New York, June 27, 2013 -- Moody's Investors Service raised its debt ratings of Delta Air Lines,
Inc. ("Delta"): Corporate Family to B1 from B2,
Probability of Default to B1-PD from B2-PD, Senior
Secured to Ba1 from Ba2 and senior unsecured to B2 from B3. Moody's
raised by one notch its ratings assigned to all of the company's
Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates ("EETCs") except the
B-tranche of Series 2010-2 issued by Delta and the G-tranche
of Series 2000-1 originally issued by Northwest Airlines,
Inc.. The ratings on these two EETC tranches were affirmed
as was the SGL-2 Speculative Grade Liquidity rating. The
outlook is stable.
RATINGS RATIONALE
The upgrade of the ratings considers the company's steady performance
in the years since the most recent recession. Capacity discipline,
improvements to the product and to the network that have focused on its
strategy for the New York market and to improve its appeal to corporate
accounts have supported free cash flow generation and facilitated the
de-levering of its balance sheet. Funded debt has declined
by almost $5 billion since 2009 while annual fuel spend increased
by almost $4.0 billion. On June 29, 2012,
Delta and Virgin Atlantic, in which Delta now holds a 49%
equity interest and three board seats, will implement a code share
covering 107 routes across the companies' networks. Moody's
believes this tie-up will benefit Delta's traffic and financial
performance as it will significantly improve the appeal of its schedule
to London's Heathrow and beyond as well as provide incremental passenger
flow to its US domestic network under the code share.
The B1 corporate family rating reflects Delta's leading position in the
global passenger airline sector, its steady earnings and free cash
flow generation, which Moody's anticipates will continue and
the progress it has made towards achieving the prior net debt target of
$10 billion. The rating also anticipates modest improvements
in credit metrics over the next 12 to 18 months. Moody's
believes that Delta will maintain profitability in 2013, notwithstanding
slowing growth in demand because of ongoing global macroeconomic headwinds
including the impact from sequestration in the U.S.,
ongoing fiscal and economic challenges in Europe and the weak yen in Japan.
Steady demand in premium cabins, ongoing industry capacity discipline,
particularly on highly competitive trans-Atlantic routes and Delta's
focus on growing ancillary revenues should help unit revenues keep pace
with growth in unit costs. Good liquidity, in excess of $5
billion including revolving credit facilities that impose no conditions
for drawings and a manageable maturity profile support the B1 rating.
The ratings also consider the benefits the global route network should
provide in periods of improving demand, anticipated free cash flow
as annual capital expenditures for aircraft are modest and that pressure
on labor and other non-fuel costs will remain manageable despite
near-term pressure in 2013, including from higher pilot labor
rates pursuant to the terms of the contract agreed in 2012.
The B1 rating also considers Delta's head start at implementing
an airline merger relative to legacy peers. Moody's believes
that Delta's revenue management benefits from having a longer history
of operating a combined network on a common revenue system, giving
it a relative advantage, in the near term, in fare planning.
Delta also has had more time to size its labor force to its operations
with greater flexibility since its pilots are the only work group represented
by a union.
The stable outlook reflects our belief that Delta's credit metrics
will continue to strengthen to levels supportive of the B1 rating and
maintain its good liquidity profile. Despite an outlook of only
modest growth for the U.S. and slowing growth for global
economic activity, Moody's anticipates steady passenger demand
and a lower average fuel price in 2013, each of which will support
the trend in the company's credit metrics. Additionally,
Delta's focus on reducing funded debt as it begins its march toward its
publicly-announced new net debt target of $7 billion should
help mitigate any pressure on leverage and coverage metrics should operating
profit decline with weaker economic activity.
Sustained improvement in credit metrics despite economic headwinds and
while funding fleet renewal, including deliveries of the Boeing
B737-900ER aircraft that begin to deliver in July 2013 could lead
to a positive rating action. Moody's would look for Debt
to EBITDA to approach 4.0 times, Funds from Operations +
Interest to Interest that approaches 4.0 times and an EBITDA margin
that approaches 18% before considering an upgrade. Annual
free cash flow sustained above $2 billion while funding deliveries
of new aircraft including a potential upcoming order for wide-body
aircraft could also lead to a positive rating action.
An inability to sustain its EBITDA margin, possibly because of inflation
in non-fuel costs and or setting capacity at levels insufficient
to help sustain yields in periods when passenger demand waivers could
lead to a negative rating action. EBITDA margin that approached
12% or a sustained decline in unrestricted cash to below $2.7
billion would be indicators of a negative shift in the company's
credit profile. While not expected, a sustained decline in
demand that led to declines in yields of more than 8% with no corresponding
offsets to costs, possibly from a commensurate decline in the cost
of fuel, could also pressure the ratings as could aggregate liquidity
(including availability on revolving credit facilities) of less than $4.5
billion. Debt to EBITDA sustained above 6.3 times or Funds
from Operations + Interest to Interest that approaches 2.3
times could pressure the rating.
We anticipate that Delta will place an order for wide-body aircraft
within the next 12 months to start a multi-year process to modernize
its medium- to long-haul fleet. This will lead to
incremental capital expenditures which could reduce the good free cash
flow generation the company has achieved in recent years and that it expects
to continue to achieve in upcoming years. However, a number
of investment projects, such as refurbishments of aircraft cabins
including installations of lie-flat seats throughout the wide-body
fleet and terminal projects in New York will be winding down in the next
12 to 24 months, freeing up investment dollars for new aircraft
without meaningfully impairing free cash flow generation.
The principal methodology used in this rating was the Global Passenger
Airlines Industry Methodology published in May 2012 and the Enhanced Equipment
Trust And Equipment Trust Certificates Methodology published in December
2010. Other methodologies used include Loss Given Default for Speculative-Grade
Non-Financial Companies in the U.S., Canada
and EMEA published in June 2009. Please see the Credit Policy page
on www.moodys.com for a copy of these methodologies.
Delta Air Lines, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta,
Georgia, is one of the world's largest airlines, providing
scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the U.S.
and around the world.
Upgrades:
..Issuer: Clayton County Development Authority,
GA
....Senior Unsecured Revenue Bonds,
Upgraded to B2 from B3
....Senior Unsecured Revenue Bonds,
Upgraded to B2 from B3
..Issuer: Delta Air Lines, Inc.
.... Probability of Default Rating,
Upgraded to B1-PD from B2-PD
.... Corporate Family Rating, Upgraded
to B1 from B2
....Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility Apr
20, 2016, Upgraded to Ba1 from Ba2
....Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility Mar
29, 2017, Upgraded to Ba1 from Ba2
....Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility Oct
18, 2017, Upgraded to Ba1 from Ba2
....Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility Oct
18, 2018, Upgraded to Ba1 from Ba2
....Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility Apr
18, 2016, Upgraded to Ba1 from Ba2
....Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility Apr
20, 2016, Upgraded to a range of LGD2, 15 % from
a range of LGD2, 16 %
....Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility Mar
29, 2017, Upgraded to a range of LGD2, 15 % from
a range of LGD2, 16 %
....Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility Oct
18, 2017, Upgraded to a range of LGD2, 15 % from
a range of LGD2, 16 %
....Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility Oct
18, 2018, Upgraded to a range of LGD2, 15 % from
a range of LGD2, 16 %
....Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility Apr
18, 2016, Upgraded to a range of LGD2, 15 % from
a range of LGD2, 16 %
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Aug 10, 2014, Upgraded to Ba3 from B1
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Aug 10, 2022, Upgraded to Ba2 from Ba3
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Dec 17, 2016, Upgraded to Ba1 from Ba2
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Jan 2, 2016, Upgraded to Ba2 from Ba3
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Oct 15, 2014, Upgraded to Ba2 from Ba3
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
May 7, 2019, Upgraded to Ba2 from Ba3
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Aug 10, 2022, Upgraded to Baa1 from Baa2
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Dec 17, 2019, Upgraded to Baa1 from Baa2
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Jul 2, 2018, Upgraded to Baa1 from Baa2
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Nov 23, 2019, Upgraded to Baa1 from Baa2
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Apr 15, 2019, Upgraded to Baa1 from Baa2
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
May 7, 2020, Upgraded to Baa1 from Baa2
..Issuer: Delta Air Lines, Inc. (Old)
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Jul 2, 2024, Upgraded to Baa3 from Ba1
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Jul 2, 2024, Upgraded to Baa3 from Ba1
..Issuer: Northwest Airlines, Inc.
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
May 20, 2014, Upgraded to Baa1 from Baa2
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
May 20, 2014, Upgraded to Baa1 from Baa2
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Nov 1, 2017, Upgraded to Ba1 from Ba2
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Nov 20, 2021, Upgraded to Baa1 from Baa2
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Nov 20, 2021, Upgraded to Baa1 from Baa2
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Nov 1, 2019, Upgraded to Baa1 from Baa2
Affirmations:
..Issuer: Delta Air Lines, Inc.
.... Speculative Grade Liquidity Rating,
Affirmed SGL-2
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Nov 23, 2015, Affirmed Ba3
..Issuer: Northwest Airlines, Inc.
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Apr 1, 2021, Affirmed B1
....Senior Secured Enhanced Equipment Trust
Apr 1, 2021, Affirmed B1
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series
or category/class of debt or pursuant to a program for which the ratings
are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's
rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular
rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the
support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive
rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt,
in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed
prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would
have affected the rating.
For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity
page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit
support from the primary entity(ies) of this rating action, and
whose ratings may change as a result of this rating action, the
associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity.
Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures,
if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure
to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating
review.
Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued
the rating.
Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com
for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.
Jonathan Root
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Michael J. Mulvaney
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Moody's upgrades Delta Air Lines; CFR to B1, outlook stable