Delta Air Lines on track to add nearly $1 billion to employee retirement plans in 2010

Delta pumping nearly $1B into retirement plans

ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines says it is on track to contribute nearly $1 billion to its employees’ retirement plans this year, and it is providing some of the funding earlier than previously scheduled.

The world’s biggest airline said Thursday that by the end of April it will have contributed $665 million to its traditional pension plans in the first four months of this year, in addition to $100 million that has been contributed to employees’ defined contribution 401(k) plans.

Another roughly $200 million is scheduled to be contributed to 401(k) plans during the balance of the year.

Delta, based in Atlanta, says its pension funding is normally distributed throughout the year, with the majority of contributions being added near the end of the year.