Delta Air Lines (DAL) risk factors, FY2025 10-K

Delta Air Lines's FY2025 10-K, filed Feb 11, 2026, lists 22 risk factors. Against the prior year's 22: 1 new, 1 dropped, 9 substantially reworded.

Risk factors listed
220 groups
New this year
1vs 22 last year
Dropped
1since the prior 10-K
Substantially reworded
9of those kept
Section length
8k wordsItem 1A

What the changes say

  • Delta updated its risk disclosures to highlight regulatory pressures from FAA air traffic control staffing challenges and technology updates.

What changed since the prior 10-K

New

  • New

    The airline industry is subject to extensive regulatory and legal compliance requirements, which is costly and could materially adversely affect our business

    Delta faces risks from FAA regulatory directives, compliance costs, and potential flight reductions due to air traffic control staffing shortages.

Dropped

  • Dropped

    Airlines are subject to extensive regulatory and legal compliance requirements that result in significant costs and may have material adverse effects on our business. There have also been recent legal developments in the United States that may change the way historical obligations have been interpreted or applied

Reworded

  • 48% rewritten

    Failure of the technology we use to perform effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business

    Added new AI-based tools and services to the technology investments and updated mobile app branding from FlyDelta to Delta app.

  • 47% rewritten

    Our commercial relationships with airlines in other parts of the world and the investments that we have in certain of those carriers may not produce the results or returns we expect

    Updated to reflect that on September 15, 2025, the DOT issued a final order terminating antitrust immunity for the Aeroméxico joint venture.

  • 45% rewritten

    An aircraft crash or other serious accident involving our aircraft or those of our airline partners could expose us to significant liability. Although we believe that our insurance coverage is appropriate, we may be forced to bear substantial losses from an accident in the event that the coverage was not sufficient

    Expanded accident liability and negative perception risks to include accidents involving any aircraft type operated by other airlines or partners.

  • 43% rewritten

    Our business and results of operations are dependent on the price of aircraft fuel. High fuel costs or cost increases, including in the cost of crude oil, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations

    Updated fuel expense percentages (17% in 2025 vs 19% in 2024) and lowered the observed monthly price per gallon range to between $2.20 and $3.22.

  • 37% rewritten

    Significant damage to our reputation and brand, including as a result of significant adverse publicity or inability to achieve certain sustainability goals, could materially adversely affect our business and financial results

    Added the threat of AI-enabled tools being used to generate, manipulate, or amplify false or misleading content damaging to Delta's reputation.

  • 35% rewritten

    Disease outbreaks or other public health threats, and measures implemented to combat them have had, and may in the future have, a material adverse effect on our business

    Streamlined language regarding disease outbreaks and public health threats by removing specific historical references to the initial COVID-19 timeline.

  • 33% rewritten

    Disruptions of our information technology infrastructure could interfere with our operations, possibly having a material adverse effect on our business

    Retained core IT disruption and cyber vulnerability disclosures with minor stylistic updates.

  • 23% rewritten

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

    Refined the competitive landscape description, noting industry evolution over the last 20 years regarding consolidation and government-sponsored carriers.

  • 20% rewritten

    Breaches or lapses in the security of the technology systems we use and rely on could compromise the data stored within them and consequently disrupt our operations, damage our reputation and expose us to liability, any or all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business

    Was: Breaches or lapses in the security of the technology systems we use and rely on could compromise the data stored within them and consequently expose us to liability, disruption to our operations and damage to our reputation, any or all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business

All 22 risk factors

Headings as the filing states them, in filing order.

Other

  1. 01We are at risk of losses and adverse publicity stemming from a serious accident involving our aircraft or aircraft of our airline partners
  2. 02An aircraft crash or other serious accident involving our aircraft or those of our airline partners could expose us to significant liability. Although we believe that our insurance coverage is appropriate, we may be forced to bear substantial losses from an accident in the event that the coverage was not sufficient45% rewritten
  3. 03Breaches or lapses in the security of the technology systems we use and rely on could compromise the data stored within them and consequently disrupt our operations, damage our reputation and expose us to liability, any or all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business20% rewritten
  4. 04Disruptions of our information technology infrastructure could interfere with our operations, possibly having a material adverse effect on our business33% rewritten
  5. 05Failure of the technology we use to perform effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business48% rewritten
  6. 06Our business and results of operations are dependent on the price of aircraft fuel. High fuel costs or cost increases, including in the cost of crude oil, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations43% rewritten
  7. 07Significant extended disruptions in the supply of aircraft fuel, including from Monroe, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations
  8. 08Our commercial relationships with airlines in other parts of the world and the investments that we have in certain of those carriers may not produce the results or returns we expect47% rewritten
  9. 09A significant disruption in, or other problems with respect to, the operations or performance of third parties on which we rely, including third-party carriers, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations
  10. 10Agreements governing our debt, including our credit facilities and our SkyMiles financing agreements, include financial and other covenants. Certain of these covenants could impose restrictions on our business, and failure to comply with any of the covenants in these agreements could result in events of default
  11. 11Employee strikes and other labor-related disruptions may have a material adverse effect on our operations
  12. 12Our results can fluctuate due to seasonality and other factors
  13. 13An environmental or other incident associated with the operation of the Monroe refinery could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial results if insurance is unable to cover a significant liability. In addition, such an incident could damage our reputation
  14. 14The operation of the refinery by Monroe is subject to significant environmental regulation. Failure to comply with environmental regulations or the enactment of additional regulation applicable to Monroe could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial results
  15. 15Significant damage to our reputation and brand, including as a result of significant adverse publicity or inability to achieve certain sustainability goals, could materially adversely affect our business and financial results37% rewritten
  16. 16If we lose senior management and other key employees and they are not replaced by individuals with comparable skills, or we otherwise fail to maintain our company culture, our business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected
  17. 17Disease outbreaks or other public health threats, and measures implemented to combat them have had, and may in the future have, a material adverse effect on our business35% rewritten
  18. 18Terrorist attacks, geopolitical conflict or security events may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations
  19. 19The global airline industry is highly competitive and, if we cannot successfully compete in the marketplace, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially adversely affected23% rewritten
  20. 20Extended interruptions or disruptions in service at major airports in which we operate or significant problems associated with a type of aircraft or engine we operate could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations
  21. 21The airline industry is subject to extensive regulatory and legal compliance requirements, which is costly and could materially adversely affect our businessNew
  22. 22Because of the global nature of our business, unfavorable economic or political conditions in the markets in which we operate or volatility in currency exchange rates could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations

Other Delta Air Lines 10-Ks

  • FY2024 10-K risk factors
    22 risks

    Delta Air Lines faces heavy operational risks centered on aircraft safety, volatile jet fuel prices, technology reliance, and its Monroe refinery operations.

    Filed Feb 11, 2025

About this page

The headings are the filing's own. The one-line readings and the overview are automated and can be wrong: read Item 1A of the 10-K for the exact wording.