Delta Air LinesIt announced Thursday that most of its 75,000 employees would receive a 4% salary increase, which was their first since Fall 2019, prior to the pandemic.

Covid saw record losses for all major airlines, which caused them to be among the worst-hit. However, bookings for domestic leisure travel are on the rise again.

To meet surging demand for travel, carriers have to train and hire staff. Airlines like Southwest Airlines United AirlinesIn order to attract workers, the government has raised the minimum wage or provided bonuses for employees. This was in response to high inflation and a tight labour market.

According to a Delta spokesperson, the raises are part of the regular base-pay increases that the company gave employees prior to Covid’s death.

Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive officer, stated that the airline expects a loss for the entire first quarter due to omicron’s effect on travel and staffing in early 2011. According to the company, March will bring in a profit.

Bastian stated in an employee memo that the company had made the announcement about the raises. “We have come a long distance since the darkest day of 2020.” Bastian stated that the airline was “optimistic” it could make a profit in this year’s fiscal year.

Delta crewmembers were informed by the Association of Flight Attendants CWA last week that they had not received an increase in their pay since 2019. In the middle is a dispute between flight attendants and their union. membership driveAt Delta, it was launched November 2019

Delta has approximately 20,000 flight attendants, making it the biggest non-union crew on any U.S. airline.

According to the union, “pretty much all other U.S. As detailed in the contract, every Flight Attendant is aware of what to expect. We’re instead waiting, wondering, hoping, and wishing that one day management will decide to raise our salaries.

CNBC reported that Delta stated in a statement that it was not connected to the strike by the flight attendant union.

A Delta spokesperson stated that the airline has a history of caring for its people. “This is a well-deserved increase in base pay for our employees who excel at safe taking care our customers and providing a unique travel experience that sets them apart.”

Delta pilots are not eligible for the pay hike.