Name: Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:DAL) | Cash Flow Statement (Quarterly)
Creator: Stock Analysis on Net

Cash Flow Statement
Quarterly Data

The cash flow statement provides information about a company cash receipts and cash payments during an accounting period, showing how these cash flows link the ending cash balance to the beginning balance shown on the company balance sheet.

The cash flow statement consists of three parts: cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities, and cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities.

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Delta Air Lines Inc., consolidated cash flow statement (quarterly data)

US$ in millions

3 months ended:	Jun 30, 2022	Mar 31, 2022	Dec 31, 2021	Sep 30, 2021	Jun 30, 2021	Mar 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020	Sep 30, 2020	Jun 30, 2020	Mar 31, 2020	Dec 31, 2019	Sep 30, 2019	Jun 30, 2019	Mar 31, 2019	Dec 31, 2018	Sep 30, 2018	Jun 30, 2018	Mar 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Sep 30, 2017	Jun 30, 2017	Mar 31, 2017
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	2,535)	1,771)	556)	151)	1,866)	691)	(1,286)	(2,575)	(290)	358)	957)	2,245)	3,272)	1,951)	1,245)	1,499)	2,898)	1,372)	1,918)	1,645)	2,386)	(801)
Flight equipment, including advance payments	(603)	(1,276)	(635)	(434)	(395)	(132)	(302)	65)	(30)	(629)	(570)	(548)	(1,167)	(1,059)	(871)	(570)	(1,272)	(991)	(799)	(613)	(697)	(595)
Ground property and equipment, including technology	(355)	(490)	(583)	(396)	(366)	(306)	(246)	(198)	(251)	(308)	(502)	(396)	(393)	(301)	(492)	(392)	(306)	(274)	(361)	(328)	(291)	(207)
Property and equipment additions	(958)	(1,766)	(1,218)	(830)	(761)	(438)	(548)	(133)	(281)	(937)	(1,072)	(944)	(1,560)	(1,360)	(1,363)	(962)	(1,578)	(1,265)	(1,160)	(941)	(988)	(802)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	465)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Purchase of short-term investments	(248)	(226)	(1,856)	(5,212)	(2,426)	(3,161)	(4,700)	(3,745)	(4,955)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(27)	(55)	(63)	(57)	(301)	(104)	(463)
Redemption of short-term investments	943)	1,346)	2,878)	5,664)	3,123)	3,371)	3,954)	3,000)	654)	—)	—)	—)	—)	206)	276)	69)	58)	363)	189)	88)	100)	207)
Purchase of equity investments	—)	(100)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(2,099)	—)	(81)	(89)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(450)	(173)	—)	(622)
Sale of equity investments	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	279)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Other, net	111)	(3)	(284)	(6)	90)	168)	246)	(266)	42)	65)	26)	(100)	83)	49)	67)	17)	32)	38)	146)	5)	14)	(54)
Net cash used in investing activities	(152)	(749)	(480)	(384)	26)	(60)	(1,048)	(1,144)	(4,075)	(2,971)	(767)	(1,125)	(1,566)	(1,105)	(1,020)	(903)	(1,543)	(927)	(1,332)	(1,322)	(978)	(1,734)
Proceeds from short-term obligations	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	379)	2,882)	—)	—)	—)	1,750)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Proceeds from long-term obligations	—)	—)	—)	—)	978)	924)	309)	10,734)	7,785)	3,962)	1,557)	—)	—)	500)	621)	—)	3,124)	—)	450)	—)	—)	2,004)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback transactions	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	2,306)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)
Payments on debt and finance lease obligations	(952)	(1,443)	(1,149)	(1,552)	(1,358)	(1,775)	(6,241)	(606)	(474)	(1,238)	(515)	(355)	(1,165)	(1,285)	(311)	(648)	(1,849)	(244)	(439)	(255)	(276)	(288)
Repurchase of common stock	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(344)	(225)	(209)	(268)	(1,325)	(325)	(325)	(600)	(325)	(327)	(550)	(600)	(200)
Cash dividends	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	(260)	(259)	(260)	(228)	(233)	(239)	(240)	(213)	(217)	(215)	(219)	(148)	(149)
Fuel card obligation	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	—)	261)	(261)	364)	297)	(628)	1)	(9)	8)	4)	—)	(5)	295)	—)	7)	334)
Other, net	(14)	(13)	(18)	(13)	50)	61)	(25)	(142)	(13)	(22)	(13)	1)	(2)	(7)	121)	1)	(39)	(25)	(14)	(62)	(57)	(21)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(966)	(1,456)	(1,167)	(1,565)	(330)	(790)	(5,957)	10,247)	9,722)	5,344)	842)	(1,451)	(1,662)	(609)	(125)	(1,208)	423)	(816)	(250)	(1,086)	(1,074)	1,680)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents	1,417)	(434)	(1,091)	(1,798)	1,562)	(159)	(8,291)	6,528)	5,357)	2,731)	1,032)	(331)	44)	237)	100)	(612)	1,778)	(371)	336)	(763)	334)	(855)

The analysis of quarterly cash flow patterns reveals three distinct phases: a period of stable operational growth and shareholder returns (2017–2019), a liquidity crisis characterized by severe operational losses and massive debt issuance (2020–2021), and a subsequent recovery phase (2021–2022).

Operating Cash Flow Dynamics: Operational cash flows remained consistently positive and robust from early 2017 through 2019, typically peaking in the second quarter of each year. This stability was disrupted in 2020, where net cash provided by operating activities turned sharply negative, reaching a nadir of -2,575 million USD in the third quarter of 2020. A recovery trend emerged in 2021, with operating cash flows returning to positive territory and accelerating to 2,535 million USD by June 30, 2022, signaling a restoration of core business profitability.
Capital Expenditure and Investing Trends: Investing activities were dominated by consistent outflows for property and equipment additions. Between 2017 and 2019, expenditures on flight equipment and ground property remained steady, reflecting a commitment to fleet and infrastructure modernization. During the 2020 crisis, capital expenditures were significantly curtailed, with flight equipment spending dropping to near zero in the second quarter of 2020. Additionally, a high volume of volatility is observed in short-term investment purchases and redemptions between 2020 and 2021, indicating aggressive liquidity management to maintain cash reserves during the operational downturn.
Financing Strategy and Debt Management: The financing profile shifted from net outflows to massive inflows during the pandemic. From 2017 to 2019, financing activities were primarily used for debt repayment and shareholder distributions. However, 2020 saw a pivot toward survival financing, with proceeds from long-term obligations peaking at 10,734 million USD in the third quarter of 2020. This surge in borrowing was essential to offset the collapse in operating cash flows. By late 2020 and throughout 2021, the strategy shifted back toward deleveraging, exemplified by a 6,241 million USD payment on debt obligations in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Shareholder Distribution Patterns: A stark cessation of shareholder returns is evident. From March 2017 through December 2019, the company maintained a consistent program of cash dividends and common stock repurchases. These activities were completely suspended starting in the second quarter of 2020 and remained absent through June 2022, as capital was prioritized for liquidity preservation and debt servicing.

Overall, the cash flow trajectory indicates a successful transition from a crisis-driven borrowing phase back to a self-sustaining operational model, though the total debt load increased significantly during the 2020 period to bridge the gap in operating liquidity.

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Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE:DAL)

Cash Flow StatementQuarterly Data

Cash Flow Statement
Quarterly Data