under a prior Delta enhanced equipment trust certificate transaction. After the 2001-1 Aircraft are released from the liens of such enhanced equipment trust certificate transaction, the 2001-1 Aircraft are expected to be subjected to the liens of the Pre-Funded Aircraft Indentures in connection with this offering. Delta will use the proceeds from the issuance of the Series B Equipment Notes issued with respect to the 2001-1 Aircraft to reimburse itself, in part, for the repayment at maturity of the enhanced equipment trust certificate transaction of such 2001-1 Aircraft. Delta will use the balance of any such proceeds not used in connection with the foregoing, along with the proceeds from the issuance of the Series B Equipment Notes issued with respect to the Funded Aircraft and the Unencumbered Aircraft, to pay fees and expenses relating to this offering and for general corporate purposes.
Subordination Agent, Trustee, Paying Agent and Loan Trustee		U.S. Bank Trust National Association.
Escrow Agent		U.S. Bank National Association.
Depositary		The Bank of New York Mellon.
Liquidity Provider for Class A Certificates and Class B Certificates		Initially, Natixis S.A., acting via its New York Branch.

Trust Property		The property of each Trust includes or will include, as the case may be:
		• subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Equipment Notes acquired by such Trust prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date, all monies at any time paid thereon and all monies due and to become due thereunder;
		• the rights of such Trust to acquire Equipment Notes under the Note Purchase Agreement;
		• the rights of such Trust under the applicable Escrow Agreement to request the Escrow Agent to withdraw from the Depositary funds sufficient to enable such Trust to purchase the related series of Equipment Notes upon the financing of a Pre-Funded Aircraft under the related Pre-Funded Aircraft Indenture prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date;
		• the rights of such Trust under the Intercreditor Agreement (including all monies receivable in respect of such rights);
		• all monies receivable under the separate Liquidity Facility for such Trust; and
		• funds from time to time deposited with the applicable Trustee in accounts relating to such Trust.
Regular Distribution Dates		May 23 and November 23 of each year, commencing on May 23, 2011.
Record Dates		The fifteenth day preceding the related Distribution Date.
Distributions		The Trustee of each Trust will distribute payments of principal, Make-Whole Amount (if any) and interest received on the Equipment Notes held in such Trust to the holders of the Certificates of such Trust, subject to the subordination provisions set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.
		Subject to the subordination provisions set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement,
		• Scheduled Payments of principal and interest made on the Equipment Notes will be distributed on the applicable Regular Distribution Dates; and
		• payments in respect of, or any proceeds of, any Equipment Notes or the Collateral under any Indenture, including payments resulting from any early redemption of such Equipment Notes, will be distributed on a Special Distribution Date after not less than 15 days’ notice to Certificateholders.
		See “— Escrowed Funds” and “— Withdrawal and Return of Escrowed Funds” below for a description of various distributions relating to the Deposits under certain circumstances.
Intercreditor Agreement		The Class A Trustee, the Class A Liquidity Provider and the Subordination Agent entered into an intercreditor agreement on November 22, 2010. Each party thereto, together with Delta, the Class B Trustee and the Class B Liquidity Provider, will enter into an amendment thereto whereby the Class B Trustee and the

		Class B Liquidity Provider will become a party to the Intercreditor Agreement. The Intercreditor Agreement prescribes how payments made on the Equipment Notes held by the Subordination Agent and made under each Liquidity Facility will be distributed. The Intercreditor Agreement also sets forth agreements among the Trustees and the Liquidity Providers relating to who will control the exercise of remedies under the Equipment Notes and the Indentures.
Subordination		Under the Intercreditor Agreement, after payment of certain fees and expenses, distributions on the Certificates generally will be made in the following order:
		• first, to the holders of the Class A Certificates to make distributions in respect of interest on the Class A Certificates;
		• second, to the holders of the Class B Certificates to make distributions in respect of interest on the Eligible B Pool Balance;
		• third, to the holders of the Class A Certificates to make distributions in respect of the Pool Balance of the Class A Certificates;
		• fourth, to the holders of the Class B Certificates to make distributions in respect of interest on the Pool Balance of the Class B Certificates not previously distributed under clause “second” above; and
		• fifth, to the holders of the Class B Certificates to make distributions in respect of the Pool Balance of the Class B Certificates.
		Certain distributions to the Liquidity Providers will be made prior to distributions on the Class A Certificates and Class B Certificates, as discussed under “Description of the Intercreditor Agreement — Priority of Distributions”.
Control of Loan Trustee		The holders of at least a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Equipment Notes issued under each Indenture will be entitled to direct the Loan Trustee under such Indenture in taking action as long as no Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing thereunder. If an Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under an Indenture, subject to certain conditions, the Controlling Party will be entitled to direct the Loan Trustee under such Indenture in taking action (including in exercising remedies, such as accelerating such Equipment Notes or foreclosing the lien on the Aircraft with respect to which such Equipment Notes were issued).
		The Controlling Party will be:
		• if Final Distributions have not been paid in full to the holders of the Class A Certificates, the Class A Trustee;
		• if Final Distributions have been paid in full to the holders of the Class A Certificates, but not to the holders of the Class B Certificates, the Class B Trustee; and

		• under certain circumstances, and notwithstanding the foregoing, the Liquidity Provider with the largest amount owed to it.
Limitation on Sale of Aircraft or Equipment Notes		In exercising remedies during the nine months after the earlier of (a) the acceleration of the Equipment Notes issued pursuant to any Indenture and (b) the bankruptcy or insolvency of Delta, the Controlling Party may not, without the consent of each Trustee (other than the Trustee of any Trust all of the Certificates of which are held or beneficially owned by Delta or Delta’s affiliates), direct the sale of such Equipment Notes or the Aircraft subject to the lien of such Indenture for less than certain specified minimum amounts. See “Description of the Intercreditor Agreement — Intercreditor Rights — Limitation on Exercise of Remedies” for a description of such minimum amounts and certain other limitations on the exercise of remedies.
Right to Buy Class A Certificates		If Delta is in bankruptcy and certain other specified events have occurred, the Class B Certificateholders (other than Delta or any of its affiliates), will have the right to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Class A Certificates.
		The purchase price for the Class A Certificates will be the outstanding Pool Balance of such Class A Certificates plus accrued and undistributed interest, without any premium, but including any other amounts then due and payable to the Class A Certificateholders.
Liquidity Facilities		Under the Liquidity Facility for each of the Class A Trust and Class B Trust, the applicable Liquidity Provider is required, if necessary, to make advances in an aggregate amount sufficient to pay interest distributions on the applicable Certificates on up to three successive semiannual Regular Distribution Dates (without regard to any expected future distributions of principal on such Certificates) at the applicable interest rate for such Certificates. Drawings under the Liquidity Facilities cannot be used to pay any amount in respect of the Certificates other than such interest and will not cover interest payable on amounts held in escrow as Deposits with the Depositary. See “Description of the Liquidity Facilities” for a description of the terms of the Liquidity Facilities, including the threshold rating requirements applicable to the Liquidity Provider.
		Notwithstanding the subordination provisions applicable to the Certificates under the Intercreditor Agreement, the Class A Certificateholders and Class B Certificateholders will be entitled to receive and retain the proceeds of drawings under the Class A Liquidity Facility and Class B Liquidity Facility, respectively.
		Upon each drawing under any Liquidity Facility to pay interest distributions on the related Certificates, the Subordination Agent will be obligated to reimburse the applicable Liquidity Provider for the amount of such drawing, together with interest on that drawing. Such reimbursement obligation and all interest, fees and other amounts owing to the Liquidity Provider under each Liquidity Facility and certain other agreements will rank equally with

		comparable obligations relating to the other Liquidity Facility and will rank senior to all of the Certificates in right of payment.
Escrowed Funds		Funds in escrow for the Certificateholders of each Trust with respect to the Pre-Funded Aircraft will be held by the Depositary as Deposits relating to such Trust. Subject to certain conditions, each Trustee may withdraw these funds from time to time to purchase the related series of Equipment Notes in respect of a Pre-Funded Aircraft prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date. On each Regular Distribution Date, the Depositary will pay interest accrued on the Deposits relating to each Trust at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable to the Certificates issued by such Trust. The Deposits relating to each Trust and interest paid thereon will not be subject to the subordination provisions under the Intercreditor Agreement. The Deposits cannot be used to pay any other amount in respect of the Certificates. See “Description of the Deposit Agreements” for a description of the terms of the deposit arrangements, including the threshold rating requirements applicable to the Depositary.
Withdrawal and Return of Escrowed Funds		Under certain circumstances, less than all of the Deposits held in escrow may have been used to purchase Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to the Pre-Funded Aircraft by the Delivery Period Termination Date. This could occur because of delays in the release of liens under the Existing Financings with respect to the 2001-1 Aircraft or because of other reasons. See “Description of the Certificates — Obligation to Purchase Equipment Notes”. If any funds remain as Deposits with respect to any Trust as of the Delivery Period Termination Date, such remaining funds will be withdrawn by the Escrow Agent and distributed by the Paying Agent, with accrued and unpaid interest on such remaining funds, but without any premium, to the Certificateholders of such Trust on a date no earlier than 15 days after the Paying Agent has received notice of the event requiring such distribution or, under certain circumstances, such remaining funds will be automatically returned by the Depositary to the Paying Agent on the Outside Termination Date, and the Paying Agent will distribute such funds to such Certificateholders as promptly as practicable thereafter. In addition, if a Triggering Event occurs prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date, any Deposits held in escrow will also be withdrawn and distributed to the applicable Certificateholders. See “Description of the Deposit Agreements — Other Withdrawals and Return of Deposits”. If any of certain events of loss occurs with respect to a Pre-Funded Aircraft before such Pre-Funded Aircraft is financed pursuant to this offering, any Deposits relating to such Pre-Funded Aircraft held in escrow with respect to each Trust will be similarly withdrawn and distributed to the Certificateholders of such Trust. See “Description of the Deposit Agreements — Other Withdrawals and Return of Deposits”.
Obligation to Purchase Equipment Notes		The Class A Trustee utilized deposits held in escrow with respect to the Funded Aircraft to purchase the Series A Equipment Notes

		issued with respect to each Funded Aircraft on December 21, 2010. The Class B Trustee will be obligated to purchase the Series B Equipment Notes issued with respect to each Funded Aircraft pursuant to the related Amended Funded Aircraft Participation Agreement on the Class B Issuance Date. The Trustees will be obligated to purchase the Equipment Notes issued with respect to each Pre-Funded Aircraft prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Note Purchase Agreement and the forms of financing agreements attached to the Note Purchase Agreement. On and subject to the terms and conditions of the Note Purchase Agreement and the forms of financing agreements attached to the Note Purchase Agreement, Delta agrees to enter into a secured debt financing with respect to: (a) each 2001-1 Aircraft on or prior to October 31, 2011 and (b) each Unencumbered Aircraft on or prior to April 30, 2011, in each case with the relevant parties pursuant to financing agreements that are substantially in the forms attached to the Note Purchase Agreement. Delta may use financing agreements modified in any material respect from the forms attached to the Note Purchase Agreement so long as Delta obtains written confirmation from each Rating Agency that the use of such modified financing agreements will not result in a withdrawal, suspension or downgrading of the rating of each class of Certificates then rated by such Rating Agency. The terms of such financing agreements also must in any event comply with the Required Terms set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement. In addition, Delta, subject to certain exceptions, is obligated to certify to the Trustees that any substantive modifications do not materially and adversely affect the Certificateholders or any Liquidity Provider.
		Under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Trustees will not be obligated to purchase the Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to any Pre-Funded Aircraft not yet financed if a Triggering Event occurs or certain specified conditions are not met. In addition, if any of certain events of loss occurs with respect to a Pre-Funded Aircraft before such Pre-Funded Aircraft is financed pursuant to this offering, the Trustees will not be obligated to purchase the Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to such Pre-Funded Aircraft. The Trustees will have no right or obligation to purchase the Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to any Pre-Funded Aircraft after the Delivery Period Termination Date. See “Description of the Certificates — Obligation to Purchase Equipment Notes”.
Equipment Notes
(a) Issuer		Under each Amended Funded Aircraft Indenture related to each of the Funded Aircraft, Delta will issue Series B Equipment Notes with respect to such Funded Aircraft, which will be acquired by the Class B Trust on the Class B Issuance Date. On December 21, 2010, Delta issued Series A Equipment Notes with respect to each Funded Aircraft, which were acquired by the Class A Trust. Under each Pre-Funded Aircraft Indenture, Delta will issue Series A Equipment Notes and Series B Equipment Notes with respect to

		each Pre-Funded Aircraft, which will be acquired, respectively, by the Class A Trust and the Class B Trust.
(b) Interest		The Series B Equipment Notes will accrue interest at the rate per annum for the Class B Certificates set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, and the Series A Equipment Notes accrue or will accrue, as the case may be, interest at the rate per annum of 4.95%. Interest on the Equipment Notes will be payable on May 23 and November 23, commencing on such date first occurring after the issuance thereof and will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
(c) Principal		The entire principal amount of the issued and outstanding Series B Equipment Notes is scheduled to be paid on November 23, 2015. Principal payments on the issued and outstanding Series A Equipment Notes are scheduled to be paid in specified amounts on May 23 and November 23 in certain years, commencing on May 23, 2011. See “Description of the Equipment Notes — Principal and Interest Payments”.
(d) Rankings		The following subordination provisions will be applicable to the Equipment Notes issued under the Indentures:
		• the indebtedness evidenced by the Series B Equipment Notes issued under such Indenture will be, to the extent and in the manner provided in such Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of payment to the Series A Equipment Notes issued under such Indenture; and
		• the indebtedness evidenced by the Series A Equipment Notes and the Series B Equipment Notes issued under any Indenture will be, to the extent and in the manner provided in the other Indentures, subordinate and subject in right of payment under such other Indentures to the Equipment Notes issued under such other Indentures.
		By virtue of the Intercreditor Agreement, all of the Equipment Notes held by the Subordination Agent will be effectively cross-subordinated. This means that payments received on Series B Equipment Notes issued in respect of one Aircraft may be applied in accordance with the priority of payment provisions set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement to make distributions on the Class A Certificates. See “Description of the Intercreditor Agreement — Priority of Distributions”.
(e) Redemption		Aircraft Event of Loss.  Under an Indenture, if an Event of Loss occurs with respect to an Aircraft, Delta will either:
		• substitute for such Aircraft under the related financing agreements an aircraft meeting certain requirements; or
		• redeem all of the Equipment Notes issued with respect to such Aircraft.

		The redemption price in such case will be the unpaid principal amount of such Equipment Notes to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid interest, but without any premium.
		Optional Redemption.  Delta may elect to redeem at any time prior to maturity all of the Equipment Notes issued with respect to an Aircraft; provided that all outstanding Equipment Notes with respect to all other Aircraft are simultaneously redeemed. In addition, Delta may elect to redeem the Series B Equipment Notes with respect to all Aircraft in connection with a refinancing of such series or without refinancing. See “Possible Refinancing of Class B Certificates”. The redemption price in each such case will be the unpaid principal amount of such Equipment Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, plus the Make-Whole Amount (if any). See “Description of the Equipment Notes — Redemption”.
(f) Security and cross-collateralization		The Equipment Notes issued with respect to each Aircraft will be secured by, among other things, a security interest in such Aircraft.
		In addition, the Equipment Notes will be cross-collateralized to the extent described under “Description of the Equipment Notes — Security” and “Description of the Equipment Notes — Subordination”. This means, among other things, that any proceeds from the sale of any Aircraft by the Loan Trustee or other exercise of remedies under the related Indenture following an Indenture Event of Default under such Indenture will (after all of the Equipment Notes issued under such Indenture have been paid off, and subject to the provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”)) be available for application to shortfalls with respect to the Equipment Notes issued under the other Indentures and the other obligations secured by the other Indentures that are due at the time of such application. In the absence of any such shortfall at the time of such application, excess proceeds will be held by the Loan Trustee under such Indenture as additional collateral for the Equipment Notes issued under each of the other Indentures and will be applied to the payments in respect of the Equipment Notes issued under such other Indentures as they come due. However, if any Equipment Note ceases to be held by the Subordination Agent (as a result of sale during the exercise of remedies by the Controlling Party or otherwise), such Equipment Note will cease to be entitled to the benefits of cross-collateralization. Any cash Collateral held as a result of the cross-collateralization of the Equipment Notes would not be entitled to the benefits of Section 1110 of the Bankruptcy Code (“Section 1110”).
		If the Equipment Notes issued under any Indenture are repaid in full in the case of an Event of Loss with respect to the applicable Aircraft, the lien on such Aircraft under such Indenture will be released. Once the lien on any Aircraft is released, such Aircraft will no longer secure the amounts that may be owing under any Indenture.
(g) Cross-default		There will be cross-default provisions in the Indentures. This means that if the Equipment Notes issued with respect to one

		Aircraft are in a continuing default, the Equipment Notes issued with respect to the remaining Aircraft will also be in default, and remedies will be exercisable with respect to all Aircraft.
(h) Section 1110 Protection		Delta’s internal counsel will provide an opinion to the Class B Trustee that the benefits of Section 1110 will be available for each of the Aircraft.
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences		The Class B Trust itself will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences”.
Certain ERISA Considerations		Each person who acquires a Class B Certificate or an interest therein will be deemed to have represented that either:
		• no assets of a Plan or of any trust established with respect to a Plan have been used to acquire such Class B Certificate or an interest therein; or
		• the purchase and holding of such Class B Certificate or an interest therein by such person are exempt from the prohibited transaction restrictions of ERISA and the Code or provisions of Similar Law pursuant to one or more statutory or administrative exemptions.
		See “Certain ERISA Considerations”.
Transfer Restrictions for Class B Certificates		The Class B Certificates may be sold only to qualified institutional buyers, as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, for so long as they are outstanding. See “Description of the Certificates — Transfer Restrictions for Class B Certificates”.
Governing Law		The Class B Certificates and the Series B Equipment Notes will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

Summary Historical Consolidated Financial and Operating Data

		Nine Months Ended								Year Ended
		September 30,								December 31,
		2010(1)				2009(2)				2009(3)				2008(4)
		(In millions)
Operating revenue		$	23,966			$	21,258			$	28,063			$	22,697
Operating expense			22,043				21,536				28,387				31,011
Operating income (loss)			1,923				(278	)			(324	)			(8,314	)
Interest expense, net			920				928				1,251				613
Net income (loss)			574				(1,212	)			(1,237	)			(8,922	)

(1)		Includes (a) $360 million in primarily non-cash loss on extinguishment of debt, including the write-off of unamortized debt discount and (b) $342 million in restructuring and merger-related charges associated with (i) asset impairments related to the Comair fleet reduction initiative and retired B-747-200 aircraft, (ii) Northwest and the integration of Northwest operations into Delta and (iii) severance and related costs.
(2)		Includes (a) $286 million in restructuring and merger-related charges associated with (i) Northwest and the integration of Northwest operations into Delta and (ii) employee workforce reduction programs and (b) an $83 million non-cash loss for the write-off of the unamortized discount on the extinguishment of the Northwest senior secured exit financing facility.
(3)		Includes (a) $407 million in restructuring and merger-related charges associated with (i) Northwest and the integration of Northwest operations into Delta and (ii) employee workforce reduction programs, (b) an $83 million non-cash loss for the write-off of the unamortized discount on the extinguishment of the Northwest senior secured exit financing facility and (c) a non-cash income tax benefit of $321 million from our consideration of all income sources, including other comprehensive income.

(4)		Includes a $7.3 billion non-cash charge from an impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets and $1.1 billion in primarily non-cash merger-related charges relating to the issuance or vesting of employee equity awards in connection with our merger with Northwest.

		September 30,								December 31,
		2010				2009				2009				2008
						(In millions)
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments		$	3,875			$	5,488			$	4,678			$	4,467
Restricted cash, and cash equivalents (including noncurrent)			456				499				444				453
Total assets			43,153				44,853				43,539				45,084
Long-term debt and capital leases (including current maturities)			15,365				17,684				17,198				16,571
Stockholders’ equity			715				900				245				874
Other Financial and Statistical Data(1)
Revenue passenger miles (millions)			146,936				145,384				188,943				134,879
Available seat miles (millions)			175,657				177,003				230,331				165,639
Passenger mile yield			14.01¢				12.40¢				12.60¢				14.52¢
Passenger revenue per available seat mile			11.72¢				10.19¢				10.34¢				11.82¢
Operating cost per available seat mile			12.55¢				12.17¢				12.32¢				18.72¢
Passenger load factor			83.6	%			82.1	%			82.0	%			81.4	%
Fuel gallons consumed (millions)			2,887				2,951				3,853				2,740
Average price per fuel gallon, net of hedging		$	2.28			$	2.15			$	2.15			$	3.16

(1)		Includes the operations of our contract carriers under capacity purchase agreements, including non-owned carriers.

 

Recent Financial Results

						Increase (Decrease)
						vs. December 2009 Quarter
		December 2010				Passenger
(In millions)		Quarter				Revenue				PRASM				Yield				Capacity
Domestic		$	2,927				11	%			5	%			5	%			6	%
Atlantic			1,226				21	%			8	%			10	%			12	%
Pacific			721				47	%			24	%			26	%			18	%
Latin America			364				13	%			19	%			18	%			(5	)%
Total mainline			5,238				17	%			8	%			9	%			8	%
Regional			1,430				9	%			9	%			10	%			0	%
Consolidated		$	6,668				15	%			8	%			9	%			7	%

	•	We exclude special items because management believes the exclusion of these items is helpful to investors to evaluate our recurring operational performance.
	•	We present CASM excluding fuel expense and related taxes because management believes the volatility in fuel prices impacts the comparability of year-over-year financial performance.
	•	CASM excludes businesses not associated with the generation of a seat mile. These businesses include aircraft maintenance and staffing services we provide to third parties, our vacation wholesale operations and our dedicated freighter operations, which we discontinued on December 31, 2009.
	•	We exclude profit sharing expense from CASM because management believes the exclusion of this item provides a more meaningful comparison of our CASM to the airline industry and prior year results.

		Three Months
		Ended								Year Ended
		December 31,								December 31,
		2010				2009				2010
		(In millions)
Net income (loss)		$	19			$	(25	)		$	593
Items excluded:
Restructuring and merger-related items			108				121				450
Loss on extinguishment of debt			31				—				391
Income tax benefit related to other comprehensive income			—				(321	)			—
Other			—				—				10
Net income excluding special items		$	158			$	(225	)		$	1,444

		Three Months Ended December 31,
		2010				2009
		(In millions)
Non operating expense		$	273			$	309
Item excluded:
Loss on extinguishment of debt			(31	)			—
Non-operating expense excluding special items		$	242			$	309

		Three Months Ended December 31,
		2010				2009
CASM			13.14¢				12.85¢
Items excluded:
Ancillary businesses			(0.31	)			(0.33	)
Restructuring and merger-related items			(0.19	)			(0.23	)
Profit sharing			(0.07	)			—
Aircraft fuel and related taxes			(4.05	)			(3.61	)
CASM excluding certain items			8.52¢				8.68¢

 

In considering whether to purchase the Class B Certificates, you should carefully consider all of the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any related company free writing prospectus and other information which may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus after the date hereof. In addition, you should carefully consider the risk factors described below, along with any risk factors that may be included in our future reports filed with the SEC.

 

Our business and results of operations are dependent on the price and availability of aircraft fuel. High fuel costs or cost increases could have a materially adverse effect on our operating results. Likewise, significant disruptions in the supply of aircraft fuel would materially adversely affect our operations and operating results.

 

Our operating results are significantly impacted by changes in the price and availability of aircraft fuel. Fuel prices have increased substantially since the middle part of the last decade and spiked at record high levels in 2008 before falling dramatically during the latter part of 2008. In 2010, our average fuel price per gallon was $2.33, an 8% increase from an average fuel price of $2.15 in 2009. In 2008, our average fuel price per gallon was $3.16, a 41% increase from an average price of $2.24 in 2007, which in turn was significantly higher than fuel prices just a few years earlier. Fuel costs represented 30%, 29%, and 38% of our operating expense in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Total operating expense for 2008 reflects a $7.3 billion non-cash charge from an impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets and $1.1 billion in primarily non-cash merger-related charges. Including these charges, fuel costs accounted for 28% of total operating expense in 2008. Volatility in fuel costs has had a significant negative effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Our ability to pass along the increased costs of fuel to our customers may be affected by the competitive nature of the airline industry. We often have not been able to increase our fares to offset fully the effect of increased fuel costs in the past and we may not be able to do so in the future.

 

In addition, our aircraft fuel purchase contracts do not provide material protection against price increases or assure the availability of our fuel supplies. We purchase most of our aircraft fuel under contracts that establish the price based on various market indices. We also purchase aircraft fuel on the spot market, from offshore sources and under contracts that permit the refiners to set the price. In an effort to manage our exposure to changes in fuel prices, we use derivative instruments, which generally consist of crude oil, heating oil and jet fuel swap, collar and call option contracts, though we may not be able to successfully manage this exposure. Depending on the type of hedging instrument used, our ability to benefit from declines in fuel prices may be limited.

 

We are currently able to obtain adequate supplies of aircraft fuel, but it is impossible to predict the future availability or price of aircraft fuel. Weather-related events, natural disasters, political disruptions or wars involving oil-producing countries, changes in governmental policy concerning aircraft fuel production, transportation or marketing, changes in aircraft fuel production capacity, environmental concerns and other unpredictable events may result in additional fuel supply shortages and fuel price increases in the future. Additional increases in fuel costs or disruptions in fuel supplies could have additional negative effects on us.

 

Our funding obligations with respect to defined benefit pension plans we sponsor is significant and can vary materially because of changes in investment asset returns and values.

 

The recent financial crisis and economic downturn resulted in broadly lower investment asset returns and values, including in the defined benefit pension plans that we sponsor for eligible employees and retirees. As of December 31, 2010, the defined benefit pension plans had an estimated benefit obligation of approximately $17.5 billion and were funded through assets with a value of approximately $8.2 billion. The benefit obligation is significantly affected by investment asset returns and changes in interest rates, neither of which is

in the control of Delta. We estimate that our funding requirement for our defined benefit pension plans, which are governed by ERISA and have been frozen for future accruals, is approximately $600 million in 2011. The significant level of required funding is due primarily to the decline in the investment markets in 2008, which negatively affected the value of our pension assets. Estimates of pension plan funding requirements can vary materially from actual funding requirements because the estimates are based on various assumptions concerning factors outside our control, including, among other things, the market performance of assets; statutory requirements; and demographic data for participants, including the number of participants and the rate of participant attrition. Results that vary significantly from our assumptions could have a material impact on our future funding obligations.

 

Our obligation to post collateral in connection with our hedge contracts may have a substantial impact on our short-term liquidity.

 

Under hedge contracts that we may enter into from time to time, counterparties to those contracts can require us to fund the margin associated with any loss position on the contracts. If fuel prices fall significantly below the levels at the time we enter into fuel hedging contracts, we may be required to post a significant amount of collateral, which could have an impact on the level of our unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments.

 

Our substantial indebtedness may limit our financial and operating activities and may adversely affect our ability to incur additional debt to fund future needs.

 

We have substantial indebtedness, which could:

 

 

In addition, a substantial level of indebtedness, particularly because substantially all of our assets are currently subject to liens, could limit our ability to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms or at all for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. We have historically had substantial liquidity needs in the operation of our business. These liquidity needs could vary significantly and may be affected by general economic conditions, industry trends, performance and many other factors not within our control.

Agreements governing our debt, including credit agreements and indentures, include financial and other covenants that impose restrictions on our financial and business operations.

 

Our credit facilities and indentures for secured notes have various financial and other covenants that require us to maintain, depending on the particular agreement, minimum fixed charge coverage ratios, minimum unrestricted cash reserves and/or minimum collateral coverage ratios. The value of the collateral that has been pledged in each facility may change over time, including due to factors that are not under our control, resulting in a situation where we may not be able to maintain the collateral coverage ratio. In addition, the credit facilities and indentures contain other negative covenants customary for such financings. If we fail to comply with these covenants and are unable to obtain a waiver or amendment, an event of default would result. These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications.

 

The credit facilities and indentures also contain other events of default customary for such financings. If an event of default were to occur, the lenders or the trustee could, among other things, declare outstanding amounts due and payable, and our cash may become restricted. We cannot provide assurance that we would have sufficient liquidity to repay or refinance the borrowings or notes under any of the credit facilities if such amounts were accelerated upon an event of default. In addition, an event of default or declaration of acceleration under any of the credit facilities or the indentures could also result in an event of default under other of our financing agreements.

 

Employee strikes and other labor-related disruptions may adversely affect our operations.

 

Our business is labor intensive, utilizing large numbers of pilots, flight attendants and other personnel. As of December 31, 2010, approximately 17% of our workforce was unionized. Strikes or labor disputes with our unionized employees may adversely affect our ability to conduct business. Relations between air carriers and labor unions in the United States are governed by the Railway Labor Act, which provides that a collective bargaining agreement between an airline and a labor union does not expire, but instead becomes amendable as of a stated date. The Railway Labor Act generally prohibits strikes or other types of self-help actions both before and after a collective bargaining agreement becomes amendable, unless and until the collective bargaining processes required by the Railway Labor Act have been exhausted.

 

In addition, if we or our affiliates are unable to reach agreement with any of our unionized work groups on future negotiations regarding the terms of their collective bargaining agreements or if additional segments of our workforce become unionized, we may be subject to work interruptions or stoppages, subject to the requirements of the Railway Labor Act. Likewise, if third party regional carriers with whom we have contract carrier agreements are unable to reach agreement with their unionized work groups on current or future negotiations regarding the terms of their collective bargaining agreements, those carriers may be subject to work interruptions or stoppages, subject to the requirements of the Railway Labor Act, which could have a negative impact on our operations.

 

Completion of the integration of the Delta and Northwest Airlines workforces may present challenges.

 

The successful integration of the pre-merger Northwest Airlines operations into Delta and achievement of the anticipated benefits of the combination depend on integrating the pre-merger Delta and Northwest Airlines employee groups and on maintaining productive employee relations. While integration of a number of the workgroups (including pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians, dispatchers, meteorologists, simulator technicians and office and clerical staff) has been completed, completion of the integration of certain workgroups (including flight attendants, airport employees and reservations employees) of the two pre-merger airlines will require the final resolution of union representation issues. We cannot predict when or how these remaining representation issues will be resolved. Unexpected delay, expense or other challenges to integrating the workforces could impact the expected synergies from the merger and affect our financial performance.

Extended interruptions or disruptions in service at one of our hub airports could have a material adverse impact on our operations.

 

Our business is heavily dependent on our operations at the Atlanta airport and at our other hub airports in Amsterdam, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. Each of these hub operations includes flights that gather and distribute traffic from markets in the geographic region surrounding the hub to other major cities and to other Delta hubs. A significant interruption or disruption in service at one of our hubs could have a serious impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We are increasingly dependent on technology in our operations, and if our technology fails or we are unable to continue to invest in new technology, our business may be adversely affected.

 

We have become increasingly dependent on technology initiatives to reduce costs and to enhance customer service in order to compete in the current business environment. For example, we have made significant investments in delta.com, check-in kiosks and related initiatives. The performance and reliability of the technology are critical to our ability to attract and retain customers and our ability to compete effectively. Because of the rapid pace of new developments, these initiatives will continue to require significant capital investments in our technology infrastructure. If we are unable to make these investments, our business and operations could be negatively affected. If we are unable to manage these challenges effectively, our business and results of operations could be negatively affected.

 

In addition, any internal technology error or failure impacting systems hosted internally at our data centers or externally at third party locations or large scale external interruption in technology infrastructure we depend on, such as power, telecommunications or the internet, may disrupt our technology network. Any individual, sustained or repeated failure of technology could impact our customer service and result in increased costs. Our technology systems and related data may be vulnerable to a variety of sources of interruption due to events beyond our control, including natural disasters, terrorist attacks, telecommunications failures, computer viruses, hackers and other security issues. While we have in place, and continue to invest in, technology security initiatives and disaster recovery plans, these measures may not be adequate or implemented properly to prevent a business disruption and its adverse financial consequences to our business.

 

If we experience losses of senior management personnel and other key employees, our operating results could be adversely affected.

 

We are dependent on the experience and industry knowledge of our officers and other key employees to execute our business plans. If we experience a substantial turnover in our leadership and other key employees, our performance could be materially adversely impacted. Furthermore, we may be unable to attract and retain additional qualified executives as needed in the future.

 

Our credit card processors have the ability to take significant holdbacks in certain circumstances. The initiation of such holdbacks likely would have a material adverse effect on our liquidity.

 

Most of the tickets we sell are paid for by customers who use credit cards. Our credit card processing agreements provide that no holdback of receivables or reserve is required except in certain circumstances, including if we do not maintain a required level of unrestricted cash. If circumstances were to occur that would allow American Express or our VISA/MasterCard processor to initiate a holdback, the negative impact on our liquidity likely would be material.

 

We are at risk of losses and adverse publicity stemming from any accident involving our aircraft.

 

An aircraft crash or other accident could expose us to significant tort liability. The insurance we carry to cover damages arising from any future accidents may be inadequate. In the event that the insurance is not adequate, we may be forced to bear substantial losses from an accident. In addition, any accident involving an aircraft that we operate or an aircraft that is operated by an airline that is one of our codeshare partners could

create a public perception that our aircraft are not safe or reliable, which could harm our reputation, result in air travelers being reluctant to fly on our aircraft and harm our business.

 

Our business is subject to the effects of weather and natural disasters and seasonality, which can cause our results to fluctuate.

 

Our results of operations will reflect fluctuations from weather, natural disasters and seasonality. Severe weather conditions and natural disasters can significantly disrupt service and create air traffic control problems. These events decrease revenue and can also increase costs. In addition, increases in frequency, severity or duration of thunderstorms, hurricanes, typhoons or other severe weather events, including from changes in the global climate, could result in increases in fuel consumption to avoid such weather, turbulence-related injuries, delays and cancellations, any of which would increase the potential for greater loss of revenue and higher costs. In addition, demand for air travel is typically higher in the June and September quarters, particularly in international markets, because there is more vacation travel during these periods than during the remainder of the year. Because of fluctuations in our results from weather, natural disasters and seasonality, operating results for a historical period are not necessarily indicative of operating results for a future period and operating results for an interim period are not necessarily indicative of operating results for an entire year.

 

An extended disruption in services provided by our third party regional carriers could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

We utilize the services of third party providers in a number of areas in support of our operations that are integral to our business, including third party carriers in the Delta Connection program. While we have agreements with these providers that define expected service performance, we do not have direct control over the operations of these carriers. To the extent that a significant disruption in our regional operations occurs because any of these providers are unable to perform their obligations over an extended period of time, our revenue may be reduced or our expenses may be increased resulting in a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

Our ability to use net operating loss carryforwards to offset future taxable income for U.S. federal income tax purposes is subject to limitation.

 

In general, under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, a corporation that undergoes an “ownership change” is subject to limitations on its ability to utilize its pre-change net operating losses (“NOLs”), to offset future taxable income. In general, an ownership change occurs if the aggregate stock ownership of certain stockholders (generally 5% shareholders, applying certain look-through rules) increases by more than 50 percentage points over such stockholders’ lowest percentage ownership during the testing period (generally three years).

 

As of December 31, 2010, Delta reported a consolidated federal and state pre-tax NOL carryforward of approximately $17.5 billion. Both Delta and Northwest experienced an ownership change in 2007 as a result of their respective plans of reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. As a result of the merger, Northwest experienced a subsequent ownership change. Delta also experienced a subsequent ownership change on December 17, 2008 as a result of the merger, the issuance of equity to employees in connection with the merger and other transactions involving the sale of our common stock within the testing period.

 

The Delta and Northwest ownership changes resulting from the merger could limit the ability to utilize pre-change NOLs that were not subject to limitation, and could further limit the ability to utilize NOLs that were already subject to limitation. Limitations imposed on the ability to use NOLs to offset future taxable income could cause U.S. federal income taxes to be paid earlier than otherwise would be paid if such limitations were not in effect and could cause such NOLs to expire unused, in each case reducing or eliminating the benefit of such NOLs. Similar rules and limitations may apply for state income tax purposes. NOLs generated subsequent to December 17, 2008 are not limited.

 

The airline industry is highly competitive and, if we cannot successfully compete in the marketplace, our business, financial condition and operating results will be materially adversely affected.

 

We face significant competition with respect to routes, services and fares. Our domestic routes are subject to competition from both new and established carriers, some of which have lower costs than we do and provide service at low fares to destinations served by us. In particular, we face significant competition at our domestic hub airports in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK and Salt Lake City either directly at those airports or at the hubs of other airlines that are located in close proximity to our hubs. We also face competition in smaller to medium-sized markets from regional jet operators.

 

Discount carriers, including Southwest, AirTran and JetBlue, have placed significant competitive pressure on us in the United States and on other network carriers in the domestic market. In addition, other network carriers have also significantly reduced their costs over the last several years. Our ability to compete effectively depends, in part, on our ability to maintain a competitive cost structure. If we cannot maintain our costs at a competitive level, then our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected.

 

Our international routes are subject to competition from both domestic and foreign carriers. Through alliance and other marketing and codesharing agreements with foreign carriers, U.S. carriers have increased their ability to sell international transportation, such as services to and beyond traditional European and Asian gateway cities. Similarly, foreign carriers have obtained increased access to interior U.S. passenger traffic beyond traditional U.S. gateway cities through these relationships. In particular, alliances formed by domestic and foreign carriers, including the Star Alliance (among United Air Lines, Continental Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines, Air Canada and others) and the oneworld alliance (among American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas and others) have significantly increased competition in international markets. The adoption of liberalized Open Skies Aviation Agreements with an increasing number of countries around the world, including in particular the Open Skies Treaties with the Member States of the European Union and Japan, could significantly increase competition among carriers serving those markets.

 

Several joint ventures among U.S. and foreign carriers, including our transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia, have received grants of antitrust immunity allowing the participating carriers to coordinate schedules, pricing, sales and inventory. Other joint ventures that have received anti-trust immunity include a transatlantic alliance among United, Continental, Air Canada and Lufthansa, a transpacific joint venture among United, Continental and All Nippon Airways, a transatlantic joint venture among American, British Airways and Iberia, and a transpacific joint venture between American and Japan Air Lines.

 

Consolidation in the airline industry and changes in international alliances have altered and will continue to alter the competitive landscape in the industry by resulting in the formation of airlines and alliances with increased financial resources, more extensive global networks and altered cost structures.

 

The rapid spread of contagious illnesses can have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

The rapid spread of a contagious illness can have a material adverse effect on the demand for worldwide air travel and therefore have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. Moreover, our operations could be negatively affected if employees are quarantined as the result of exposure to a contagious illness. Similarly, travel restrictions or operational problems resulting from the rapid spread of contagious illnesses in any part of the world in which we operate may have a materially adverse impact on our business and results of operations.

 

Terrorist attacks or international hostilities may adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 caused fundamental and permanent changes in the airline industry, including substantial revenue declines and cost increases, which resulted in industry-wide liquidity

issues. Potential terrorist attacks or fear of such attacks, even if not made directly on the airline industry, could negatively affect us and the airline industry. The potential negative effects include increased security (including as a result of our global operations), insurance and other costs and lost revenue from increased ticket refunds and decreased ticket sales. Our financial resources might not be sufficient to absorb the adverse effects of any further terrorist attacks or other international hostilities involving the United States.

 

The airline industry is subject to extensive government regulation, and new regulations may increase our operating costs.

 

Airlines are subject to extensive regulatory and legal compliance requirements that result in significant costs. For instance, the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) from time to time issues directives and other regulations relating to the maintenance and operation of aircraft that necessitate significant expenditures. We expect to continue incurring expenses to comply with the FAA’s regulations.

 

Other laws, regulations, taxes and airport rates and charges have also been imposed from time to time that significantly increase the cost of airline operations or reduce revenues. The industry is heavily taxed. For example, the Aviation and Transportation Security Act mandates the federalization of certain airport security procedures and imposes security requirements on airports and airlines, most of which are funded by a per ticket tax on passengers and a tax on airlines. The federal government has on several occasions proposed a significant increase in the per ticket tax. A ticket tax increase, if implemented, could negatively impact our results of operations.

 

Proposals to address congestion issues at certain airports or in certain airspace, particularly in the Northeast United States, have included concepts such as “congestion-based” landing fees, “slot auctions” or other alternatives that could impose a significant cost on the airlines operating in those airports or airspace and impact the ability of those airlines to respond to competitive actions by other airlines. Furthermore, events related to extreme weather delays have caused Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) to consider proposals related to airlines’ handling of lengthy flight delays. The recent enactment of such a regulation by the DOT could have a negative impact on our operations in certain circumstances.

 

Future regulatory action concerning climate change and aircraft emissions could have a significant effect on the airline industry. For example, the European Commission has adopted an emissions trading scheme applicable to all flights operating in the European Union, including flights to and from the United States. We expect that such a system will impose significant costs on our operations in the European Union. Other laws or regulations such as this emissions trading scheme or other U.S. or foreign governmental actions may adversely affect our operations and financial results, either through direct costs in our operations or through increases in costs for jet fuel that could result from jet fuel suppliers passing on increased costs that they incur under such a system.

 

We and other U.S. carriers are subject to domestic and foreign laws regarding privacy of passenger and employee data that are not consistent in all countries in which we operate. In addition to the heightened level of concern regarding privacy of passenger data in the United States, certain European government agencies are initiating inquiries into airline privacy practices. Compliance with these regulatory regimes is expected to result in additional operating costs and could impact our operations and any future expansion.

 

Our insurance costs have increased substantially as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and further increases in insurance costs or reductions in coverage could have a material adverse impact on our business and operating results.

 

As a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, aviation insurers significantly (1) reduced the maximum amount of insurance coverage available to commercial air carriers for liability to persons (other than employees or passengers) for claims resulting from acts of terrorism, war or similar events and (2) increased the premiums for such coverage and for aviation insurance in general. Since September 24, 2001, the U.S. government has been providing U.S. airlines with war-risk insurance to cover losses, including those resulting from terrorism, to passengers, third parties (ground damage) and the aircraft hull. The coverage currently extends through September 30, 2011, and we expect the coverage to be further extended. The

withdrawal of government support of airline war-risk insurance would require us to obtain war-risk insurance coverage commercially, if available. Such commercial insurance could have substantially less desirable coverage than that currently provided by the U.S. government, may not be adequate to protect our risk of loss from future acts of terrorism, may result in a material increase to our operating expenses or may not be obtainable at all, resulting in an interruption to our operations.

 

Appraisals should not be relied upon as a measure of realizable value of the Aircraft.

 

Three independent appraisal and consulting firms have prepared appraisals of the Aircraft. The appraisal letters provided by these firms are annexed to this prospectus supplement as Appendix II. The AISI appraisal is dated October 29, 2010; the BK appraisal is dated November 3, 2010; and the MBA appraisal is dated November 11, 2010. The appraised values provided by each of AISI, BK and MBA are presented as of or around the respective dates of their appraisals. The appraisals do not purport to, and do not, reflect the current market value of the Aircraft. Such appraisals of the Aircraft are subject to a number of significant assumptions and methodologies (which differ among the appraisers) and were prepared without a physical inspection of the Aircraft. The appraisals take into account “base value”, which is the theoretical value for an aircraft assuming a balanced market, while current market value is the value for an aircraft in the actual market. In particular, the appraisals of the Aircraft indicate appraised base value, adjusted for the maintenance status of the Aircraft around the time of the appraisals (but assuming the related engines are in a half-time condition). Appraisals that are more current or are based on other assumptions and methodologies (or a physical inspection of the Aircraft) may result in valuations that are materially different from those contained in such appraisals. See “Description of the Aircraft and the Appraisals — The Appraisals”.

 

An appraisal is only an estimate of value. It does not necessarily indicate the price at which an aircraft may be purchased or sold in the market. In particular, the appraisals of the Aircraft are estimates of the values of the Aircraft assuming the Aircraft are in a certain condition, which may not be the case. An appraisal should not be relied upon as a measure of realizable value. The proceeds realized upon the exercise of remedies with respect to any Aircraft, including a sale of such Aircraft, may be less than its appraised value. The value of an Aircraft if remedies are exercised under the applicable Indenture will depend on various factors, including market, economic and airline industry conditions; the supply of similar aircraft; the availability of buyers; the condition of the Aircraft; the time period in which the Aircraft is sought to be sold; and whether the Aircraft is sold separately or as part of a block.

 

As discussed under “— Risk Factors Relating to the Airline Industry — Terrorist attacks or international hostilities may adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results”, since September 11, 2001, the airline industry has suffered substantial losses. In response to adverse market conditions, many U.S. air carriers and lessors have reduced the number of aircraft in operation, and there may be further reductions, particularly by air carriers in bankruptcy or liquidation. Any such reduction of aircraft of the same models as the Aircraft could adversely affect the value of the Aircraft.

 

Accordingly, we cannot assure you that the proceeds realized upon any exercise of remedies with respect to the Aircraft would be sufficient to satisfy in full payments due on the Equipment Notes relating to the Aircraft or the full amount of distributions expected on the Certificates.

 

If we fail to perform maintenance responsibilities, the value of the Aircraft may deteriorate.

 

To the extent described in the Indentures, we will be responsible for the maintenance, service, repair and overhaul of the Aircraft. If we fail to perform these responsibilities adequately, the value of the Aircraft may be reduced. In addition, the value of the Aircraft may deteriorate even if we fulfill our maintenance responsibilities. As a result, it is possible that upon a liquidation, there will be less proceeds than anticipated to repay the holders of Equipment Notes. See “Description of the Equipment Notes — Certain Provisions of the Indentures — Maintenance and Operation”.

Inadequate levels of insurance may result in insufficient proceeds to repay holders of related Equipment Notes.

 

To the extent described in the Indentures, we must maintain all-risk aircraft hull insurance on the Aircraft. If we fail to maintain adequate levels of insurance, the proceeds which could be obtained upon an Event of Loss of an Aircraft may be insufficient to repay the holders of the related Equipment Notes. See “Description of the Equipment Notes — Certain Provisions of the Indentures — Insurance”.

 

Repossession of Aircraft may be difficult, time-consuming and expensive.

 

There will be no general geographic restrictions on our ability to operate the Aircraft. Although we do not currently intend to do so, we are permitted to register the Aircraft in certain foreign jurisdictions and to lease the Aircraft, and to enter into interchange or pooling arrangements with respect to the Aircraft, with unrelated third parties. It may be difficult, time-consuming and expensive for the Loan Trustee under an Indenture to exercise its repossession rights, particularly if the related Aircraft is located outside the United States, is registered in a foreign jurisdiction or is leased to or in the possession of a foreign or domestic operator. Additional difficulties may exist if such a lessee or other operator is the subject of a bankruptcy, insolvency or similar event. See “Description of the Equipment Notes — Certain Provisions of the Indentures — Registration, Leasing and Possession”.

 

In addition, some jurisdictions may allow for other liens or other third party rights to have priority over a Loan Trustee’s security interest in an Aircraft. As a result, the benefits of a Loan Trustee’s security interest in an Aircraft may be less than they would be if the Aircraft were located or registered in the United States.

 

Upon repossession of an Aircraft, the Aircraft may need to be stored and insured. The costs of storage and insurance can be significant and the incurrence of such costs could reduce the proceeds available to repay the Certificateholders. In addition, at the time of foreclosing on the lien on the Aircraft under the related Indenture, an Airframe subject to such Indenture might not be equipped with Engines subject to the same Indenture. If Delta fails to transfer title to engines not owned by Delta that are attached to repossessed Aircraft, it could be difficult, expensive and time-consuming to assemble an Aircraft consisting of an Airframe and Engines subject to the Indenture.

 

The Liquidity Providers, the Subordination Agent and the Trustees will receive certain payments before the Certificateholders do. In addition, the Class B Certificates rank generally junior to the Class A Certificates.

 

Under the Intercreditor Agreement, each Liquidity Provider will receive payment of all amounts owed to it, including reimbursement of drawings made to pay interest on the applicable class of Certificates, before the holders of any class of Certificates receive any funds. In addition, the Subordination Agent and the Trustees will receive certain payments before the holders of any class of Certificates receive distributions. See “Description of the Intercreditor Agreement — Priority of Distributions”.

 

In addition, the Class B Certificates rank generally junior to the Class A Certificates. Moreover, as a result of the subordination provisions in the Intercreditor Agreement, in a case involving the liquidation of substantially all of the assets of Delta, the Class B Certificateholders may receive a smaller distribution in respect of their claims than holders of unsecured claims against Delta of the same amount.

 

Payments of principal on the Certificates are subordinated to payments of interest on the Certificates, subject to certain limitations and certain other payments. Consequently, a payment default under any Equipment Note or a Triggering Event may cause the distribution of interest on the Certificates or such other amounts from payments received with respect to principal on one or more series of Equipment Notes. If this occurs, the interest accruing on the remaining Equipment Notes may be less than the amount of interest expected to be distributed from time to time on the remaining Certificates. This is because the interest on the Certificates may be based on a Pool Balance that exceeds the outstanding principal balance of the remaining Equipment Notes. As a result of this possible interest shortfall, the holders of the Certificates may not receive the full amount expected after a payment default under any Equipment Note even if all Equipment Notes are

eventually paid in full. For a more detailed discussion of the subordination provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, see “Description of the Intercreditor Agreement — Priority of Distributions”.

 

In addition, if Delta is in bankruptcy or other specified defaults have occurred, the subordination provisions applicable to the Certificates permit certain distributions to be made on Class B Certificates prior to making distributions in full on the Class A Certificates.

 

Certain Certificateholders may not participate in controlling the exercise of remedies in a default scenario.

 

If an Indenture Event of Default is continuing under an Indenture, subject to certain conditions, the Loan Trustee under such Indenture will be directed by the Controlling Party in exercising remedies under such Indenture, including accelerating the applicable Equipment Notes or foreclosing the lien on the Aircraft with respect to which such Equipment Notes were issued. See “Description of the Certificates — Indenture Events of Default and Certain Rights Upon an Indenture Event of Default”.

 

The Controlling Party will be:

 

 

As a result of the foregoing, if the Trustee for a class of Certificates is not the Controlling Party with respect to an Indenture, the Certificateholders of that class will have no rights to participate in directing the exercise of remedies under such Indenture.

 

The proceeds from the disposition of any Aircraft or Equipment Notes may not be sufficient to pay all amounts distributable to the Certificateholders.

 

During the continuation of any Indenture Event of Default under an Indenture, the Equipment Notes issued under such Indenture or the related Aircraft may be sold in the exercise of remedies with respect to that Indenture, subject to certain limitations. See “Description of the Intercreditor Agreement — Intercreditor Rights — Limitation on Exercise of Remedies”. The market for Aircraft or Equipment Notes during the continuation of any Indenture Event of Default may be very limited, and there can be no assurance as to whether they could be sold or the price at which they could be sold. If any Equipment Notes are sold for less than their outstanding principal amount or any Aircraft are sold for less than the outstanding principal amount of the related Equipment Notes, certain Certificateholders will receive a smaller amount of principal distributions than anticipated and will not have any claim for the shortfall against Delta (except in the case that Aircraft are sold for less than the outstanding principal amount of the related Equipment Notes), any Liquidity Provider or any Trustee. Any default arising under an Indenture solely by reason of the cross-default in such Indenture may not be of a type required to be cured under Section 1110. Any cash collateral held as a result of the cross-collateralization of the Equipment Notes also would not be entitled to the benefits of Section 1110.

 

Any credit ratings assigned to the Class B Certificates are not a recommendation to buy and may be lowered or withdrawn in the future.

 

Any credit rating assigned to the Class B Certificates is not a recommendation to purchase, hold or sell the Class B Certificates, because such rating does not address market price or suitability for a particular investor. A rating may change during any given period of time and may be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency if in its judgment circumstances in the future (including the downgrading of Delta, the Depositary or the Class B Liquidity Provider) so warrant. Moreover, any change in a rating agency’s

assessment of the risks of aircraft-backed debt (and similar securities such as the Class B Certificates) could adversely affect the credit rating issued by such rating agency with respect to the Class B Certificates.

 

Any credit ratings assigned to the Class B Certificates would be expected to be based primarily on the default risk of the Series B Equipment Notes and the Depositary, the availability of the Class B Liquidity Facility for the benefit of the holders of the Class B Certificates, the collateral value provided by the Aircraft relating to the Series B Equipment Notes, the cross-collateralization provisions applicable to the Indentures and the subordination provisions applicable to the Certificates under the Intercreditor Agreement. Such credit ratings would be expected to address the likelihood of timely payment of interest (at the Stated Interest Rate and without any premium) when due on the Class B Certificates and the ultimate payment of principal distributable under the Class B Certificates by the Final Legal Distribution Date. Such credit ratings would not be expected to address the possibility of certain defaults, optional redemptions or other circumstances (such as an Event of Loss to an Aircraft), which could result in the payment of the outstanding principal amount of the Class B Certificates prior to the final expected Regular Distribution Date.

 

The reduction, suspension or withdrawal of any credit ratings assigned to the Class B Certificates would not, by itself, constitute an Indenture Event of Default.

 

As a Certificateholder, you will have no protection against our entry into highly leveraged or extraordinary transactions, and there are no financial or other covenants in the Certificates, the Equipment Notes or the underlying agreements that impose restrictions on our financial and business operations or our ability to execute any such transaction.

 

The Certificates (including the Class B Certificates), the Equipment Notes and the underlying agreements will not contain any financial or other covenants or “event risk” provisions protecting the Certificateholders in the event of a highly leveraged or other extraordinary transaction affecting Delta or its affiliates. We do from time to time analyze opportunities presented by various types of transactions, and we may conduct our business in a manner that could cause the market price or liquidity of the Certificates to decline, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or the credit rating of the Certificates or otherwise could restrict or impair our ability to pay amounts due under the Equipment Notes and/or the related agreements, including by entering into a highly leveraged or other extraordinary transaction.

 

Escrowed funds may be withdrawn and distributed to holders of Certificates without purchase of Equipment Notes.

 

Under certain circumstances, less than all of the Deposits (including the Class B Deposits) held in escrow may have been used to purchase Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to the Pre-Funded Aircraft by the Delivery Period Termination Date. This could occur because of delays in the release of liens under the Existing Financings with respect to the 2001-1 Aircraft or because of other reasons. See “Description of the Certificates — Obligation to Purchase Equipment Notes”. If any funds remain as Deposits with respect to any Trust as of the Delivery Period Termination Date, such remaining funds will be withdrawn by the Escrow Agent and distributed by the Paying Agent, with accrued and unpaid interest on such remaining funds, but without any premium, to the Certificateholders of such Trust on a date no earlier than 15 days after the Paying Agent has received notice of the event requiring such distribution or, under certain circumstances, such remaining funds will be automatically returned by the Depositary to the Paying Agent on the Outside Termination Date, and the Paying Agent will distribute such funds to such Certificateholders as promptly as practicable thereafter. In addition, if a Triggering Event occurs prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date, any Deposits held in escrow will also be withdrawn and distributed to the Certificateholders. See “Description of the Deposit Agreements — Other Withdrawals and Return of Deposits”. If any of certain events of loss occurs with respect to a Pre-Funded Aircraft before such Pre-Funded Aircraft is financed pursuant to this offering, any Deposits relating to such Pre-Funded Aircraft held in escrow with respect to each Trust will be similarly withdrawn and distributed to the Certificateholders of such Trust. See “Description of the Deposit Agreements — Other Withdrawals and Return of Deposits”.

The holders of the Certificates are exposed to the credit risk of the Depositary.

 

The holders of the Certificates (including the Class B Certificates) may suffer losses or delays in repayment in the event that the Depositary fails to pay when due the Deposits or accrued interest thereon for any reason, including by reason of the insolvency of the Depositary. Delta is not required to indemnify against any failure on the part of the Depositary to repay the Deposits or accrued interest thereon in full on a timely basis. Amounts deposited with the Depositary under the Escrow Agreements are not property of Delta and are not entitled to the benefits of Section 1110.

 

Because there is no current market for the Class B Certificates and the Class B Certificates are subject to transfer restrictions, you may have a limited ability to resell Class B Certificates.

 

Prior to this offering of the Class B Certificates, there has been no trading market for the Class B Certificates. Neither Delta nor the Class B Trust intends to apply for listing of the Class B Certificates on any securities exchange. The Underwriters may assist in resales of the Class B Certificates, but they are not required to do so, and any market-making activity may be discontinued at any time without notice at the sole discretion of each Underwriter. A secondary market for the Class B Certificates therefore may not develop. If a secondary market does develop, it might not continue or it might not be sufficiently liquid to allow you to resell any of your Class B Certificates. If an active trading market does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the Class B Certificates may be adversely affected.

 

In addition, the Class B Certificates will be subject to transfer restrictions. They may be sold only to qualified institutional buyers (“QIBs”), as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, for so long as they are outstanding. This additional restriction may make it more difficult for you to resell any of your Class B Certificates, even if a secondary market does develop. See “Description of the Certificates — Transfer Restrictions for Class B Certificates”.

 

The liquidity of, and trading market for, the Class B Certificates also may be adversely affected by general declines in the markets or by declines in the market for similar securities. Such declines may adversely affect such liquidity and trading markets independent of Delta’s financial performance and prospects.

 

The market for Class B Certificates could be negatively affected by legislative and regulatory changes.

 

The Class B Certificates are sold to investors under an exemption to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), that permits the Class B Trust to issue the Class B Certificates without registering as an investment company; provided that the Class B Certificates may be initially sold, and subsequently re-sold, only to QIBs for so long as they are outstanding. Absent a future change in law, these limitations will remain in place for so long as the Class B Certificates remain outstanding.

 

Recent events in the debt markets, including defaults on asset-backed securities that had an investment grade credit rating at the time of sale, have prompted a number of broad based legislative and regulatory reviews, including a review of the regulations that permit the sale of certain asset-backed securities based upon the credit ratings of such securities. In particular, the SEC is required under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd Frank Act”) to adopt rule changes to generally remove any reference to credit ratings in its regulations. If, in connection with the requirements of the Dodd Frank Act discussed in the preceding sentence, the SEC adopts rule changes that eliminate or significantly limit the exemption from the Investment Company Act that the Class B Trust relies upon, or if other legislative or regulatory changes are enacted that affect the ability of the Class B Trust to issue the Class B Certificates to QIBs or affect the ability of such QIBs to continue to hold or purchase the Class B Certificates, or to re-sell their Class B Certificates to other QIBs, the interests of the holders of the Class B Certificates may be adversely affected. For example, the secondary market (if any) for the Class B Certificates could be negatively affected and, as a result, the market price of the Class B Certificates could decrease.

 

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Class B Certificates will be used on the Class B Issuance Date to acquire the Series B Equipment Notes issued with respect to each of the Funded Aircraft under the related Amended Funded Aircraft Indenture. The balance of such proceeds will initially be held in escrow and deposited with the Depositary, pending the financing of each Pre-Funded Aircraft under a Pre-Funded Aircraft Indenture. The Class B Trust will withdraw funds from the escrow to acquire from Delta the Series B Equipment Notes to be issued as the Pre-Funded Aircraft are subjected to the related Pre-Funded Aircraft Indentures. The Series B Equipment Notes will be full recourse obligations of Delta.

 

With respect to the Pre-Funded Aircraft that constitute 2001-1 Aircraft, Delta will use the proceeds from the issuance of the Series B Equipment Notes issued with respect to such Aircraft to reimburse itself, in part, for the repayment at maturity of the Existing Financing (as described below) of such 2001-1 Aircraft. Delta will use the balance of any such proceeds not used in connection with the foregoing, along with the proceeds from the issuance of the Series B Equipment Notes issued with respect to the Funded Aircraft and the Unencumbered Aircraft, to pay fees and expenses relating to this offering and for general corporate purposes.

 

The 2001-1 Aircraft are each subject to separate indentures under an enhanced equipment trust certificate transaction entered into by Delta in September 2001 (the “2001-1 EETC” or the “Existing Financings”). The 2001-1 EETC currently consist of three separate tranches of certificates, each of which bear interest at a fixed rate as follows: 6.619% with respect to class A-1 certificates, 7.111% with respect to class A-2 certificates and 7.711% with respect to class B certificates. A final distribution on such class A-1 certificates is scheduled to occur on March 18, 2011 and final distributions on such class A-2 and class B certificates are scheduled to occur on September 18, 2011.

 

After the 2001-1 Aircraft are released from the liens of the Existing Financings, the 2001-1 Aircraft are expected to be subjected to the liens of the Pre-Funded Aircraft Indentures in connection with this offering as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement. See “Description of the Aircraft and the Appraisals — Deliveries of Pre-Funded Aircraft”.

 

The ratio of earnings (loss) to fixed charges represents the number of times that fixed charges are covered by earnings. Earnings (loss) represents income (loss) before income taxes, plus fixed charges, less capitalized interest. Fixed charges include interest, whether expensed or capitalized, amortization of debt costs, the portion of rent expense representative of the interest factor and preferred stock dividends. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, 2006 and 2005, earnings were not sufficient to cover fixed charges by $1.2 billion, $1.6 billion, $9.1 billion, $7.0 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively.

 

References to “Successor” refer to Delta on or after May 1, 2007, after giving effect to (1) the cancellation of Delta common stock issued prior to the effective date of Delta’s emergence from bankruptcy on April 30, 2007; (2) the issuance of new Delta common stock and certain debt securities in accordance with Delta’s Joint Plan of Reorganization; and (3) the application of fresh start reporting. References to “Predecessor” refer to Delta prior to May 1, 2007.

 

 

We provide scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States and around the world. Our global route network gives us a presence in every major domestic and international market. Our route network is centered around the hub system we operate at airports in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. Each of these hub operations includes flights that gather and distribute traffic from markets in the geographic region surrounding the hub to domestic and international cities and to other hubs. Our network is supported by a fleet of aircraft that is varied in terms of size and capabilities, giving us flexibility to adjust aircraft to the network.

 

Other key characteristics of our route network include:

 

 

We are a Delaware corporation headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Our principal executive offices are located at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia 30320-6001 and our telephone number is (404) 715-2600. Our website is www.delta.com. We have provided this website address as an inactive textual reference only and the information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

The following summary of particular material terms of the Certificates supplements (and, to the extent inconsistent therewith, replaces) the description of the general terms and provisions of pass through certificates set forth in the prospectus accompanying this prospectus supplement. The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the Basic Agreement, which was filed with the SEC as an exhibit to Delta’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-106592, and to all of the provisions of the Certificates, the Trust Supplements, the Liquidity Facilities, the Deposit Agreements, the Escrow Agreements, the Note Purchase Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement. Copies of the Class A Certificates, the Class A Trust Supplement, the Class A Deposit Agreement and the Class A Escrow Agreement were filed as exhibits to Delta’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 22, 2010. Copies of the Class B Certificates, the Class B Trust Supplement, the Class B Deposit Agreement, the Class B Escrow Agreement, the Note Purchase Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement will be filed as exhibits to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Delta with the SEC.

 

Except as otherwise indicated, the following summary relates to each of the Trusts and the Certificates issued by each Trust. The terms and conditions governing each of the Trusts will be substantially the same, except as described under “— Subordination” and “— Transfer Restrictions for Class B Certificates” below and elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, and except that the principal amount and scheduled principal repayments of the Equipment Notes held by each Trust and the interest rate and maturity date of the Equipment Notes held by each Trust will differ.

 

Each pass through certificate (collectively, the “Certificates”) represents (in the case of the Class A Certificates), or will represent (in the case of the Class B Certificates), a fractional undivided interest in one of two Delta Air Lines 2010-2 Pass Through Trusts: the “Class A Trust” or the “Class B Trust” and, collectively, the “Trusts”. The Class A Trust was formed pursuant to a pass through trust agreement between Delta and U.S. Bank Trust National Association (as successor trustee to State Street Bank and Trust Company of Connecticut, National Association), as trustee, dated as of November 16, 2000 (the “Basic Agreement”), and a supplement thereto, dated as of November 22, 2010 (the “Class A Trust Supplement” and, together with the Basic Agreement, the “Class A Pass Through Trust Agreement”). The Class B Trust will be formed pursuant to the Basic Agreement and a supplement thereto, to be dated as of the Class B Issuance Date (the “Class B Trust Supplement” and, together with the Basic Agreement, the “Class B Pass Through Trust Agreement” and, the Class B Trust Supplement together with the Class A Trust Supplement, collectively, the “Trust Supplements” and, the Class B Pass Through Trust Agreement together with the Class A Pass Through Trust Agreement, collectively, the “Pass Through Trust Agreements”). The trustee under the Class A Trust and the Class B Trust is referred to herein, respectively, as the “Class A Trustee” and the “Class B Trustee”, and collectively as the “Trustees”. The Certificates previously issued by the Class A Trust and the Certificates to be issued by the Class B Trust are referred to herein, respectively, as the “Class A Certificates” and the “Class B Certificates”. The Class A Trust purchased all of the Series A Equipment Notes issued with respect to the Funded Aircraft on December 21, 2010 and will purchase all of the Series A Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to the Pre-Funded Aircraft. The Class B Trust will purchase all of the Series B Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to the Aircraft. The holders of the Class A Certificates and the Class B Certificates are referred to herein, respectively, as the “Class A Certificateholders” and the “Class B Certificateholders”, and collectively as the “Certificateholders”. Assuming all of the Equipment Notes expected to be issued with respect to the Aircraft are issued, the sum of the initial principal balance of the Equipment Notes held by each Trust will equal the initial aggregate face amount of the Certificates issued by such Trust.

Each Class A Certificate represents, and each Class B Certificate will represent, a fractional undivided interest in the Trust created by the applicable Pass Through Trust Agreement. The property of each Trust (the “Trust Property”) consists, or will consist of, as the case may be:

 

 

The Certificates represent fractional undivided interests in the respective Trusts only, and all payments and distributions thereon will be made only from the Trust Property of the related Trust. (Basic Agreement, Sections 2.01 and 3.09; Trust Supplements, Section 3.01) The Certificates do not represent indebtedness of the Trusts, and references in this prospectus supplement to interest accruing on the Certificates are included for purposes of computation only. (Trust Supplements, Section 3.01) The Certificates do not represent an interest in or obligation of Delta, the Trustees, the Subordination Agent, any of the Loan Trustees or any affiliate of any thereof. Each Certificateholder by its acceptance of a Certificate agrees to look solely to the income and proceeds from the Trust Property of the related Trust for payments and distributions on such Certificate. (Basic Agreement, Section 3.09)

 

Pursuant to the Escrow Agreement applicable to each Trust, the Certificateholders of such Trust, as holders of the Escrow Receipts affixed to each Certificate issued by such Trust, are entitled to certain rights with respect to the Deposits relating to such Trust. Accordingly, any transfer of a Certificate will have the effect of transferring the corresponding rights with respect to the Deposits, and rights with respect to the Deposits may not be separately transferred by the Certificateholders. In addition, the Certificates and the related Escrow Receipts may not be separately assigned or transferred. (Escrow Agreements, Section 1.03) Rights with respect to the Deposits and the Escrow Agreement relating to a Trust, except for the right to direct withdrawals for the purchase of related Equipment Notes, will not constitute Trust Property. (Trust Supplements, Section 1.01) Payments to the Certificateholders in respect of the Deposits and the Escrow Receipts relating to a Trust will constitute payments to such Certificateholders solely in their capacity as holders of the related Escrow Receipts.

 

The Class A Certificates were issued in fully registered form and are subject to the provisions described below under “— Book-Entry Registration; Delivery and Form”. The Class B Certificates will be issued in fully registered form only and will be subject to such provisions and “— Transfer Restrictions for Class B Certificates”. The Class A Certificates were, and the Class B Certificates will be, issued only in minimum denominations of $2,000 (or, in the case of the Class B Certificates, such other denomination that is the lowest integral multiple of $1,000, that is, at the time of issuance, equal to at least 1,000 euros) and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, except that, in the case of the Class B Certificate, one Class B Certificate may be, issued in a different denomination. (Trust Supplements, Section 4.01(a))

 

The following description of distributions on the Certificates should be read in conjunction with the description of the Intercreditor Agreement because the Intercreditor Agreement may alter the following provisions in a default situation. See “— Subordination” and “Description of the Intercreditor Agreement”.

 

Payments of interest on the Deposits with respect to each Trust and payments of principal, Make-Whole Amount (if any) and interest on the Equipment Notes or with respect to other Trust Property held in each Trust will be distributed by the Paying Agent (in the case of Deposits) or by the Trustee (in the case of Trust Property of such Trust) to Certificateholders of such Trust on the date receipt of such payment is confirmed, except in the case of certain types of Special Payments.

 

May 23 and November 23 of each year are referred to herein as “Regular Distribution Dates” (each Regular Distribution Date and Special Distribution Date, a “Distribution Date”).

 

Interest

 

The Deposits held with respect to each Trust and the Equipment Notes held in each Trust will accrue interest at the applicable rate per annum for the applicable class of Certificates, payable on each Regular Distribution Date commencing on May 23, 2011 (or in the case of Equipment Notes issued after such date, commencing with the first Regular Distribution Date to occur after such Equipment Notes are issued). The rate per annum for the Class B Certificates is set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, and the rate per annum for the Class A Certificates is 4.95%. The interest rate applicable to each class of Certificates, as described in the previous sentence, is referred to as the “Stated Interest Rate” for such Trust. Interest payments will be distributed to Certificateholders of such Trust on each Regular Distribution Date until the final Distribution Date for such Trust, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement. Interest on the Deposits and on the Equipment Notes will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year, consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

Distributions of interest on the Class A Certificates and Class B Certificates will be supported by a separate Liquidity Facility provided by the applicable Liquidity Provider for the benefit of the holders of such Certificates, each of which is expected to provide an aggregate amount sufficient to distribute interest on the Pool Balance thereof at the Stated Interest Rate for such Certificates on up to three successive semiannual Regular Distribution Dates (without regard to any future distributions of principal on such Certificates), except that no Liquidity Facility will cover interest payable by the Depositary on the Deposits relating to the applicable Trust. The Liquidity Facility for any class of Certificates does not provide for drawings thereunder to pay for principal or Make-Whole Amount with respect to such Certificates, any interest with respect to such Certificates in excess of their Stated Interest Rate, or, notwithstanding the subordination provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, principal, interest, or Make-Whole Amount with respect to the Certificates of any other class. Therefore, only the Class A Certificateholders and Class B Certificateholders will be entitled to receive and retain the proceeds of drawings under the Class A Liquidity Facility and the Class B Liquidity Facility, respectively. See “Description of the Liquidity Facilities”.

 

Principal

 

The entire principal amount of the issued and outstanding Series B Equipment Notes is scheduled for payment on November 23, 2015. Payments of principal on the issued and outstanding Series A Equipment Notes are scheduled to be paid in specified amounts on May 23 and November 23 in certain years, commencing on May 23, 2011. See “Description of the Equipment Notes — Principal and Interest Payments”.

 

Distributions

 

Payments of interest on the Deposits (other than as part of any withdrawals described in “Description of the Deposit Agreements — Other Withdrawals and Return of Deposits”) and payments of interest on or principal of the Equipment Notes (including drawings made under a Liquidity Facility in respect of a shortfall of interest payable on any Certificate) scheduled to be made on a Regular Distribution Date are referred to

herein as “Scheduled Payments”. See “Description of the Equipment Notes — Principal and Interest Payments”. The “Final Legal Distribution Date” for the Class A Certificates is November 23, 2020 and for the Class B Certificates is May 23, 2017.

 

The Paying Agent with respect to each Escrow Agreement will distribute on each Regular Distribution Date to the Certificateholders of the Trust to which such Escrow Agreement relates all Scheduled Payments received in respect of the related Deposits, the receipt of which is confirmed by the Paying Agent on such Regular Distribution Date. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, on each Regular Distribution Date, the Trustee of each Trust will distribute to the Certificateholders of such Trust all Scheduled Payments received in respect of the Equipment Notes held on behalf of such Trust, the receipt of which is confirmed by such Trustee on such Regular Distribution Date. Each Certificateholder of each Trust will be entitled to receive its proportionate share, based upon its fractional interest in such Trust, of any distribution in respect of Scheduled Payments of interest on Deposits relating to such Trust, and, subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, each Certificateholder of each Trust will be entitled to receive its proportionate share, based upon its fractional interest in such Trust, of any distribution in respect of Scheduled Payments of principal of or interest on the Equipment Notes held on behalf of such Trust. Each such distribution of Scheduled Payments will be made by the applicable Paying Agent or the applicable Trustee, as the case may be, to the Certificateholders of record of the relevant Trust on the record date applicable to such Scheduled Payment (generally, 15 days prior to each Regular Distribution Date), subject to certain exceptions. (Basic Agreement, Sections 1.01 and 4.02(a); Escrow Agreements, Section 2.03(a)) If a Scheduled Payment is not received by the applicable Paying Agent or the applicable Trustee, as the case may be, on a Regular Distribution Date but is received within five days thereafter, it will be distributed on the date received to such holders of record. If it is received after such five-day period, it will be treated as a Special Payment and distributed as described below. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 1.01; Escrow Agreements, Section 2.03(d))

 

Any payment in respect of, or any proceeds of, any Equipment Note or the collateral under any Indenture (the “Collateral”) other than a Scheduled Payment (each, a “Special Payment”) will be distributed on, in the case of an early redemption or a purchase of any Equipment Note, the date of such early redemption or purchase (which will be a Business Day), and otherwise on the Business Day specified for distribution of such Special Payment pursuant to a notice delivered by each Trustee (as described below) as soon as practicable after the Trustee has received notice of such Special Payment, or has received the funds for such Special Payment (each, a “Special Distribution Date”). Any such distribution will be subject to the Intercreditor Agreement. (Basic Agreement, Sections 4.02(b) and (c); Trust Supplements, Section 7.01(d))

 

Any Deposits withdrawn because a Triggering Event occurs, and any unused Deposits remaining as of the Delivery Period Termination Date, will be distributed, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, but without any premium (each, also a “Special Payment”), on a date no earlier than 15 days after the Paying Agent has received notice of the event requiring such distribution (also, a “Special Distribution Date”). However, if the day scheduled for such withdrawal is within 10 days before or after a Regular Distribution Date, the Escrow Agent will request that such withdrawal be made on such Regular Distribution Date. (Escrow Agreements, Sections 1.02(f), 2.03(b) and 2.06) Any such distribution will not be subject to the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

“Triggering Event” means (i) the occurrence of an Indenture Event of Default under all of the Indentures resulting in a PTC Event of Default with respect to the most senior class of Certificates then outstanding, (ii) the acceleration of all of the outstanding Equipment Notes (provided that, with respect to the period prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date, the aggregate principal amount thereof exceeds $300 million) or (iii) certain bankruptcy or insolvency events involving Delta. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 1.01)

 

Any Deposits withdrawn because a Pre-Funded Aircraft suffers a Delivery Period Event of Loss (or an event that would constitute such a Delivery Period Event of Loss but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both) before such Pre-Funded Aircraft is financed pursuant to this offering will be distributed, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, but without any premium (each, also a “Special Payment”), on a date no earlier than 15 days after the Paying Agent has received notice of the event requiring

such distribution (also, a “Special Distribution Date”). (Escrow Agreements, Sections 1.02(e), 2.03(b) and 2.07) Any such distribution will not be subject to the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Each Paying Agent, in the case of the Deposits, and each Trustee, in the case of the Trust Property, will mail a notice to the Certificateholders of the applicable Trust stating the scheduled Special Distribution Date, the related record date, the amount of the Special Payment and, in the case of a distribution under the applicable Pass Through Trust Agreement, the reason for the Special Payment. In the case of a redemption or purchase of the Equipment Notes held in the related Trust or any withdrawal or return of Deposits described under “Description of the Deposit Agreements — Other Withdrawals and Return of Deposits”, such notice will be mailed not less than 15 days prior to the date such Special Payment is scheduled to be distributed, and in the case of any other Special Payment, such notice will be mailed as soon as practicable after the Trustee has confirmed that it has received funds for such Special Payment. (Basic Agreement, Section 4.02(c); Trust Supplements, Section 7.01(d); Escrow Agreements, Sections 2.06 and 2.07) Each distribution of a Special Payment, other than a Final Distribution, on a Special Distribution Date for any Trust will be made by the Paying Agent or the Trustee, as applicable, to the Certificateholders of record of such Trust on the record date applicable to such Special Payment. (Basic Agreement, Section 4.02(b); Escrow Agreements, Section 2.03(b)) See “— Indenture Events of Default and Certain Rights Upon an Indenture Event of Default” and “Description of the Equipment Notes — Redemption”.

 

Each Pass Through Trust Agreement requires that the Trustee establish and maintain, for the related Trust and for the benefit of the Certificateholders of such Trust, one or more non-interest bearing accounts (the “Certificate Account”) for the deposit of payments representing Scheduled Payments received by such Trustee. (Basic Agreement, Section 4.01) Each Pass Through Trust Agreement requires that the Trustee establish and maintain, for the related Trust and for the benefit of the Certificateholders of such Trust, one or more accounts (the “Special Payments Account”) for the deposit of payments representing Special Payments received by such Trustee, which will be non-interest bearing except in certain limited circumstances where the Trustee may invest amounts in such account in certain Permitted Investments. (Basic Agreement, Section 4.01; Trust Supplements, Section 7.01(c)) Pursuant to the terms of each Pass Through Trust Agreement, the Trustee is required to deposit any Scheduled Payments relating to the applicable Trust received by it in the Certificate Account of such Trust and to deposit any Special Payments received by it in the Special Payments Account of such Trust. (Basic Agreement, Section 4.01; Trust Supplements, Section 7.01(c)) All amounts so deposited will be distributed by the Trustee on a Regular Distribution Date or a Special Distribution Date, as appropriate. (Basic Agreement, Section 4.02)

 

Each Escrow Agreement requires that the Paying Agent establish and maintain, for the benefit of the applicable Receiptholders, an account (the “Paying Agent Account”), which will be non-interest bearing, and the Paying Agent is under no obligation to invest any amounts held in the Paying Agent Account. (Escrow Agreements, Section 2.02) Pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreements, the Depositary agrees to pay, subject to certain exceptions, interest payable on Deposits and amounts withdrawn from the Deposits as described under “Description of the Deposit Agreements — Other Withdrawals and Return of Deposits”, in accordance with the applicable Deposit Agreement, directly into the related Paying Agent Account. (Deposit Agreements, Section 4) All amounts so deposited in the Paying Agent Accounts will be distributed by the Paying Agent on a Regular Distribution Date or Special Distribution Date, as appropriate. See “Description of the Deposit Agreements”.

 

The Final Distribution for each Trust will be made only upon presentation and surrender of the Certificates for such Trust at the office or agency of the Trustee specified in the notice given by the Trustee of such Final Distribution. (Basic Agreement, Section 11.01) See “— Termination of the Trusts” below. Distributions in respect of Certificates issued in global form will be made as described in “— Book-Entry Registration; Delivery and Form” below.

 

If any Regular Distribution Date or Special Distribution Date is not a Business Day, distributions scheduled to be made on such Regular Distribution Date or Special Distribution Date will be made on the next succeeding Business Day and interest will not be added for such additional period. (Basic Agreement, Section 12.11; Trust Supplements, Sections 3.02(c) and 3.02(d))

 

“Business Day” means, with respect to Certificates of any class, any day (a) other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks are required or authorized to close in New York, New York,

Atlanta, Georgia, Wilmington, Delaware, or, so long as any Certificate of such class is outstanding, the city and state in which the Trustee, the Subordination Agent or any related Loan Trustee maintains its corporate trust office or receives and disburses funds, and (b) solely with respect to drawings under any Liquidity Facility, which is also a “Business Day” as defined in such Liquidity Facility. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 1.01)

 

The Certificates are subject to subordination terms set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement. See “Description of the Intercreditor Agreement — Priority of Distributions”.

 

The “Pool Balance” of the Certificates issued by any Trust indicates, as of any date, the original aggregate face amount of the Certificates of such Trust less the aggregate amount of all distributions made as of such date in respect of the Certificates of such Trust or in respect of Deposits relating to such Trust, other than distributions made in respect of interest or Make-Whole Amount or reimbursement of any costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith. The Pool Balance of the Certificates issued by any Trust as of any date will be computed after giving effect to any special distribution with respect to unused Deposits relating to such Trust, payment of principal, if any, on the Equipment Notes or payment with respect to other Trust Property held in such Trust and the distribution thereof to be made on such date. (Trust Supplements, Section 1.01; Intercreditor Agreement, Section 1.01)

 

The “Pool Factor” for each Trust as of any Distribution Date is the quotient (rounded to the seventh decimal place) computed by dividing (i) the Pool Balance of such Trust by (ii) the original aggregate face amount of the Certificates of such Trust. The Pool Factor for each Trust as of any Distribution Date will be computed after giving effect to any special distribution with respect to unused Deposits, payment of principal, if any, on the Equipment Notes or payments with respect to other Trust Property held in such Trust and the distribution thereof to be made on that date. (Trust Supplements, Section 1.01) The Pool Factor of each Trust will be 1.0000000 on the date of issuance of the Class B Certificates (the “Class B Issuance Date”); thereafter, the Pool Factor for each Trust will decline as described herein to reflect reductions in the Pool Balance of such Trust. The amount of a Certificateholder’s pro rata share of the Pool Balance of a Trust can be determined by multiplying the original denomination of the Certificateholder’s Certificate of such Trust by the Pool Factor for such Trust as of the applicable Distribution Date. Notice of the Pool Factor and the Pool Balance for each Trust will be mailed to Certificateholders of such Trust on each Distribution Date. (Trust Supplements, Section 5.01(a))

 

The following table sets forth the expected aggregate principal amortization schedule (the “Assumed Amortization Schedule”) for the Equipment Notes held in each Trust and resulting Pool Factors with respect to such Trust, assuming that (i) all of the Series B Equipment Notes related to the Funded Aircraft have been acquired by the Class B Trust on the Class B Issuance Date and (ii) (x) each 2001-1 Aircraft has been subjected to a Pre-Funded Aircraft Indenture on or prior to October 31, 2011 and (y) each Unencumbered Aircraft has been subjected to a Pre-Funded Aircraft Indenture on or prior to April 30, 2011 and, in each case, all of the Equipment Notes related to such Aircraft have been acquired by the related Trust by such date. The actual aggregate principal amortization schedule applicable to a Trust and the resulting Pool Factors with respect to such Trust may differ from the Assumed Amortization Schedule because the scheduled distribution of principal payments for any Trust may be affected if, among other things, any Equipment Notes held in such Trust are redeemed or purchased, if a default in payment on any Equipment Note occurs, or if any Pre-Funded Aircraft is not subjected to a Pre-Funded Aircraft Indenture and the related Equipment Notes are not acquired by such Trust.

 

 

If the Pool Factor and Pool Balance of a Trust differ from the Assumed Amortization Schedule for such Trust, notice thereof will be provided to the Certificateholders of such Trust as described hereafter. The Pool Factor and Pool Balance of each Trust will be recomputed if there has been an early redemption, purchase or default in the payment of principal or interest in respect of one or more of the Equipment Notes held in a Trust, as described in “— Indenture Events of Default and Certain Rights Upon an Indenture Event of Default”, and “Description of the Equipment Notes — Redemption”, or a special distribution of unused Deposits attributable to (a) the occurrence of a Delivery Period Event of Loss (or an event that would constitute such a Delivery Period Event of Loss but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both) with respect to a Pre-Funded Aircraft before such Pre-Funded Aircraft is financed pursuant to this offering, (b) the occurrence of a Triggering Event or (c) unused Deposits remaining after the Delivery Period Termination Date, in each case as described in “Description of the Deposit Agreements — Other Withdrawals and Return of Deposits”. If the aggregate principal payments scheduled for a Regular Distribution Date prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date will not be as set forth in the Assumed Amortization Schedule for a Trust, notice thereof will be mailed to the Certificateholders of such Trust by no later than the 15th day prior to such Regular Distribution Date. Promptly following (i) the Delivery Period Termination Date or, if applicable, the date any unused Deposits are withdrawn following the Delivery Period Termination Date, if there has been, on or prior to such date, (x) any change in the Pool Factor and the scheduled payments from the Assumed Amortization Schedule or (y) any such redemption, purchase, default or special distribution and (ii) the date of any such redemption, purchase, default or special distribution occurring after the Delivery Period Termination Date or, if applicable the date any unused Deposits are withdrawn following the Delivery Period Termination Date, the Pool Factor, Pool Balance and expected principal payment schedule of each Trust will be recomputed after giving effect thereto and notice thereof will be mailed to the Certificateholders of such Trust. (Trust Supplements, Sections 5.01(c) and 5.01(d)) See “— Reports to Certificateholders”, “— Certificate Buyout Right of Class B Certificateholders”, and “Description of the Deposit Agreements”.

 

On each Distribution Date, the applicable Trustee will include with each distribution by it of a Scheduled Payment or Special Payment to the Certificateholders of the related Trust a statement, giving effect to such

distribution to be made on such Distribution Date, setting forth the following information (per $1,000 aggregate principal amount of Certificates as to items (2), (3), (4) and (5) below):

 

(1) the aggregate amount of funds distributed on such Distribution Date under the related Pass Through Trust Agreement and under the related Escrow Agreement, indicating the amount, if any, allocable to each source, including any portion thereof paid by the applicable Liquidity Provider;

 

(2) the amount of such distribution under the related Pass Through Trust Agreement allocable to principal and the amount allocable to Make-Whole Amount (if any);

 

(3) the amount of such distribution under the related Pass Through Trust Agreement allocable to interest, indicating any portion thereof paid by the applicable Liquidity Provider;

 

(4) the amount of such distribution under the related Escrow Agreement allocable to interest, if any;

 

(5) the amount of such distribution under the related Escrow Agreement allocable to unused Deposits, if any; and

 

(6) the Pool Balance and the Pool Factor for such Trust. (Trust Supplements, Section 5.01)

 

As long as the Certificates are registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee (including Cede & Co. (“Cede”)), on the record date prior to each Distribution Date, the applicable Trustee will request that DTC post on its Internet bulletin board a securities position listing setting forth the names of all DTC Participants reflected on DTC’s books as holding interests in the applicable Certificates on such record date. On each Distribution Date, the applicable Trustee will mail to each such DTC Participant the statement described above and will make available additional copies as requested by such DTC Participant for forwarding to Certificate Owners. (Trust Supplements, Section 5.01(a))

 

In addition, after the end of each calendar year, the applicable Trustee will furnish to each person who at any time during the preceding calendar year was a Certificateholder of record of such Trust a report containing the sum of the amounts determined pursuant to clauses (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) above with respect to the applicable Trust for such calendar year or, if such person was a Certificateholder during only a portion of such calendar year, for the applicable portion of such calendar year, and such other items as are readily available to such Trustee and which a Certificateholder reasonably requests as necessary for the purpose of such Certificateholder’s preparation of its U.S. federal income tax returns or foreign income tax returns. (Trust Supplements, Section 5.01(b)) Such report and such other items will be prepared on the basis of information supplied to the applicable Trustee by the DTC Participants and will be delivered by such Trustee to such DTC Participants to be available for forwarding by such DTC Participants to Certificate Owners. (Trust Supplements, Section 5.01(b))

 

At such time, if any, as Certificates are issued in the form of Definitive Certificates, the applicable Trustee will prepare and deliver the information described above to each Certificateholder of record of the applicable Trust as the name and period of record ownership of such Certificateholder appears on the records of the registrar of the applicable Certificates.

 

Since the Equipment Notes issued under an Indenture will be held in more than one Trust, a continuing Indenture Event of Default would affect the Equipment Notes held by each such Trust. See “Description of Equipment Notes — Indenture Events of Default, Notice and Waiver” for a list of Indenture Events of Default.

 

As the same institution will act as Trustee of multiple Trusts, such Trustee could be faced with a potential conflict of interest upon an Indenture Event of Default. In such event, each Trustee has indicated that it would resign as Trustee of one or all such Trusts, and a successor trustee would be appointed in accordance with the terms of the applicable Pass Through Trust Agreement. U.S. Bank Trust National Association is the initial Trustee for the Class A Trust and will be the initial Trustee for the Class B Trust.

 

Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Indenture Event of Default under an Indenture, the Controlling Party may direct the Loan Trustee under such Indenture to accelerate the Equipment Notes

issued thereunder and may direct the Loan Trustee under such Indenture in the exercise of remedies thereunder and may sell all (but not less than all) of such Equipment Notes or foreclose and sell the Collateral under such Indenture to any person, subject to certain limitations. See “Description of the Intercreditor Agreement — Intercreditor Rights — Limitation on Exercise of Remedies”. The proceeds of any such sale will be distributed pursuant to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. Any such proceeds so distributed to any Trustee upon any such sale will be deposited in the applicable Special Payments Account and will be distributed to the Certificateholders of the applicable Trust on a Special Distribution Date. (Basic Agreement, Sections 4.01 and 4.02; Trust Supplements, Sections 7.01(c) and 7.01(d))

 

The market for Aircraft or Equipment Notes during the continuation of any Indenture Event of Default may be limited and there can be no assurance as to whether they could be sold or the price at which they could be sold. If any Equipment Notes are sold for less than their outstanding principal amount, or any Aircraft are sold for less than the outstanding principal amount of the related Equipment Notes, certain Certificateholders will receive a smaller amount of principal distributions than anticipated and will not have any claim for the shortfall against Delta (except in the case that Aircraft are sold for less than the outstanding principal amount of the related Equipment Notes), any Liquidity Provider or any Trustee. Neither the Trustee of the Trust holding such Equipment Notes nor the Certificateholders of such Trust, furthermore, could take action with respect to any remaining Equipment Notes held in such Trust as long as no Indenture Event of Default existed with respect thereto.

 

Any amount, other than Scheduled Payments received on a Regular Distribution Date or within five days thereafter, distributed to the Trustee of any Trust by the Subordination Agent on account of the Equipment Notes or other Trust Property held in such Trust following an Indenture Event of Default under any Indenture will be deposited in the Special Payments Account for such Trust and will be distributed to the Certificateholders of such Trust on a Special Distribution Date. (Basic Agreement, Sections 4.01 and 4.02; Trust Supplements, Sections 1.01 and 7.01(c); Intercreditor Agreement, Sections 1.01, 2.03(b) and 2.04)

 

Any funds representing payments received with respect to any defaulted Equipment Notes, or the proceeds from the sale of any Equipment Notes, held by the Trustee in the Special Payments Account for such Trust will, to the extent practicable, be invested and reinvested by such Trustee in certain Permitted Investments pending the distribution of such funds on a Special Distribution Date. (Basic Agreement, Section 4.04) “Permitted Investments” are defined as obligations of the United States or agencies or instrumentalities thereof the payment of which is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States and which mature in not more than 60 days after they are acquired or such lesser time as is required for the distribution of any Special Payments on a Special Distribution Date. (Basic Agreement, Section 1.01)

 

Each Pass Through Trust Agreement provides that the Trustee of the related Trust will, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default (as defined below) known to it, notify the Certificateholders of such Trust by mail of such default, unless such default has been cured or waived; provided that, (i) in the case of defaults not relating to the payment of money, such Trustee will not give notice until the earlier of the time at which such default becomes an Indenture Event of Default and the expiration of 60 days from the occurrence of such default, and (ii) except in the case of default in a payment of principal, Make-Whole Amount (if any), or interest on any of the Equipment Notes held in such Trust, the applicable Trustee will be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of such Certificateholders. (Basic Agreement, Section 7.02) For the purpose of the provision described in this paragraph only, the term “default” with respect to a Trust means an event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default with respect to such Trust or a Triggering Event under the Intercreditor Agreement, and the term “event of default” with respect to a Trust means an Indenture Event of Default under any Indenture pursuant to which Equipment Notes held by such Trust were issued.

 

Each Pass Through Trust Agreement contains a provision entitling the Trustee of the related Trust, subject to the duty of such Trustee during a default to act with the required standard of care, to be offered reasonable security or indemnity by the Certificateholders of such Trust before proceeding to exercise any right or power under such Pass Through Trust Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement at the request of such Certificateholders. (Basic Agreement, Section 7.03(e))

Subject to certain qualifications set forth in each Pass Through Trust Agreement and to certain limitations set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement, the Certificateholders of each Trust holding Certificates evidencing fractional undivided interests aggregating not less than a majority in interest in such Trust will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee with respect to such Trust or pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement or the applicable Liquidity Facility, or exercising any trust or power conferred on such Trustee under such Pass Through Trust Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, or such Liquidity Facility, including any right of such Trustee as Controlling Party under the Intercreditor Agreement or as a Noteholder. (Basic Agreement, Section 6.04)

 

Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Certificateholders of a Trust evidencing fractional undivided interests aggregating not less than a majority in interest of such Trust may on behalf of all Certificateholders of such Trust waive any past Indenture Event of Default or “default” under the related Pass Through Trust Agreement and its consequences or, if the Trustee of such Trust is the Controlling Party, may direct such Trustee to so instruct the applicable Loan Trustee; provided, however, that the consent of each Certificateholder of a Trust is required to waive (i) a default in the deposit of any Scheduled Payment or Special Payment or in the distribution thereof, (ii) a default in payment of the principal, Make-Whole Amount (if any) or interest with respect to any of the Equipment Notes held in such Trust or (iii) a default in respect of any covenant or provision of the related Pass Through Trust Agreement that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each Certificateholder of such Trust affected thereby. (Basic Agreement, Section 6.05) Each Indenture will provide that, with certain exceptions, the holders of the majority in aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Equipment Notes issued thereunder may on behalf of all such holders waive any past default or Indenture Event of Default thereunder. Notwithstanding such provisions of the Indentures, pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement only the Controlling Party will be entitled to waive any such past default or Indenture Event of Default. See “Description of the Intercreditor Agreement — Intercreditor Rights — Controlling Party”.

 

After the occurrence and during the continuation of a Certificate Buyout Event, with ten days’ prior written irrevocable notice to the Class A Trustee, the Class B Trustee and each other Class B Certificateholder, each Class B Certificateholder (other than Delta or any of its affiliates), will have the right to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Class A Certificates on the third Business Day next following the expiry of such ten-day notice period.

 

If Refinancing Certificates are issued, holders of such Refinancing Certificates will have the same right (subject to the same terms and conditions) to purchase the Class A Certificates as the holders of the Class B Certificates that such Refinancing Certificates refinanced. See “Possible Refinancing of Class B Certificates”.

 

The purchase price with respect to the Class A Certificates will be equal to the Pool Balance of the Class A Certificates plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of purchase, without any premium, but including any other amounts then due and payable to the Class A Certificateholders under the Class A Pass Through Trust Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Class A Escrow Agreement, any Series A Equipment Note held as part of the Trust Property of the Class A Trust or the related Indenture and Participation Agreement or on or in respect of the Class A Certificates, provided, however, that if such purchase occurs after (i) a record date specified in the Class A Escrow Agreement relating to the distribution of unused Class A Deposits and/or accrued and unpaid interest on Class A Deposits and prior to or on the related distribution date under the Class A Escrow Agreement, such purchase price will be reduced by the aggregate amount of unused Class A Deposits and/or interest to be distributed under the Class A Escrow Agreement (which deducted amounts will remain distributable to, and may be retained by, the Class A Certificateholders as of such record date), or (ii) the record date under the Class A Pass Through Trust Agreement relating to any Distribution Date, such purchase price will be reduced by the amount to be distributed thereunder on such related Distribution Date (which deducted amounts will remain distributable to, and may be retained by, the Class A Certificateholders as of such record date). Such purchase right may be exercised by any Class B Certificateholder entitled to such right.

If prior to the end of the ten-day notice period, any other Class B Certificateholder(s) notifies the purchasing Class B Certificateholder that such other Class B Certificateholder(s) want(s) to participate in such purchase, then such other Class B Certificateholder(s) may join with the purchasing Class B Certificateholder to purchase the Class A Certificates pro rata based on the interest in the Class B Trust held by each purchasing Class B Certificateholder. Upon consummation of such a purchase, no other Class B Certificateholder will have the right to purchase the Class A Certificates during the continuance of such Certificate Buyout Event. If Delta or any of its affiliates is a Class B Certificateholder, it will not have the purchase rights described above. (Trust Supplements, Section 6.01)

 

A “Certificate Buyout Event” means that a Delta Bankruptcy Event has occurred and is continuing and either of the following events has occurred: (A) (i) the 60-day period specified in Section 1110(a)(2)(A) of the Bankruptcy Code (the “60-Day Period”) has expired and (ii) Delta has not entered into one or more agreements under Section 1110(a)(2)(A) of the Bankruptcy Code to perform all of its obligations under all of the Indentures and has not cured defaults thereunder in accordance with Section 1110(a)(2)(B) of the Bankruptcy Code or, if it has entered into such agreements, has at any time thereafter failed to cure any default under any of the Indentures in accordance with Section 1110(a)(2)(B) of the Bankruptcy Code; or (B) if prior to the expiry of the 60-Day Period, Delta will have abandoned any Aircraft. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 1.01)

 

A “PTC Event of Default” with respect to each Pass Through Trust Agreement and the related class of Certificates means the failure to distribute within ten Business Days after the applicable Distribution Date either:

 

 

Any failure to make expected principal distributions with respect to any class of Certificates on any Regular Distribution Date (other than the Final Legal Distribution Date) will not constitute a PTC Event of Default with respect to such Certificates.

 

A PTC Event of Default with respect to the most senior outstanding class of Certificates resulting from an Indenture Event of Default under all Indentures will constitute a Triggering Event.

 

Delta will be prohibited from consolidating with or merging into any other entity where Delta is not the surviving entity or conveying, transferring, or leasing substantially all of its assets as an entirety to any other entity unless:

 

 

 

In addition, after giving effect to such transaction, no Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. (Basic Agreement, Section 5.02; Trust Supplements, Section 8.01; Participation Agreements, Section 6.02(e); Note Purchase Agreement, Section 4(a)(iii))

 

None of the Certificates, Equipment Notes or underlying agreements will contain any covenants or provisions which may afford the applicable Trustee or Certificateholders protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, including transactions effected by management or affiliates, which may or may not result in a change in control of Delta.

 

Each Pass Through Trust Agreement contains provisions permitting Delta and the Trustee thereof to enter into one or more agreements supplemental to such Pass Through Trust Agreement or, at the request of Delta, permitting or requesting the execution of amendments or agreements supplemental to the related Deposit Agreement, the related Escrow Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Note Purchase Agreement, any of the Participation Agreements or any Liquidity Facility, without the consent of any Certificateholder of such Trust to, among other things:

 

 

 

provided, however, that, no such supplemental agreement shall cause any Trust to become an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. (Basic Agreement, Section 9.01; Trust Supplements, Section 8.02)

 

Each Pass Through Trust Agreement also contains provisions permitting Delta and the related Trustee to enter into one or more agreements supplemental to such Pass Through Trust Agreement or, at the request of Delta, permitting or requesting the execution of amendments or agreements supplemental to any other Pass Through Trust Agreement, the related Deposit Agreement, the related Escrow Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Note Purchase Agreement, any Certificate, any Participation Agreement, any other operative document with respect to any Aircraft or any Liquidity Facility, without the consent of the Certificateholders of the related Trust, to provide for the issuance of Refinancing Certificates, the formation of related trusts, the purchase by such trusts of the related equipment notes, the establishment of certain matters with respect to such Refinancing Certificates, and other matters incidental thereto, all as provided in, and subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in, the Note Purchase Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement. (Trust Supplements, Section 8.02) See “Possible Refinancing of Class B Certificates”.

Each Pass Through Trust Agreement also contains provisions permitting the execution, with the consent of the Certificateholders of the related Trust evidencing fractional undivided interests aggregating not less than a majority in interest of such Trust, of supplemental agreements adding any provisions to or changing or eliminating any of the provisions of such Pass Through Trust Agreement, the related Deposit Agreement, the related Escrow Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Note Purchase Agreement or any Liquidity Facility to the extent applicable to such Certificateholders or modifying the rights of such Certificateholders under such Pass Through Trust Agreement, the related Deposit Agreement, the related Escrow Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Note Purchase Agreement or any Liquidity Facility, except that no such supplemental agreement may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Certificate adversely affected thereby:

 

 

Notwithstanding any other provision, no amendment or modification of the buyout rights described in “— Certificate Buyout Right of Class B Certificateholders” shall be effective unless the Trustee of each class of Certificates affected by such amendment or modification shall have consented thereto. (Trust Supplements, Section 8.04)

 

If a Trustee, as holder (or beneficial owner through the Subordination Agent) of any Equipment Note in trust for the benefit of the Certificateholders of the relevant Trust or as Controlling Party under the Intercreditor Agreement, receives (directly or indirectly through the Subordination Agent) a request for a consent to any amendment, modification, waiver or supplement under any Indenture, any Participation Agreement, any Equipment Note, the Note Purchase Agreement or certain other related documents, then subject to the provisions described above in respect of modifications for which consent of such Certificateholders is not required, such Trustee will forthwith send a notice of such proposed amendment, modification, waiver or supplement to each Certificateholder of the relevant Trust registered on the register of such Trust as of the date of such notice. Such Trustee will request from the Certificateholders of such Trust a direction as to:

 

 

 

Provided such a request for a Certificateholder direction shall have been made, in directing any action or casting any vote or giving any consent as Noteholder of any Equipment Note (or in directing the Subordination Agent in any of the foregoing):

 

 

For purposes of the immediately preceding paragraph, a Certificate is deemed “actually voted” if the Certificateholder thereof has delivered to the applicable Trustee an instrument evidencing such Certificateholder’s consent to such direction prior to one Business Day before such Trustee directs such action or casts such vote or gives such consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to certain rights of the Certificateholders under the relevant Pass Through Trust Agreement and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, such Trustee may, in its own discretion and at its own direction, consent and notify the relevant Loan Trustee of such consent (or direct the Subordination Agent to consent and notify the relevant Loan Trustee of such consent) to any amendment, modification, waiver or supplement under any related Indenture, Participation Agreement, Equipment Note or the Note Purchase Agreement or certain other related documents, if an Indenture Event of Default under any Indenture has occurred and is continuing, or if such amendment, modification, waiver or supplement will not materially adversely affect the interests of such Certificateholders. (Basic Agreement, Section 10.01)

 

Pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement, with respect to any Indenture at any given time, the Loan Trustee under such Indenture will be directed by the Subordination Agent (as directed by the respective Trustees or by the Controlling Party, as applicable) in taking, or refraining from taking, any action thereunder or with respect to the Equipment Notes issued under such Indenture that are held by the Subordination Agent as the property of the relevant Trust. Any Trustee acting as Controlling Party will direct the Subordination Agent as such Trustee is directed by Certificateholders evidencing fractional undivided interests aggregating not less than a majority in interest in the relevant Trust. (Intercreditor Agreement, Sections 2.06 and 8.01(b)) Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of each Liquidity Provider and each Certificateholder holding Certificates representing a fractional undivided interest in the Equipment Notes under the applicable Indenture held by the Subordination Agent, among other things, no amendment, supplement, modification, consent or waiver of or relating to such Indenture, any related Equipment Note, Participation Agreement or other related document will: (i) reduce the principal amount of, Make-Whole Amount, if any, or interest on, any Equipment Note under such Indenture; (ii) change the date on which any principal amount of, Make-Whole Amount, if any, or interest on any Equipment Note under such Indenture, is due or payable; (iii) create any lien with respect to the Collateral subject to such Indenture prior to or pari passu with the lien thereon under such Indenture except such as are permitted by such Indenture; or (iv) reduce the percentage of the outstanding principal amount of the Equipment Notes under such Indenture the consent of whose holders is required for any supplemental agreement, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of such Indenture or of certain defaults thereunder or their consequences provided for in such Indenture. In addition, without the consent of each Certificateholder, no such amendment, modification, consent or waiver will, among other things, deprive any Certificateholder of the benefit of the lien of any Indenture on the related Collateral, except as provided in connection with the exercise of remedies under such Indenture. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 8.01(b)) See “— Indenture Events of Default and

Certain Rights Upon an Indenture Event of Default” for a description of the rights of the Certificateholders of each Trust to direct the respective Trustees.

 

The Class A Trustee utilized deposits held in escrow with respect to the Funded Aircraft to purchase the Series A Equipment Notes issued with respect to each Funded Aircraft on December 21, 2010 on and subject to the terms and conditions of a note purchase agreement, dated as of November 22, 2010, among Delta, the Class A Trustee, the Subordination Agent, the Escrow Agent under the Class A Escrow Agreement and the Paying Agent under the Class A Escrow Agreement and the forms of financing agreements attached thereto. The Class B Trustee will be obligated to purchase the Series B Equipment Notes issued with respect to each Funded Aircraft on and subject to the terms and conditions of the related Amended Funded Aircraft Participation Agreement on the Class B Issuance Date. The Trustees will be obligated to purchase the Equipment Notes issued with respect to each Pre-Funded Aircraft prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date on and subject to the terms and conditions of an amended and restated note purchase agreement (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) to be entered into on the Class B Issuance Date among Delta, the Trustees, the Subordination Agent, the Escrow Agent and the Paying Agent and the forms of financing agreements attached to the Note Purchase Agreement. On and subject to the terms and conditions of the Note Purchase Agreement and the forms of financing agreements attached to the Note Purchase Agreement, Delta agrees to enter into a secured debt financing with respect to: (a) each 2001-1 Aircraft on or prior to October 31, 2011 and (b) each Unencumbered Aircraft on or prior to April 30, 2011, in each case with the other relevant parties pursuant to a Pre-Funded Aircraft Participation Agreement and a Pre-Funded Aircraft Indenture that are substantially in the forms attached to the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

The description of such financing agreements in this prospectus supplement is based on the forms of such agreements attached to the Note Purchase Agreement. However, the terms of the financing agreements actually entered into with respect to the Pre-Funded Aircraft may differ from the forms of such agreements and, consequently, may differ from the description of such agreements contained in this prospectus supplement. See “Description of the Equipment Notes”. Although such changes are permitted, under the Note Purchase Agreement, Delta must obtain written confirmation from each Rating Agency that the use of financing agreements modified in any material respect from the forms attached to the Note Purchase Agreement will not result in a withdrawal, suspension or downgrading of the rating of each class of Certificates then rated by such Rating Agency. The terms of such financing agreements also must comply with the Required Terms. In addition, Delta, subject to certain exceptions, is obligated to certify to the Trustees that any substantive modifications do not materially and adversely affect the Certificateholders or any Liquidity Provider.

 

Under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Trustees will not be obligated to purchase the Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to any Pre-Funded Aircraft not yet financed if a Triggering Event has occurred or certain specified conditions are not met. In addition, if a Delivery Period Event of Loss (or an event that would constitute such a Delivery Period Event of Loss but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both) occurs with respect to a Pre-Funded Aircraft before such Pre-Funded Aircraft is financed pursuant to this offering, the Trustees will not be obligated to purchase the Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to such Pre-Funded Aircraft. The Trustees will have no right or obligation to purchase the Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to any Pre-Funded Aircraft after the Delivery Period Termination Date.

 

The “Required Terms”, as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement, mandate that:

 

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Pre-Funded Aircraft Indenture Form or the Pre-Funded Aircraft Participation Agreement Form and the Amended Funded Aircraft Indentures and Amended Funded Aircraft Participation Agreements may be modified to the extent required for the successive redemption of any Series B Equipment Notes and issuance of Refinancing Equipment Notes or the issuance of Refinancing Certificates or to provide for any credit support for any pass through certificates relating to such Refinancing Equipment Notes, in each case as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

With respect to each Trust, the obligations of Delta and the Trustee of such Trust will terminate upon the distribution to the Certificateholders of such Trust and to such Trustee of all amounts required to be distributed to them pursuant to the applicable Pass Through Trust Agreement and the disposition of all property held in such Trust. The applicable Trustee will mail to each Certificateholder of such Trust, not earlier than 60 days and not later than 15 days preceding such final distribution, notice of the termination of such Trust, the amount of the proposed final payment, the proposed date for the distribution of such final payment for such Trust and certain other information. The Final Distribution to any Certificateholder of such Trust will be made only upon surrender of such Certificateholder’s Certificates at the office or agency of the applicable Trustee specified in such notice of termination. (Basic Agreement, Section 11.01)

In the event that all of the Certificateholders of such Trust do not surrender their Certificates issued by such Trust for cancellation within six months after the date specified in such written notice, the Trustee of such Trust will give a second written notice to the remaining Certificateholders of such Trust to surrender such Certificates for cancellation and receive the final distribution. No additional interest will accrue with respect to such Certificates after the Distribution Date specified in the first written notice. In the event that any money held by the Trustee of such Trust for the payment of distributions on the Certificates issued by such Trust remains unclaimed for two years (or such lesser time as such Trustee shall be satisfied, after sixty days’ notice from Delta, is one month prior to the escheat period provided under applicable law) after the final distribution date with respect thereto, such Trustee will pay to each Loan Trustee the appropriate amount of money relating to such Loan Trustee for distribution as provided in the applicable Indenture, Participation Agreement or certain related documents and will give written notice thereof to Delta. (Basic Agreement, Section 11.01)

 

The Class A Trustee is, and the Class B Trustee initially will be, U.S. Bank Trust National Association. Each Trustee’s address is U.S. Bank Trust National Association, 300 Delaware Avenue, 9th Floor, Mail Code EX-DE-WDAW, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, Attention: Corporate Trust Services (Reference: Delta 2010-2 EETC).

 

With certain exceptions, the Trustees make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of the Basic Agreement, the Trust Supplements, the Certificates, the Equipment Notes, the Indentures, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Participation Agreements, any Liquidity Facility, the Note Purchase Agreement, the Deposit Agreements, the Escrow Agreements or other related documents. (Basic Agreement, Sections 7.04 and 7.15; Trust Supplements, Sections 7.03(a) and 7.04) The Trustee of any Trust will not be liable to the Certificateholders of such Trust for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the holders of a majority in face amount of outstanding Certificates of such Trust. (Basic Agreement, Section 7.03(h)) Subject to certain provisions, no Trustee will be under any obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under any Pass Through Trust Agreement at the request of any holders of Certificates issued thereunder unless there has been offered to such Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by such Trustee in exercising such rights or powers. (Basic Agreement, Section 7.03(e)) Each Pass Through Trust Agreement provides that the applicable Trustee (and any related agent or affiliate in their respective individual or any other capacity) may acquire and hold Certificates issued thereunder and, subject to certain conditions, may otherwise deal with Delta with the same rights it would have if it were not such Trustee. (Basic Agreement, Section 7.05)

 

General

 

On the Class B Issuance Date, the Class A Certificates are, and the Class B Certificates will be, represented by one or more fully registered global Certificates (each, a “Global Certificate”) of the applicable class and are or will be, as the case may be, deposited with the related Trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of Cede, as nominee of DTC. Except in the limited circumstances described below, owners of beneficial interests in Global Certificates will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Certificates. The Certificates are not issued or will not be issuable in bearer form.

 

DTC

 

DTC has informed Delta as follows: DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code and a “Clearing Agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities for its participants (“DTC Participants”) and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between DTC Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates.

DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Indirect access to the DTC system is available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”).

 

Delta expects that, pursuant to procedures established by DTC, (i) upon the issuance of the Global Certificates, DTC or its custodian will credit, on its internal system, the respective principal amount of the individual beneficial interests represented by such Global Certificates to the accounts of persons who have accounts with such depositary and (ii) ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Certificates will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee (with respect to interests of DTC Participants) and the records of DTC Participants (with respect to interests of persons other than DTC Participants). Such accounts initially will be designated by or on behalf of the Underwriters. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Certificates will be limited to DTC Participants or persons who hold interests through DTC Participants. The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities. Such limits and such laws may limit the market for beneficial interests in the Global Certificates. Qualified Institutional Buyers (as defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) may hold their interests in the Global Certificates directly through DTC if they are DTC Participants, or indirectly through organizations that are DTC Participants.

 

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner or holder of the Global Certificates, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole record owner or holder of the Certificates represented by such Global Certificates for all purposes under the Certificates and the Pass Through Trust Agreements. All references in this prospectus supplement to actions by the Certificateholders shall refer to actions taken by DTC upon instructions from DTC Participants, and all references to distributions, notices, reports and statements to the Certificateholders will refer, as the case may be, to distributions, notices, reports and statements to DTC or such nominee, as the registered holder of the Certificates. No beneficial owners of an interest in the Global Certificates will be able to transfer that interest except in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures, in addition to those provided or under the applicable Pass Through Trust Agreement. Such beneficial owners of an interest in the Global Certificates, and registered owners of a Definitive Certificate, are referred to herein individually as a “Certificate Owner” and collectively as the “Certificate Owners”. DTC has advised Delta that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a Certificateholder under the applicable Pass Through Trust Agreement only at the direction of one or more DTC Participants to whose accounts with DTC the Global Certificates are credited. Additionally, DTC has advised Delta that in the event any action requires approval by a certain percentage of the Certificateholders of a particular class, DTC will take such action only at the direction of and on behalf of DTC Participants whose holders include undivided interests that satisfy any such percentage. DTC may take conflicting actions with respect to other undivided interests to the extent that such actions are taken on behalf of DTC Participants whose holders include such undivided interests.

 

Under the rules, regulations and procedures creating and affecting DTC and its operations (the “DTC Rules”), DTC is required to make book-entry transfers of Certificates among DTC Participants on whose behalf it acts with respect to such Certificates. Certificate Owners of such Certificates that are not DTC Participants but that desire to purchase, sell or otherwise transfer ownership of, or other interests in, such Certificates may do so only through DTC Participants. DTC Participants and Indirect Participants with which Certificate Owners have accounts with respect to such Certificates, however, are required to make book-entry transfers on behalf of their respective customers. In addition, under the DTC Rules, DTC is required to receive and transmit to the DTC Participants distributions of principal of, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest with respect to the Certificates. Such Certificate Owners thus will receive all distributions of principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest from the relevant Trustee through DTC Participants or Indirect Participants, as the case may be. Under this book entry system, such Certificate Owners may experience some delay in their receipt of payments because such payments will be forwarded by the relevant Trustee to Cede, as nominee for DTC, and DTC in turn will forward the payments to the appropriate DTC Participants in amounts proportionate to the principal amount of such DTC Participants’ respective holdings of beneficial

interests in the relevant Certificates, as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Distributions by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants or Certificate Owners, as the case may be, will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.

 

Unless and until Definitive Certificates are issued under the limited circumstances described herein, the only “Certificateholder” under each Pass Through Trust Agreement will be Cede, as nominee of DTC. Certificate Owners of Certificates therefore will not be recognized by the Trustees as Certificateholders, as such term is used in the Pass Through Trust Agreements, and such Certificate Owners will be permitted to exercise the rights of Certificateholders only indirectly through DTC and DTC Participants. Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to DTC Participants and by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and to such Certificate Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

 

Payments of the principal of, Make-Whole Amount (if any) and interest on the Global Certificates will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner thereof. Payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a Global Certificate may be subject to various policies and procedures adopted by DTC from time to time. Because DTC can only act on behalf of DTC Participants, who in turn act on behalf of Indirect Participants, the ability of a Certificateholder to pledge its interest to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or to otherwise act with respect to such interest, may be limited due to the lack of a physical certificate for such interest.

 

Neither Delta nor the Trustees, nor any paying agent or registrar with respect to the Certificates, will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Global Certificates or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests or for the performance by DTC, any DTC Participant or any Indirect Participant of their respective obligations under the DTC Rules or any other statutory, regulatory, contractual or customary procedures governing their obligations. (Trust Supplements, Section 4.03(f))

 

Delta expects that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, Make-Whole Amount (if any) or interest in respect of the Global Certificates, will credit DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial ownership interests in the face amount of such Global Certificates, as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Delta also expects that payments by DTC Participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Global Certificates held through such DTC Participants will be governed by the standing instructions and customary practices of such DTC Participants. Such payments will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.

 

Although DTC is expected to follow the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers in a Global Certificate among participants of DTC, it is under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time.

 

Same-Day Settlement

 

As long as Certificates are registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, all payments made by Delta to the Loan Trustee under any Indenture will be in immediately available funds. Such payments, including the final distribution of principal with respect to the Certificates, will be passed through to DTC in immediately available funds.

 

Any Certificates registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will trade in DTC’s Same Day Funds Settlement System until maturity, and secondary market trading activity in the Certificates will therefore be required by DTC to settle in immediately available funds. No assurance can be given as the effect, if any, of settlement in same day funds on trading activity in the Certificates.

 

Definitive Certificates

 

Interests in Global Certificates will be exchangeable or transferable, as the case may be, for certificates in definitive, physical registered form (“Definitive Certificates”) only if (i) DTC advises the applicable Trustee in writing that DTC is no longer willing or able to discharge properly its responsibilities as depositary with

respect to such Certificates and a successor depositary is not appointed by such Trustee within 90 days of such notice, (ii) Delta, at its option, elects to terminate the book-entry system through DTC or (iii) after the occurrence of an Indenture Event of Default, Certificateholders with fractional undivided interests aggregating not less than a majority in interest in a Trust advise the applicable Trustee, Delta and DTC through DTC Participants in writing that the continuation of a book-entry system through DTC (or a successor thereto) is no longer in such Certificateholders’ best interest. Neither Delta nor any Trustee will be liable if Delta or such Trustee is unable to locate a qualified successor clearing system. (Trust Supplements, Section 4.03(b))

 

In connection with the occurrence of any event described in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Global Certificates will be deemed surrendered, and the Trustees will execute, authenticate and deliver to each Certificate Owner of such Global Certificates in exchange for such Certificate Owner’s beneficial interest in such Global Certificates, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Certificates of authorized denominations, in each case as such Certificate Owner and related aggregate principal amount have been identified and otherwise set forth (together with such other information as may be required for the registration of such Definitive Certificates) in registration instructions that shall have been delivered by or on behalf of DTC to the applicable Trustee. (Trust Supplements, Section 4.03(d)) Delta, the Trustees and each registrar and paying agent with respect to the Certificates (i) shall not be liable for any delay in delivery of such registration instructions, and (ii) may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, such registration instructions. (Trust Supplements, Section 4.03(f))

 

Distribution of principal, Make-Whole Amount (if any) and interest with respect to Definitive Certificates will thereafter be made by the applicable Trustee directly in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable Pass Through Trust Agreement, to holders in whose names the Definitive Certificates were registered at the close of business on the applicable record date. Such distributions will be made by check mailed to the address of such holder as it appears on the register maintained by the applicable Trustee. The final payment on any such Definitive Certificate, however, will be made only upon presentation and surrender of the applicable Definitive Certificate at the office or agency specified in the notice of final distribution to the applicable Certificateholders.

 

Definitive Certificates issued in exchange for Global Certificates will be transferable and exchangeable at the office of the applicable Trustee upon compliance with the requirements set forth in the applicable Pass Through Trust Agreement, subject in the case of the Class B Certificates to certain transfer restrictions. See “— Transfer Restrictions for Class B Certificates”. No service charge will be imposed for any registration of transfer or exchange, but payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge will be required. The Certificates are registered instruments, title to which passes upon registration of the transfer of the books of the applicable Trustee in accordance with the terms of the applicable Pass Through Trust Agreement. (Basic Agreement, Section 3.04, with respect to Class A Certificates, or Class B Trust Supplement, Section 9.03, with respect to Class B Certificates)

 

The Class B Certificates will be subject to transfer restrictions. They may be sold or otherwise transferred only to qualified institutional buyers (“QIBs”), as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, for so long as they are outstanding, unless Delta and the Class B Trustee determine otherwise consistent with applicable law. See also “Certain ERISA Considerations.”

 

Each purchaser of Class B Certificates, by such purchase, will be deemed to:

 

1. Represent that it is purchasing such Class B Certificates for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a QIB.

 

2. Agree that any sale or other transfer by it of any such Class B Certificates will only be made to a QIB.

 

3. Agree that it will, and that it will inform each subsequent transferee that such transferee will be required to, deliver to each person to whom it transfers such Class B Certificates notice of these restrictions on transfer of such Class B Certificates.

4. Agree that no registration of the transfer of any such Class B Certificate will be made unless the transferee completes and submits to the Class B Trustee the form included on the reverse of such Class B Certificate in which it states that it is purchasing such Class B Certificate for its account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a QIB.

 

5. Understand that such Class B Certificates will bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

 

“THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED); (2) AGREES THAT, FOR SO LONG AS THIS CERTIFICATE IS OUTSTANDING, IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS CERTIFICATE EXCEPT TO A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED); AND (3) AGREES THAT IF IT SHOULD RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS CERTIFICATE IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE, THE TRANSFEREE MUST COMPLETE THE FORM ON THE REVERSE HEREOF RELATING TO THE MANNER OF SUCH TRANSFER AND SUBMIT SUCH FORM TO THE TRUSTEE. TRUST SUPPLEMENT NO. 2010-2B TO THE PASS THROUGH TRUST AGREEMENT CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE REGISTRAR TO REFUSE TO REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. INVESTORS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THEY MAY BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL RISKS OF THIS INVESTMENT FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME.”

 

6. Acknowledge that Delta, the Class B Trustee, the Underwriters, and others will rely on the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgments, representations, warranties and agreements and agrees that, if any of the acknowledgments, representations, warranties and agreements deemed to have been made by its purchase of such Class B Certificates is no longer accurate, it shall promptly notify Delta, the Class B Trustee and the Underwriters. If it is acquiring any such Class B Certificates as a fiduciary or agent of one or more investor accounts, it represents that it has sole investment discretion with respect to each such investor account and that it has full power to make the foregoing acknowledgments, representations and agreements on behalf of each such investor account.

 

7. Acknowledge that the foregoing restrictions apply to holders of beneficial interests in such Class B Certificates as well as to registered holders of such Class B Certificates.

 

8. Acknowledge that the Class B Trustee will not be required to accept for registration of transfer any such Class B Certificate unless evidence satisfactory to Delta and the Class B Trustee that the restrictions on transfer set forth herein have been complied with is submitted to them.

 

The following summary describes certain material terms of the Deposit Agreements, as well as certain related provisions of the Escrow Agreements and the Note Purchase Agreement. The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the Deposit Agreements and the related provisions of the Escrow Agreements and the Note Purchase Agreement. Copies of the Class A Deposit Agreement and the Class A Escrow Agreement were filed as exhibits to Delta’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 22, 2010. Copies of the Class B Deposit Agreement, the Class B Escrow Agreement and the Note Purchase Agreement will be filed as exhibits to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Delta with the SEC.

 

Under the Class A Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Agent entered into a deposit agreement, dated as of November 22, 2010, with the Depositary (the “Class A Deposit Agreement”). (Class A Escrow Agreement, Section 1.02(a)) Under the Class B Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Agent will enter into a separate deposit agreement with the Depositary (the “Class B Deposit Agreement”, and together with the Class A Deposit Agreement, the “Deposit Agreements”). Pursuant to the Class A Deposit Agreement, the Depositary established separate accounts into which the proceeds of the offering of the Class A Certificates were deposited and as of the Class B Issuance Date proceeds relating to the Pre-Funded Aircraft remain so deposited (each such deposit with respect to a Pre-Funded Aircraft, a “Class A Deposit”) on behalf of the Escrow Agent. (Class A Deposit Agreement, Section 2.1) The portion of the proceeds of the offering of Class A Certificates previously deposited pursuant to the Class A Deposit Agreement with respect to the Funded Aircraft was withdrawn and used to purchase the Series A Equipment Notes issued with respect to each Funded Aircraft on December 21, 2010. Pursuant to the Class B Deposit Agreement, the Depositary will establish separate accounts into which the proceeds of the offering of the Class B Certificates with respect to the Pre-Funded Aircraft will be deposited (each such deposit with respect to a Pre-Funded Aircraft, a “Class B Deposit”, and together with each Class A Deposit, each, a “Deposit”) on behalf of the Escrow Agent. (Class B Deposit Agreement, Section 2.1) For each Trust, there will be a separate Deposit for each Pre-Funded Aircraft that is to be financed in this offering. Pursuant to the Deposit Agreements, except as described below under “— Other Withdrawals and Return of Deposits”, on each Regular Distribution Date, the Depositary under each Deposit Agreement will pay to the Paying Agent on behalf of the Escrow Agent, for distribution to the applicable Certificateholders, an amount equal to the interest accrued on the Deposits during the relevant interest period at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable to Certificates issued by the applicable Trust. (Deposit Agreements, Section 2.2) The Deposits and interest paid thereon will not be subject to the subordination provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and will not be available to pay any other amount in respect of the Certificates.

 

Upon the financing of a Pre-Funded Aircraft under the related Pre-Funded Aircraft Indenture prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date, the Trustee of each Trust will request the Escrow Agent relating to such Trust to withdraw from the Deposits relating to such Trust funds sufficient to enable the Trustee of such Trust to purchase the Equipment Notes of the series applicable to such Trust issued with respect to such Pre-Funded Aircraft. (Note Purchase Agreement, Sections 1(b) and 1(d); Escrow Agreements, Section 1.02(c)) Any portion of any Deposit so withdrawn that is not used to purchase such Equipment Notes will be re-deposited by the Escrow Agent or by each Trustee on behalf of the Escrow Agent into a new account with the Depositary (each such deposit, also a “Deposit”). (Deposit Agreements, Section 2.4; Escrow Agreements, Section 1.06) Except as described below under “— Other Withdrawals and Return of Deposits”, the Depositary will pay accrued but unpaid interest on all Deposits withdrawn to purchase Equipment Notes on the next Regular Distribution Date to the Paying Agent, on behalf of the applicable Escrow Agent, for distribution to the Certificateholders. (Deposit Agreements, Sections 2.2 and 4; Escrow Agreements, Section 2.03(a))

 

The Trustees’ obligations to purchase Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to each Pre-Funded Aircraft are subject to satisfaction of certain conditions at the time of the financing of such Pre-Funded Aircraft under the related Pre-Funded Aircraft Indenture, as set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement and the related Pre-Funded Aircraft Participation Agreement. See “Description of the Certificates — Obligation to Purchase Equipment Notes”. Since such Pre-Funded Aircraft are expected to be subjected to the financing of this offering from time to time prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date, no assurance can be given that all such conditions will be satisfied with respect to each such Pre-Funded Aircraft prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date. If any funds remain as Deposits with respect to any Trust as of the Delivery Period Termination Date, such remaining funds will be withdrawn by the Escrow Agent and distributed by the Paying Agent, with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, but without any premium, to the Certificateholders of such Trust on a date no earlier than 15 days after the Paying Agent has received notice of the event requiring such distribution. If the day scheduled for such withdrawal is within 10 days before or after a Regular Distribution Date, the Escrow Agent will request that such withdrawal be made on such Regular Distribution Date. Moreover, in certain circumstances, any funds held as Deposits will be returned by the Depositary to the Paying Agent automatically on October 31, 2011 (the “Outside Termination Date”), and the Paying Agent will distribute such funds to the applicable Certificateholders as promptly as practicable thereafter. The obligation to purchase Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to any Pre-Funded Aircraft not yet financed pursuant to this offering will terminate on the Delivery Period Termination Date. (Deposit Agreements, Section 2.3(b)(i) and 4; Escrow Agreements, Sections 1.02(f) and 2.03(b); Note Purchase Agreement, Section 2)

 

If a Delivery Period Event of Loss (or an event that would constitute such a Delivery Period Event of Loss but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both) occurs with respect to a Pre-Funded Aircraft before it is financed pursuant to this offering, Delta will give notice of such event to each Trustee and such Trustee will submit a withdrawal certificate to the applicable Escrow Agent, and any funds in any Deposit with respect to such Pre-Funded Aircraft will be withdrawn by the Escrow Agent and distributed by the related Paying Agent, with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, but without any premium, to the Certificateholders of the related Trust on a date not earlier than 15 days after such Paying Agent has received notice of the event requiring such distribution. (Note Purchase Agreement, Section 1(k); Deposit Agreements, Section 2.3(b)(iii); Escrow Agreements, Sections 2.03(b) and 2.07) Once Delta delivers a notice described in the preceding sentence, the Trustees will have no obligation to purchase Equipment Notes with respect to such Pre-Funded Aircraft. (Note Purchase Agreement, Section 2(c))

 

“Delivery Period Event of Loss” means, (a) with respect to a 2001-1 Aircraft that is subject to an Existing Financing, one of several events of loss under the applicable Existing Financing, which events of loss are substantially similar to the Events of Loss under the Indentures (see “Description of the Equipment Notes — Certain Provisions of the Indentures — Events of Loss”), except for certain differences in the time periods in which certain events could ripen into events of loss and (b) with respect to an Unencumbered Aircraft prior to being financed pursuant to this offering or a 2001-1 Aircraft that is no longer subject to an Existing Financing but is not yet financed pursuant to this offering, one of several events that would constitute an Event of Loss if such Aircraft were financed under the Pre-Funded Aircraft Indentures.

 

If a Triggering Event occurs prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date, any funds remaining in Deposits will be withdrawn by the Escrow Agent for the applicable Trust and distributed by the Paying Agent for such Trust, with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, but without any premium, to the Certificateholders of such Trust on a date no earlier than 15 days after the Paying Agent has received notice of such Triggering Event, but, if the day scheduled for such withdrawal is within 10 days before or after a Regular Distribution Date, such Escrow Agent will request such withdrawal be made on such Regular Distribution Date. (Escrow Agreements, Section 1.02(f)) The obligation to purchase Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to any Pre-Funded Aircraft not yet financed pursuant to this offering will terminate on the date such Triggering Event occurs. (Note Purchase Agreement, Section 2)

 

If the Depositary’s Short-Term Rating issued by either Rating Agency is downgraded below the Depositary Threshold Rating, then Delta must, within 30 days of the occurrence of such event, replace the Depositary with a new depositary bank meeting the requirements set forth below (the “Replacement Depositary”). (Note Purchase Agreement, Section 5(a))

 

“Depositary Threshold Rating” means, for any entity, a Short-Term Rating for such entity of P-1 from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and A-1+ from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business (“Standard & Poor’s”, and together with Moody’s, the “Rating Agencies”). (Note Purchase Agreement, Section 5(a))

 

Any Replacement Depositary may either be (a) one that meets the Depositary Threshold Rating or (b) one that does not meet the Depositary Threshold Rating, so long as, in the case of either of the immediately preceding clauses (a) and (b), Delta shall have received a written confirmation from each Rating Agency that the replacement of the Depositary with the Replacement Depositary will not result in a withdrawal, suspension or reduction of the ratings of each class of Certificates rated by such Rating Agency below the then current rating for such Certificates (before the downgrading of such rating as a result of the downgrading of the Depositary below the applicable Depositary Threshold Rating). (Note Purchase Agreement, Section 5(c)(i))

 

At any time during the period prior to the Delivery Period Termination Date (including after the occurrence of a downgrade event described above), Delta may replace the Depositary with a Replacement Depositary. (Note Purchase Agreement, Section 5(a)) There can be no assurance that at the time of a downgrade event described above, there will be an institution willing to replace the downgraded Depositary or that each Rating Agency will provide the ratings confirmation described in the immediately preceding paragraph.

 

Upon satisfaction of the conditions for replacement of the Depositary with a Replacement Depositary set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement, the Escrow Agent for each Trust will request, upon at least 5 Business Days’ notice, the following withdrawals:

 

 

The Deposit Agreements provide that in no event shall the Depositary be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit, whether or not foreseeable) suffered by the Escrow Agent of each Trust or any of the Receiptholders in connection with the Deposit Agreements or the transactions contemplated or any relationships established by the Deposit Agreements irrespective of whether the Depositary has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. (Deposit Agreements, Section 16)

 

The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Bank”) will act as depositary (the “Depositary”) under the Class B Deposit Agreement. The Bank is also the Depositary under the Class A Deposit Agreement. The Bank is a New York state chartered bank that formerly was named “The Bank of New York”. The Bank has total assets of approximately $190.875 billion and total equity capital of approximately $15.798 billion, in each case at September 30, 2010. The Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (the “BNMC”).

 

The Bank’s principal office is located at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, and its telephone number is 212-495-1784. A copy of the most recent BNMC filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, may be obtained from BNMC’s Public Relations Department, One Wall Street, 31st Floor, (212) 635-1569 or from the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The information that BNMC and affiliates, including the Bank, filed with the SEC is not part of, and is not incorporated by reference in, this prospectus supplement.

 

The following summary describes certain material terms of an escrow and paying agent agreement, dated as of November 22, 2010 (the “Class A Escrow Agreement”), with respect to the Class A Certificates and the Class A Trust and the escrow and paying agent agreement to be entered into on the Class B Issuance Date with the respect to the Class B Certificates and the Class B Trust (the “Class B Escrow Agreement”, and, together with the Class A Escrow Agreement, the “Escrow Agreements”), as well as certain related provisions of the Deposit Agreements and the Note Purchase Agreement. The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the Escrow Agreements and the related provisions of the Deposit Agreements. Copies of the Class A Escrow Agreement and the Class A Deposit Agreement were filed as exhibits to Delta’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 22, 2010. Copies of the Class B Escrow Agreement and the Class B Deposit Agreement will be filed as exhibits to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Delta with the SEC.

 

U.S. Bank National Association, as escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”), U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as paying agent on behalf of the Escrow Agent (the “Paying Agent”), the Class A Trustee and the underwriters for the Class A Certificates entered into the Class A Escrow Agreement for the benefit of the Class A Certificateholders as holders of the Escrow Receipts affixed thereto (in such capacity, the “Class A Receiptholders”). The cash proceeds of the offering of the Class A Certificates were deposited on behalf of the Escrow Agent (for the benefit of the Class A Receiptholders) with the Depositary as Class A Deposits. (Class A Escrow Agreement, Section 1.03; Class A Deposit Agreement, Section 2.1) The Escrow Agent, the Paying Agent, the Class B Trustee and the underwriters for the Class B Certificates will enter into the Class B Escrow Agreement for the benefit of the Class B Certificateholders as holders of the Escrow Receipts affixed thereto (in such capacity, the “Class B Receiptholders”, and together with the Class A Receiptholders, the “Receiptholders”). The cash proceeds of the offering of the Class B Certificates to be used to purchase the Series B Equipment Notes to be issued with respect to the Pre-Funded Aircraft will be deposited on behalf of the Escrow Agent (for the benefit of the Class B Receiptholders) with the Depositary as Class B Deposits. (Class B Escrow Agreement, Section 1.03; Class B Deposit Agreement, Section 2.1) The Escrow Agent will permit the Trustee of the related Trust to cause funds to be withdrawn from the related Deposits to allow such Trustee to purchase the related Equipment Notes pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement and the related Pre-Funded Aircraft Participation Agreement or in connection with special distributions under certain circumstances as described under “Description of the Deposit Agreements — Other Withdrawals and Return of Deposits”. (Escrow Agreements, Section 1.02(c) — (f)) In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Deposit Agreements, the Depositary agrees to pay interest on the Deposits accrued in accordance with the Deposit Agreements to the Paying Agent for distribution to the Receiptholders. (Deposit Agreements, Section 4)

 

Each Escrow Agreement requires that the Paying Agent establish and maintain, for the benefit of the Receiptholders of each Trust, the Paying Agent Account for such Trust, which will be non-interest-bearing, and the Paying Agent is under no obligation to invest any amounts held in such Paying Agent Account. (Escrow Agreements, Section 2.02). Pursuant to the Deposit Agreements, the Depositary agrees to pay funds released from the related Deposits and accrued interest on the related Deposits directly into such Paying Agent Account, except for amounts withdrawn to purchase any related Equipment Notes as described under “Description of the Deposit Agreements — Withdrawal of Deposits to Purchase Equipment Notes” and amounts paid to a Replacement Depositary as described under “Description of the Deposit Agreements — Replacement of Depositary”. (Deposit Agreements, Section 4) The Paying Agent will distribute amounts deposited into the Paying Agent Account for the related Trust to the Certificateholders of such Trust as further described herein. See “Description of the Certificates — Payments and Distributions” and “Description of the Deposit Agreements”.

 

Upon receipt by the Depositary of certain of the cash proceeds from the offering of Certificates relating to the Pre-Funded Aircraft, the Escrow Agent issued, or in the case of the Class B Certificates, will issue, one or more escrow receipts (“Escrow Receipts”) which was, or will be, as applicable, affixed by the related Trustee to each Certificate. Each Escrow Receipt evidences the related Receiptholder’s interest in amounts

from time to time deposited into the Paying Agent Account and is limited in recourse to amounts deposited into such account. An Escrow Receipt may not be assigned or transferred except in connection with the assignment or transfer of the Certificate to which it is affixed. Each Escrow Receipt will be registered by the Escrow Agent in the same name and manner as the Certificate to which it is affixed. (Escrow Agreements, Sections 1.03 and 1.04) Because the Escrow Receipts will be affixed to the Certificates, distributions to the Receiptholders on the Escrow Receipts are sometimes referred to in this prospectus supplement, for convenience, as distributions to the Certificateholders.

 

Each Escrow Agreement provides that each Receiptholder will have the right (individually and without the need for any other action of any person, including the Escrow Agent or any other Receiptholder), upon any default in the payment of interest on the Deposits when due by the Depositary in accordance with the applicable Deposit Agreement, or upon any default in the payment of any final withdrawal, replacement withdrawal or event of loss withdrawal when due by the Depositary in accordance with the terms of the applicable Deposit Agreement and Escrow Agreement, to proceed directly against the Depositary by making a demand to the Depositary for the portion of such payment that would have been distributed to such Receiptholder pursuant to such Escrow Agreement or by bringing suit to enforce payment of such portion. The Escrow Agent will notify Receiptholders in the event of a default in any such payment and will promptly forward to Receiptholders upon receipt copies of all written communications relating to any payments due to the Receiptholders in respect of the Deposits. (Escrow Agreements, Sections 9 and 16)

 

The Note Purchase Agreement contains provisions requiring the Trustees, the Escrow Agent and the Paying Agent, at Delta’s request, to enter into amendments to, among other agreements, the Escrow Agreements and the Note Purchase Agreement as may be necessary or desirable:

 

 

In each case described immediately above, no requests (other than Delta’s request) or consents (including no consent of the Certificateholders) will be required for such amendments.

 

Each Escrow Agreement contains provisions requiring the Escrow Agent and the Paying Agent, upon request of the related Trustee and without any consent of the Certificateholders, to enter into an amendment to the Escrow Agreements or the Note Purchase Agreement, among other things, for the following purposes:

 

 

 

U.S. Bank National Association will be the Escrow Agent under the Class B Escrow Agreement. U.S. Bank National Association is also the Escrow Agent under the Class A Escrow Agreement. The Escrow Agent’s address is U.S. Bank National Association, One Federal Street, 3^rd Floor, Mail Code EX-MA-FED, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, Attention: Corporate Trust Services.

 

U.S. Bank Trust National Association will be the Paying Agent under the Class B Escrow Agreement. U.S. Bank Trust National Association is also the Paying Agent under the Class A Escrow Agreement. The Paying Agent’s address is U.S. Bank Trust National Association, One Federal Street, 3^rd Floor, Mail Code EX-MA-FED, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, Attention: Corporate Trust Services.

 

The following summary describes certain material terms of the Liquidity Facilities and certain provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement relating to the Liquidity Facilities. The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the Liquidity Facilities and the Intercreditor Agreement. A copy of the Class A Liquidity Facility was filed as an exhibit to Delta’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 22, 2010 and copies of the Class B Liquidity Facility and the Intercreditor Agreement will be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Delta with the SEC.

 

The liquidity provider for the Class A Trust (the “Class A Liquidity Provider”) entered into a revolving credit agreement, dated as of November 22, 2010 (the “Class A Liquidity Facility”), with the Subordination Agent with respect to the Class A Trust. The liquidity provider for the Class B Trust (the “Class B Liquidity Provider” and, together with the Class A Liquidity Provider, the “Liquidity Providers” and, each a “Liquidity Provider”) will enter into a separate revolving credit agreement (the “Class B Liquidity Facility” and, together with the Class A Liquidity Facility, the “Liquidity Facilities” and, each, a “Liquidity Facility”) with the Subordination Agent with respect to the Class B Trust. Under each Liquidity Facility, the related Liquidity Provider will be required, if necessary, to make one or more advances (“Interest Drawings”) to the Subordination Agent in an aggregate amount (the “Required Amount”) sufficient to pay interest on the Pool Balance of the related class of Certificates on up to three successive semiannual Regular Distribution Dates (without regard to any expected future payments of principal on such Certificates) at the Stated Interest Rate for such Certificates. If interest payment defaults occur which exceed the amount covered by and available under the Liquidity Facility for the Class A Trust or the Class B Trust, the Certificateholders of such Trust will bear their allocable share of the deficiencies to the extent that there are no other sources of funds. The initial Liquidity Provider with respect to each of the Class A Trust and Class B Trust may be replaced by one or more other entities with respect to either of such Trusts under certain circumstances. Therefore, the Liquidity Provider for each Trust may differ.

 

The aggregate amount available under the Liquidity Facility for each applicable Trust at November 23, 2011 (the first Regular Distribution Date that occurs after the Outside Termination Date), assuming that all Aircraft have been financed and that all interest and principal due on such Regular Distribution Date is paid, will be:

 

 

Except as otherwise provided below, the Liquidity Facility for each Trust will enable the Subordination Agent to make Interest Drawings thereunder on any Regular Distribution Date in order to make interest distributions then scheduled for the Certificates of such Trust at the Stated Interest Rate for the Certificates of such Trust to the extent that the amount, if any, available to the Subordination Agent on such Regular Distribution Date is not sufficient to pay such interest. The maximum amount available to be drawn under the Liquidity Facility with respect to any Trust on any Regular Distribution Date to fund any shortfall of interest on Certificates of such Trust will not exceed the then Maximum Available Commitment under such Liquidity Facility. The “Maximum Available Commitment” at any time under each Liquidity Facility is an amount equal to the then Maximum Commitment of such Liquidity Facility less the aggregate amount of each Interest Drawing outstanding under such Liquidity Facility at such time; provided that, following a Downgrade Drawing, a Special Termination Drawing, a Final Drawing or a Non-Extension Drawing under such Liquidity Facility, the Maximum Available Commitment under such Liquidity Facility shall be zero.

“Maximum Commitment” for the Liquidity Facility for the Class A Trust and the Class B Trust, initially, means $35,199,846, and $          , respectively, in each case as the same may be reduced from time to time as described below.

 

The Liquidity Facility for any applicable class of Certificates does not provide for drawings thereunder to pay for principal of, or Make-Whole Amount on, the Certificates of such class or any interest with respect to the Certificates of such class in excess of the Stated Interest Rate for such Certificates or for more than three semiannual installments of interest or to pay principal of, or interest on, or Make-Whole Amount with respect to, the Certificates of any other class. (Liquidity Facilities, Section 2.02; Intercreditor Agreement, Section 3.05) In addition, the Liquidity Facility with respect to each Trust does not provide for drawings thereunder to pay any amounts payable with respect to the Deposits relating to such Trust.

 

Each payment by a Liquidity Provider for a Trust will reduce by the same amount the Maximum Available Commitment under the related Liquidity Facility, subject to reinstatement as hereinafter described. With respect to any Interest Drawings, upon reimbursement of the applicable Liquidity Provider in full or in part for the amount of such Interest Drawings plus accrued interest thereon, the Maximum Available Commitment under the applicable Liquidity Facility will be reinstated by the amount reimbursed but not to exceed the then Required Amount of the applicable Liquidity Facility; provided, however, that the Maximum Available Commitment of such Liquidity Facility will not be so reinstated at any time if (i) a Liquidity Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and less than 65% of the then aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Equipment Notes are Performing Equipment Notes or (ii) a Final Drawing, Downgrade Drawing, Special Termination Drawing or Non-Extension Drawing shall have occurred with respect to such Liquidity Facility. With respect to any other drawings under such Liquidity Facility, amounts available to be drawn thereunder are not subject to reinstatement. (Liquidity Facilities, Section 2.02(a); Intercreditor Agreement, Section 3.05(g)) On each date on which the Pool Balance for a Trust shall have been reduced, the Maximum Commitment of the Liquidity Facility for such Trust will be automatically reduced to an amount equal to the then Required Amount. (Liquidity Facilities, Section 2.04; Intercreditor Agreement, Section 3.05(j))

 

“Performing Equipment Note” means an Equipment Note issued pursuant to an Indenture with respect to which no payment default has occurred and is continuing (without giving effect to any acceleration); provided that, in the event of a bankruptcy proceeding in which Delta is a debtor under the Bankruptcy Code, (i) any payment default occurring before the date of the order for relief in such proceedings shall not be taken into consideration during the 60-day period under Section 1110(a)(2)(A) of the Bankruptcy Code (or such longer period as may apply under Section 1110(b) of the Bankruptcy Code) (the “Section 1110 Period”), (ii) any payment default occurring after the date of the order for relief in such proceeding will not be taken into consideration if such payment default is cured under Section 1110(a)(2)(B) of the Bankruptcy Code before the later of 30 days after the date of such default or the expiration of the Section 1110 Period and (iii) any payment default occurring after the Section 1110 Period will not be taken into consideration if such payment default is cured before the end of the grace period, if any, set forth in the related Indenture. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 1.01)

 

If at any time the Short-Term Rating of a Liquidity Provider issued by either Rating Agency (or, if such Liquidity Provider does not have a Short-Term Rating issued by a given Rating Agency, the Long-Term Rating of such Liquidity Provider issued by such Rating Agency) is lower than the Liquidity Threshold Rating, then the related Liquidity Facility may be replaced with a Replacement Facility. If such Liquidity Facility is not so replaced with a Replacement Facility within 10 days after the downgrading, the Subordination Agent will draw the then Maximum Available Commitment under such Liquidity Facility (the “Downgrade Drawing”). The Subordination Agent will deposit the proceeds of any Downgrade Drawing into a cash collateral account (the “Cash Collateral Account”) for the applicable class of Certificates and will use these proceeds for the same purposes and under the same circumstances, and subject to the same conditions, as cash payments of Interest Drawings under such Liquidity Facility would be used. (Liquidity Facilities, Section 2.02(b)(ii); Intercreditor Agreement, Sections 3.05(c) and (f))

“Long-Term Rating” means, for any entity: (a) in the case of Moody’s, the long-term senior unsecured debt rating of such entity and (b) in the case of Standard & Poor’s, the long-term issuer credit rating of such entity. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 1.01)

 

“Short-Term Rating” means, for any entity: (a) in the case of Moody’s, the short-term senior unsecured debt rating of such entity and (b) in the case of Standard & Poor’s, the short-term issuer credit rating of such entity. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 1.01)

 

“Liquidity Threshold Rating” means: (i) a Short-Term Rating of P-1 in the case of Moody’s and A-1 in the case of Standard & Poor’s and (ii) in the case of any entity that does not have a Short-Term Rating from either or both of such Rating Agencies, then in lieu of such Short-Term Rating from such Rating Agency or Rating Agencies, a Long-Term Rating of A2 in the case of Moody’s and A in the case of Standard & Poor’s. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 1.01)

 

A “Replacement Facility” for any Liquidity Facility will mean an irrevocable revolving credit agreement (or agreements) in substantially the form of the replaced Liquidity Facility, including reinstatement provisions, or in such other form (which may include a letter of credit, surety bond, financial insurance policy or guaranty) as will permit the Rating Agencies to confirm in writing their respective ratings then in effect for the Certificates with respect to which such Liquidity Facility was issued (before downgrading of such ratings, if any, as a result of the downgrading of the related Liquidity Provider), in a face amount (or in an aggregate face amount) equal to the amount sufficient to pay interest on the Pool Balance of the Certificates of the applicable Trust (at the Stated Interest Rate for such Certificates, and without regard to expected future principal distributions) on the three successive semiannual Regular Distribution Dates following the date of replacement of such Liquidity Facility and issued by an entity (or entities) having Short-Term Ratings issued by the Rating Agencies (or if such entity does not have a Short-Term Rating issued by a given Rating Agency, the Long-Term Rating of such entity issued by such Rating Agency) which are equal to or higher than the applicable Liquidity Threshold Rating. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 1.01) The provider of any Replacement Facility will have the same rights (including, without limitation, priority distribution rights and rights as “Controlling Party”) under the Intercreditor Agreement as the replaced Liquidity Provider. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 3.05)

 

The Liquidity Facility for each of the Class A Trust and Class B Trust provides that the applicable Liquidity Provider’s obligations thereunder will expire on the earliest of:

 

 

Each Liquidity Facility provides that it may be extended for additional 364-day periods by mutual agreement of the related Liquidity Provider and the Subordination Agent. The Intercreditor Agreement will provide for the replacement of the Liquidity Facility for any Trust if such Liquidity Facility is scheduled to expire earlier than 15 days after the Final Legal Distribution Date for the Certificates of such Trust and such Liquidity Facility is not extended or replaced by the 25th day prior to its then scheduled expiration date. (Liquidity Facilities, Section 2.10) If such Liquidity Facility is not so extended or replaced by the 25th day prior to its then scheduled expiration date, the Subordination Agent shall request a drawing in full up to the then Maximum Available Commitment under such Liquidity Facility (the “Non-Extension Drawing”). (Liquidity Facilities, Section 2.02(b)(i)) The Subordination Agent will deposit the proceeds of the Non-Extension Drawing into the Cash Collateral Account for the related Certificates and will use these proceeds

for the same purposes and under the same circumstances, and subject to the same conditions, as cash payments of Interest Drawings under such Liquidity Facility would be used. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 3.05(d))

 

Subject to certain limitations, Delta may, at its option, arrange for a Replacement Facility at any time to replace the Liquidity Facility for any Trust (including without limitation any Replacement Facility described in the following sentence); provided that, if the initial Liquidity Provider is replaced, it shall be replaced with respect to all Liquidity Facilities under which it is the Liquidity Provider. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 3.05(e)) In addition, if a Liquidity Provider shall determine not to extend a Liquidity Facility, then such Liquidity Provider may, at its option, arrange for a Replacement Facility to replace such Liquidity Facility (i) during the period no earlier than 40 days and no later than 25 days prior to the then scheduled expiration date of such Liquidity Facility and (ii) at any time after a Non-Extension Drawing has been made under such Liquidity Facility. (Liquidity Facilities, Section 2.10) A Liquidity Provider may also arrange for a Replacement Facility to replace the related Liquidity Facility at any time after a Downgrade Drawing under such Liquidity Facility. If any Replacement Facility is provided at any time after a Downgrade Drawing or a Non-Extension Drawing under any Liquidity Facility, the funds with respect to such Liquidity Facility on deposit in the Cash Collateral Account for such Trust will be returned to the Liquidity Provider being replaced. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 3.05(e))

 

Upon receipt by the Subordination Agent of a Termination Notice with respect to any Liquidity Facility from the relevant Liquidity Provider as described below under “— Liquidity Events of Default”, the Subordination Agent shall request a final drawing (a “Final Drawing”) or a special termination drawing (the “Special Termination Drawing”), as applicable, under such Liquidity Facility in an amount equal to the then Maximum Available Commitment thereunder. The Subordination Agent will deposit the proceeds of the Final Drawing or the Special Termination Drawing into the Cash Collateral Account for the related Certificates and will use these proceeds for the same purposes and under the same circumstances, and subject to the same conditions, as cash payments of Interest Drawings under such Liquidity Facility would be used. (Liquidity Facilities, Sections 2.02(c) and 2.02(d); Intercreditor Agreement, Sections 3.05(i) and 3.05(k))

 

Drawings under any Liquidity Facility will be made by delivery by the Subordination Agent of a certificate in the form required by such Liquidity Facility. Upon receipt of such a certificate, the relevant Liquidity Provider is obligated to make payment of the drawing requested thereby in immediately available funds. Upon payment by the relevant Liquidity Provider of the amount specified in any drawing under any Liquidity Facility, such Liquidity Provider will be fully discharged of its obligations under such Liquidity Facility with respect to such drawing and will not thereafter be obligated to make any further payments under such Liquidity Facility in respect of such drawing to the Subordination Agent or any other person. (Liquidity Facilities, Section 2.02(a))

 

The Subordination Agent must reimburse amounts drawn under any Liquidity Facility by reason of an Interest Drawing, Special Termination Drawing, Final Drawing, Downgrade Drawing or Non-Extension Drawing and pay interest thereon, but only to the extent that the Subordination Agent has funds available therefor. (Liquidity Facilities, Section 2.09)

 

Interest Drawings and Final Drawings

 

Amounts drawn by reason of an Interest Drawing or Final Drawing (each, a “Drawing”) will be immediately due and payable, together with interest on the amount of such drawing. From the date of such drawing to (but excluding) the third business day following the applicable Liquidity Provider’s receipt of the notice of such Interest Drawing, interest will accrue at the Base Rate plus 4.00% per annum. Thereafter, interest will accrue at LIBOR for the applicable interest period plus 4.00% per annum. (Liquidity Facilities, Section 3.07)

 

“Base Rate” means a fluctuating interest rate per annum in effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions

with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published for each day of the period for which the Base Rate is to be determined (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the applicable Liquidity Provider from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it (and reasonably satisfactory to Delta) plus one quarter of one percent (0.25%). (Liquidity Facilities, Section 1.01)

 

“LIBOR” means, with respect to any interest period, the rate per annum at which U.S. dollars are offered in the London interbank market as shown on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 (or any successor thereto) at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first day of such interest period, for a period comparable to such interest period, or if such rate is not available, a rate per annum determined by certain alternative methods. (Liquidity Facilities, Section 1.01)

 

If at any time, a Liquidity Provider shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Subordination Agent, absent manifest error) that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant interbank lending market generally, the LIBOR rate determined or to be determined for such interest period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Liquidity Provider (as conclusively certified by such Liquidity Provider, absent manifest error) of making or maintaining advances, such Liquidity Provider shall give facsimile or telephonic notice thereof (a “Rate Determination Notice”) to the Subordination Agent. If such notice is given, then the outstanding principal amount of the LIBOR advances under the related Liquidity Facility shall be converted to Base Rate advances thereunder effective from the date of the Rate Determination Notice; provided that the rate then applicable in respect of such Base Rate advances shall be increased by one percent (1.00%). Each Liquidity Provider shall withdraw a Rate Determination Notice given under the applicable Liquidity Facility when such Liquidity Provider determines that the circumstances giving rise to such Rate Determination Notice no longer apply to such Liquidity Provider, and the Base Rate advances shall be converted to LIBOR advances effective as the first day of the next succeeding interest period after the date of such withdrawal. Each change in the Base Rate shall become effective immediately. (Liquidity Facilities, Section 3.07(g))

 

Downgrade Drawings, Special Termination Drawings, Non-Extension Drawings and Final Drawings

 

The amount drawn under any Liquidity Facility by reason of a Downgrade Drawing, a Special Termination Drawing, a Non-Extension Drawing or Final Drawing and deposited in a Cash Collateral Account will be treated as follows:

 

 

Any Downgrade Drawing, Special Termination Drawing or Non-Extension Drawing under any Liquidity Facility, other than any portion thereof applied to the payment of interest distributions on the Certificates, will bear interest, (a) subject to clauses (b) and (c) below, at a rate equal to (i) in the case of a Downgrade Drawing, LIBOR for the applicable interest period (or, as described in the first paragraph under “— Reimbursement Drawings — Interest Drawings and Final Drawings”, the Base Rate) plus a specified margin, (ii) in the case of a Special Termination Drawing, LIBOR for the applicable interest period (or, as described in the first paragraph under ‘‘— Reimbursement Drawings — Interest Drawings and Final Drawings”, the Base Rate) plus a specified margin and (iii) in the case of a Non-Extension Drawing, the investment earnings on the amounts deposited in the Cash Collateral Account on the outstanding amount from time to time of such Non-Extension Drawing plus a specified margin, (b) from and after the date, if any, on which such Downgrade Drawing, Special Termination Drawing or Non-Extension Drawing is converted into a

Final Drawing as described below under “— Liquidity Events of Default”, at a rate equal to LIBOR for the applicable interest period (or, as described in the first paragraph under “— Reimbursement of Drawings — Interest Drawings and Final Drawings”, the Base Rate) plus 4.00% per annum and (c) from and after the date, if any, on which a Special Termination Notice is given and any Downgrade Drawing or Non-Extension Drawing is converted into a Special Termination Drawing as described below under “— Liquidity Events of Default”, at the rate applicable to Special Termination Drawings as described in clause (a)(ii) above.

 

Events of default under each Liquidity Facility (each, a “Liquidity Event of Default”) will consist of:

 

 

If (i) any Liquidity Event of Default under any Liquidity Facility has occurred and is continuing and (ii) less than 65% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Equipment Notes are Performing Equipment Notes, the applicable Liquidity Provider may, in its discretion, give a notice of termination of such Liquidity Facility (a “Final Termination Notice”). With respect to any Liquidity Facility, if the Pool Balance of the related class of Certificates is greater than the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the related series of Equipment Notes (other than any such series of Equipment Notes previously sold or with respect to which the Aircraft related to such series of Equipment Notes has been disposed of) at any time during the 18-month period prior to the final expected Regular Distribution Date with respect to such class of Certificates, the Liquidity Provider of such Trust may, in its discretion, give a notice of special termination of such Liquidity Facility (a “Special Termination Notice” and, together with the Final Termination Notice, a “Termination Notice”). The Termination Notice will have the following consequences:

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Subordination Agent is obligated to pay amounts owing to the applicable Liquidity Provider only to the extent of funds available therefor after giving effect to the payments in accordance with the provisions set forth under “Description of the Intercreditor Agreement — Priority of Distributions”. (Liquidity Facilities, Section 2.09) Upon the circumstances described below under “Description of the Intercreditor Agreement — Intercreditor Rights”, a Liquidity Provider may become the Controlling Party with respect to the exercise of remedies under the Indentures. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 2.06(c))

 

The initial Class B Liquidity Provider will be Natixis S.A., acting via its New York Branch. Natixis S.A., acting via its New York Branch, is also the initial Class A Liquidity Provider.

 

The following summary describes certain material provisions of an intercreditor agreement, dated as of November 22, 2010, among the Class A Trustee, the Class A Liquidity Provider and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as subordination agent (the “Subordination Agent”), as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Intecreditor Agreement, to be dated the Class B Issuance Date, among the Class A Trustee, the Class A Liquidity Provider, the Class B Trustee, the Class B Liquidity Provider, the Subordination Agent and Delta, by which, among other things, the Class B Trustee and Class B Liquidity Provider will each become a party thereto (as so amended, the “Intercreditor Agreement”). The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, a copy of which will be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by Delta with the SEC.

 

General

 

The Equipment Notes relating to each Trust will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the Subordination Agent, as agent and trustee for the Trustee of such Trust. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 2.01(a))

 

Controlling Party

 

Each Loan Trustee will be directed, so long as no Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing thereunder and subject to certain limitations described below, in taking, or refraining from taking, any action under an Indenture or with respect to the Equipment Notes issued under such Indenture, by the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Equipment Notes issued under such Indenture. See “— Voting of Equipment Notes” below. For so long as the Subordination Agent is the registered holder of the Equipment Notes, the Subordination Agent will act with respect to the preceding sentence in accordance with the directions of the Trustees for whom the Equipment Notes issued under such Indenture are held as Trust Property, to the extent constituting, in the aggregate, directions with respect to the required principal amount of Equipment Notes.

 

After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Indenture Event of Default under an Indenture, each Loan Trustee will be directed in taking, or refraining from taking, any action thereunder or with respect to the Equipment Notes issued under such Indenture, including acceleration of such Equipment Notes or foreclosing the lien on the related Aircraft with respect to which such Equipment Note was issued, by the Controlling Party, subject to the limitations described below. See “Description of the Certificates — Indenture Events of Default and Certain Rights Upon an Indenture Event of Default” for a description of the rights of the Certificateholders of each Trust to direct the respective Trustees. (Intercreditor Agreement, Section 2.06(a))

 

The “Controlling Party” will be: