Critical Analysis of Delta Airline

Critical Analysis of Delta course Lines, Inc. pecuniary work out and revelation T commensu footstep of content Description of Delta advertize Lines, Inc. earth, constancy, Market3 mo finalary in act Similarities and Differences4-5 Direction of divine revelation Three family Comparison5-6 Disclosure Techniques7-8 fiscal Derivatives8-9 Financial disputation Analysis Three category dimension Analysis10-13 Disclosure of transmission line facts Application of GAAP13-18 remainder gag law Comments18-19 Description of Delta oxygenate Lines, Inc. Background and ProductsDelta gloriole Lines, Inc. was origin eithery formed as Huff Daland Dusters, Inc. on May 30, 1924, in Macon, Georgia. This began as an aerial crop dusting doing until the comp whatever moved to Ouachita Parish in northeasterly Louisiana, in 1925, and began acting as a rider respiratory tract in juvenile 1929. Collett E. Woolman leveraged the companion on September 13, 1928, and renamed it Delta st ation Service, with headquarters in Monroe. In the turn out decades, Delta grew by dint of the addition of routes and the acquisition of discordentwisewise seam hoses.It transiti 1d from propeller planes to jets in the 1970s, and entered pla electronic cabbageworkary disputation to Europe in the 1970s and crossways the Pacific in the 1980s. Delta broadcast Lines, Inc. is soon a major airline found in the united States headquartered in Atlanta. Delta is the worlds largest airline operate force outher a individual certificate, operating public lifes on six continents across the globe. Delta ope rank an drawn-out home(prenominal) and international ne cardinalrk, spanning conglutination America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Australia.Delta and its subsidiary Delta society operate e rattlingwhere 4,000 flights every day. Delta and the Delta nexus carriers fly to 348 destinations in 64 countries. Industry and Market Typic either(prenominal)y, airline companies and aircraft manufacturers argon more than than prone to swings in assess and virtue market place prices ascribable to the release of economical indicators. Delta had an augment of 38% in domestic revenue since 2008. This is receivable to emergence carriage and baggage handling fees repayable to in the raw policy implementation. Delta change magnitude its international revenue by 26% since 2008.This is mostly due to an add-on focus in the international arna due to the smaller invite and senior higher(prenominal) competition from discount airliners in the U. S. The airline industry arrests a assortment of divers(prenominal) airlines. Some of Deltas biggest competitors ar propagateTran Holdings, Southwest ambiencelines Comp some(prenominal), Continental p bentagelines, American air travellines, JetBlue line of productsways, United advertiselines, and US Airway Group. individually of these competitors a r diversified in terms of the fleck of different things they finish uper, whollyowing companies in the industry to nurse access to a number of different experienceable markets.Similarities and Differences in Financial Reporting Comparison of Annual Report, 10K and 10Q Delta Air Lines, Inc. exercisings a number of different elements to supply disposed(p) cultivation to consumers, investors, citationors, employees, and everyone with a general elicit in or curiosity closely the club. This pertinent nurture comes in the form of overlays that companies file with the Security and Ex transmit explosive charge or SEC, such as the association form sustain breed, the 10K and the 10Q.The yearly physical composition is a comprehensive report on a familiaritys activities doneout the antedate year. Annual reports argon intend to turn spine copeholders and former(a)(a) provokeed persons education astir(predicate) the comp whatsoevers activities and functioning. The 10K is a abridgment report of a callers performance that must be submitted yearly to the SEC. The 10Q, on the other hand, is a report of a familys performance submitted every quarter by alone unexclusive inviolables to the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the 10Q, firms be undeniable to widen single newly pertinent teaching egarding their mo authorizeary position. We see that all one- thirdly reports argon very akin in general as to the tuition they deliver the goods, as well(p) as their purpose. on that point atomic number 18 a number of similarities and differences amid the deuce-ace reports. The yearly report, unlike the 10K and the 10Q, is knowing for the benefit of the acquitholders and whatsoever authorisation investors. The annual report is published once a year, like the 10K, and ordinarily provides training over a two or three year stop to show suppuproportionn or decline.The annual report is produced to be aesthetically likable, with c olor, pictures, quality paper, and printing all for the benefit of sure or potence shootholders. The annual report usually includes a attach to overview, a letter to divvy upproprietors, nurture on the familiarity and its brands, products, and initiatives, its monetary highlights, a itemization of the members of the board of directors, goals and opportunities, and then any pregnant pecuniary literary arguments, information and bank nones, all of which is meant to promote investment and provide information.The 10K is in like manner a form of an annual report notwithstanding is only filed with the SEC. It is merely a financial snapshot of the union over the previous year and lacks any visually appealing elements. It too includes a go with of the Copernican financial bids, information and notes, and unlike the annual report, it gives much more detail and insight into the trading ope proportionalityns and coin f downcast functions of the partnership. The 10K inc ludes detailed information regarding the business, try of infection factors, properties, lawful proceedings, controls and procedures, transaction relationships, and much more.Like the annual report, the 10K provides information for the genuine year as well as for one or two age forward the ongoing. The 10K is not meant for the benefits of shargonowners, nevertheless is produced for the sole intention of world files with the SEC. The locomote report is the 10Q, which is a quarterly report filed exclusively with the SEC. This report gives a snapshot of the beau mondes financial situation in the plump quarter, usually a three month percentage point, and similarly supplies the information for the same quarter in the previous year. The 10Q sually contains information for the total year to date as well. The 10Q, unlike the 10K, is an unaudited variant of the financial information and whitethorn contain a epoch-making union of attachment. The report contains sufficient ly little information than the other two reports, and gives a general overview of the chase topics financial statements, ope dimensionns, quantitative and qualitative manifestations, controls, and risk factors. Like the 10K, the 10Q lacks any visually appealing elements beca drug abuse its sole use is for that of the SEC and not for the stockholders or potential investors. go still beingness of importance, the 10Q is of little important than that of the annual report or 10K because of its unaudited and valuated character, as well as the fact that it reports on a importantly shorter time close than that of the reports and therefore enables users of the report to draw less conclusions. overall, the 10Q is not as reclaimable as those interested in the financial information because it provides much less detail and gives a much smaller picture of the keep smart sets financial outlook. Direction of Disclosure Three Year ComparisonOver the digest three old age, Delta Air Li nes, Inc. has made hardly a(prenominal) changes in regard to its direction of divine revelation. Delta Air Lines, Inc. get a lines its scores to Financial literary arguments directly foldepressioning its Financial Statements and adjunct Data. In 2008 and 2009, Delta Air Lines, Inc. disclosed all of the same eighteen notes to financial statements in the same pose. In 2010, the number of notes was amplificationd to nineteen. The three added notes in 2010 consist of line of credit 8 JFK Development, feel 11 failure Claims village, and tick 19 Subsequent Events.In the 2008 10K, circular 17 Valuation and Qualifying Accounts was say and kept in the 2009 10K as Note 17 as well. However, it was not include in the 2010 10K. All the Notes added in distributively year were due to issues that arose within the go with. Delta Air Lines, Inc. Note 11 Bankruptcy Claims Resolution was added because In September2005, we and substantially all of our subsidiaries filed voluntary petition s for reorganization under Chapter11 of the U. S. Bankruptcy Code. On April30, 2007, the Delta Debtors emerged from bankruptcy.Under the Delta Debtors Joint intent of Reorganization, most holders of seizeed general, unsecured claims over against the Delta Debtors sure or give procure Delta habitual land stock in satisfaction of their claims. there pass on be no foster corporeal impact to our merge Statements of Operations from the gag rule of claims because the holders of such claims prove receive under Deltas and Northwests visualise of Reorganization, as the case whitethorn be, only their pro rata sh atomic number 18 of the distributions of coarse stock contemplated by the applicable Plan of Reorganization.Delta Air Lines, Inc. Note 8 JFK Redevelopment states the ships smart sets annual rent, operation and forethought payments for the use of terminal facilities at JFK were near $135 one million million in 2010, and estimate the future annual payments to be nigh $200 million after(prenominal) the reckon is complete in 2016. We bequeath be responsible for the management and construction of the projection and bear construction risk, including cost overruns. As construction progresses, the project allow for be place downed on our merge counterpoise shroud as a persistent summation as if we owned the addition.We will also record a think construction obligation on our unify repose Sheet. Future rental payments will curve this construction obligation and result in the recording of interest set down on our consolidate Statement of Operations. The utmost(a) aspect of Delta Air Lines, Inc. direction of apocalypse that has changed with the finale three eld is Note 19 Subsequent Events. In February 2011, the follow completed a $100 million fling of unfold Through Certificates and a $135 million forthering of Pass Through Certificates by dint of two associate pass through trusts. This has a lowest maturity date in Janu ary 2016.The political party received $75 million in net proceeds from the 2010-2B EETC at the closing of the dispatchering and the remaining $59 million is being held in escrow until they refinance other aircraft. Techniques of Disclosure Companies should disclose information as all as possible in relation to financial condition, contingencies, methods of valuing assets and liabilities, and contracts and agreements. In order to do so, a companionship may use a number of different divine revelation techniques, which include but be not limited to, parenthetic explanations, notes, cross references and contra tems, and back up schedules. Delta Air Lines, Inc. uses a number of these techniques in the disclosure of their pertinent financial information. Delta Air Lines, Inc. uses parenthetical explanations in a number of different places throughout their financial reporting. Companies use parenthetical explanations to add clarity and completeness where it may be needed. This tech nique brings additional information into the body of the text or statement an afforded for less oversight by readers or users of the financial information. Delta Air Lines, Inc. uses parenthetical explanations in their financial reporting.For example, on the vestibular sense aeroplane under Stockholders justness, Delta Air Lines, Inc. shows parenthetical explanation of the price per share when stating overlaps of common stock issued and compensation expense associated with faithfulness awards (Treasury shares withheld for payment of levyes, $10. 73 per share). (This example is in the 2010 annual report). Notes are another important technique that companies use for disclosure purposes. Notes allow companies to supply additional information or explanations without writing lengthy or awkward parenthetical explanations.Notes are commonly use to disclose the existence and amount of any dividends in arrears, terms of or obligations concerning acquire commitments, special financial arrangements, financial instruments, dispraise policies, changes in accounting principles or policies, and any contingencies. Companies who use notes are obligated to map all essential facts as in all and precisely as possible in an sudor to relay the appropriate and veracious information to readers. Delta Air Lines, Inc. relies heavily on notes in their financial reporting and discloses them in a piece called Notes to the unite Financial Statements. apiece of these notes adds or clarifies information already presented in the report. An example of such is Note 4 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. This note in the Notes to unite Financial Statements section of the annual report describes that the company undergo a significant decline in market capitalization to begin with from record high dismiss prices and overall airline industry conditions. We determined that these factors combined with but increases in fuel prices were an indicator that a well be namedwill dec line in quality mental testing was necessitate.As a result, we estimated mean(a) abide by ground on a discounted projection of future property flows, supported with a market-based military rating. We determined that untroubledwill was impaired and record a non- bullion in charge of $6. 9 cardinal for the year ended December31, 2008. This is just one of many notes disclosed by Delta Air Lines, Inc. in their financial reports (this example is in the 2010 annual report). Cross-references and contra items are another important techniques employ to supplement the disclosure of financial information. Cross-referencing shows a direct relationship between an asset and a li world power on the equalizer sheet.Cross-referencing is not a technique employ by Delta Air Lines, Inc. in their disclosure. on with cross-referencing, Delta Air Lines, Inc. does not disclose any contra or adjunct accounts in its financial reports. Delta Air Lines, Inc. reports its assets at net and does not q uantitatively divulge any contra account information. Contra and adjunct accounts are listed on the balance sheet. Contra accounts either squinch an asset, li cleverness, or owners comeliness account. Adjunct accounts increase an asset, liability, or owners virtue account. Some examples of such accounts are pile up depreciation and discount or bountifulness on bonds payable.Delta Air Lines, Inc. does not list any of these accounts special(prenominal)ally in disclosing their financial information, but instead lists all their assets and liabilities at net. The utmost(a) technique of disclosure to address is supporting schedules. Supporting schedules are apply to present more detailed information about certain assets or liabilities. Typically, Delta Air Lines, Inc. does not use this technique in disclosure. Financial Derivatives Financial derivative instruments are products developed to manage the financial risks associated with invariable change due to volatile markets, new technology, and deregulation.Derivative instruments help to smooth out fluctuations ca employ by various geeks of risk. Companies, such as Delta Air Lines, Inc. use the reasonable honours or storages flows of derivative instruments to offset changes in beautiful harbors or notes flows of any at-risk assets. Delta Air Lines, Inc. discloses information on their use of financial derivative products in their Notes under Consolidated Financial Statements. In Note 1 Background and unofficial of Significant Policies, Delta Air Lines, Inc. discusses a change in accounting policy in regards to derivative instruments.In March of 2008, FASB issued Disclosure about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. The standard requires raise disclosure about how and why entities use derivative instruments, how the instruments and bring upd hedging items are accounted for and how the instruments affect an entitys financial position, performance, and bullion flows. This standard amends required disclosures about the attractive mensurate of financial instruments in interim and annual financial statements. In Note 3 Risk vigilance and Financial Instruments, Delta Air Lines, Inc. discuss their disclosure of financial derivatives and how they are accounted for.Delta Air Lines, Inc. results of operations are clothly impacted by changes in aircraft fuel prices. In an effort to manage vulnerability to this risk, the company sporadically enters into derivative instruments primarily comp cramd of crude oil, change oil and jet fuel swap, jot and call option contracts to hedge a portion of our projected aircraft fuel requirements, including those of our center Carriers under capacity purchase agreements. All hedges are enter at fairly value, and gains and losses on hedges are put down in other income (expense) at net.Within the Consolidated Statement of notes Flows, settlements for fair value and cash flow hedges are classify as an operating activity, while al l other derivatives are classified as a financing activity. Financial Statement Analysis Analysis Three Year proportion Comparison 2010 2009 2008 Liquidity dimensions online Ratio 0. 64 0. 79 0. 81 true assets / sure liabilities Quick or Acid Test Ratio 0. 61 0. 76 0. 77 ongoing assets inventories / current liabilities Current Cash Debt insurance coverage Ratio N/A 0. 14 -0. 15 net cash from operating activities / fairish current liabilities Activity Ratios Receivables Turnover Ratio 21. 81 20. 74 15. 73 net gross revenue / norm (net) trade receivables account Turnover Ratio N/A N/A N/A cost of goods sold / fair(a) memorial Asset Turnover Ratio 0. 74 0. 64 0. 50 net sales / average total assets reachability Ratios Profit Margin on Sales 0. 02% -0. 04% -0. 39% net income / net sales ordinate of submit on Assets 0. 01% -0. 03% -0. 20% net income / average total assets Rate of Return on Common Stock Equity 0. 73% 0. 31% 1. 5% net income like dividends / average common stockholders equity wage Per Share $0. 71 -$1. 50 -$19. 06 net income preferred dividends / burden shares large(p) diluted Earnings Per Share $0. 70 -$1. 50 -$19. 08 minded(p) in the financial statements Payout Ratio N/A N/A N/A cash dividends / net income coverage Ratios Debt to Total Assets Ratio 33. 59% 38. 06% 35. 50% debt / total assets Times Interest bring in -0. 61 1. 74 13. 20 income before interest and valuatees / interest expense Cash Debt Coverage Ratio N/A 0. 3 0. 04 net cash from operating activities / average total liabilities Book survey Per Share $1. 08 $0. 30 $1. 87 common stockholders equity / groovy shares Explanation A financial outline of Delta Air Lines, Inc. is best done through the computing and interpretation of financial ratios. There are four categories of financial ratios luculentity, activity, advantageousness, and coverage. Each ratio gives a piece of infor mation about the financial stability of the company and collectively portrays the big picture in regards to finances.The first type of ratios, liquidity ratios, sums a companys short-run ability to pay its maturing obligations. The first ratio, the current ratio, is in general used to give an idea of the companys ability to pay back its short-run debts with its short-term assets. The higher the current ratio, the more adequate to(p) the company is of gainful its obligations. Delta Air Lines, Inc. current ratio has change magnitude little by little in the past three current years, which means the company is fitting less capable of paying off their maturing obligations. In all three years Delta Air Lines, Inc. as remained with a current ratio under one. A ratio under one suggests that the company would be unable to pay off its obligations if they came due at that point. The near ratio, the quick/ acetous test ratio manoeuvers whether a firm has enough short-term assets to co ver its prompt liabilities without selling scrutinise. Like the current ratio, the higher the ratio, the better the financial outlook of the company. Delta Air Lines, Inc. acid test ratio has proceed to decrease over the last fewer years, which is an indication that the company is comely less liquid. Once again, Delta Air Lines, Inc. atio remained under one, implying that the company is not capable of paying off its maturing debts at this current point in time. The last liquidity ratio is the current cash debt coverage ratio which indicates whether a company can pay off its current liabilities from its operations in a given year. Delta Air Lines, Inc. current cash debt coverage ratio has increased from 2008 to 2009. The information needed to calculate 2010 was un procurable. The higher the current cash debt coverage ratio, the more capable the company is of paying off its current liabilities with the proceeds from its operations in a given year.Delta Air Lines, Inc. ratio was a gain below one in the two years mensurable, meaning that the proceeds from their operations cannot support their current liabilities. The adjacent type of financial ratios is the activity ratios, which appraises how effectively the company is using the assets employed. The first ratio, the receivables disturbance, measures the number of measure on average a company collects receivables during the period. A low ratio implies that a company should re-assess its credit policies in order to ensure the timely collection of imparted credit that is not earning interest for the firm.Delta Air Lines, Inc. receivables turnover ratio increased over the last three years, meaning the company piecemeal started effectively using its employed assets. The livestock turnover ratio shows how many times a companys inventory is sold and replaced over a period. This ratio should be compared against industry averages. A low turnover implies poor sales or ineffective buying. This ratio could not be calculated for all three years because the company does not need a cost of goods sold since they do not sell inventory.The last activity ratio, the asset turnover ratio, is useful to determine the amount of sales that are generated from each long horse of assets. Companies with low profit borderlines have a high asset turnover ratio, and those with high profit leeways have a low asset turnover because of pricing strategies. Delta Air Lines, Inc. asset turnover ratio was increased over the last few years and was highest in 2010. This ratio indicates that over the last few years, the company has not been able to effectively use their assets to generate sales.A third type of financial ratios is the profitability ratios that measure the degree of success and failure of a company during a given period of time. The profit margin on sales measures how much out of every sawhorse of sales a company usually keeps as salary. Delta Air Lines, Inc. profit margin on sales had increased gradu ally over the last few years. While this is a positive indication, the company generally has a lower profit margin than other companies in its industry. The rate of flow on assets shows how profi evade a company uses its assets during a period of time. Delta Air Lines, Inc. as a low rate of restitution indicating an inefficient use of assets to generate compensation. This companys return on assets has increased over the last three years, indicating an increase in profitability. The rate of return on common stockholders equity measures a companys profitability in terms of how much profit the company generates with the money shareholders have invested. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a rather low rate of return on equity and has not shown consistent growth over the last few years. This indicates less profit per dollar sign invests, as well as a decrease in company profitability.The next ratios are the brothamental earnings per share and the diluted earnings per share. Basic earnings p er share are the portion of a companys profit allocated to each outstanding share of common stock. Diluted earnings per share expand on this idea by including any dilutive securities. Over the last three years, Delta Air Lines, Inc. basic and dilutive earnings per share have increased, indicating an increase in the companys profitability. The last profitability ratio is the payout ratio, which is the percentage of earnings paid out as dividends to common stockholders. Delta Air Lines, Inc. ayout ratio cannot be calculated due to the fact that this company has no cash dividends. The last type of ratios used for financial analysis is the coverage ratios. Coverage ratios measure the degree of protection for long creditors and investors. The debt to total assets ratio shows the proportion of a companys assets that are financed through debt. Companies with high debt to total asset ratios are said to be exceedingly leveraged, and would be in danger if creditors start to hold repayment of debt. Delta Air Lines, Inc. ratio is on the low side and has been consistently low over the last three years.This could be an indication that many of the companys assets are not financed through debt, which is good for the company. The times interest earned ratio or TIE is used to measure a companys ability to resonate its debt obligation. It is usually quoted as a ratio and indicates how many times a company can cover its interest charges on a pre evaluate priming. Failing to meet these obligations could force a company into bankruptcy. The next ratio, the cash debt coverage ratio, indicated a companys ability to repay its obligations from net cash provided by operating activities without having to macerate the assets employed in its operations.Delta Air Lines, Inc. is very low which means that liquidation of assets would be required to repay current obligation. The last ratio we must analyze is the book value per share. Book value per share is the amount each share would rec eive if the company were to liquidate in the hind end of amounts reported on the balance sheet. Delta Air Lines, Inc. book value per share has fluctuated significantly over the last few years but increased from 2009 to 2010, which is a good indication. Disclosure of Note points Standard use and Application Delta Air Lines, Inc. ses Generally trustworthy Accounting Principles (GAAP) for all of their financial reporting, disclosure, and statement analysis. Delta Air Lines, Inc. flies world-widely after its merge North West. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accredited in the U. S. (GAAP). The companys Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Delta Air Lines, Inc. and their wholly-owned subsidiaries. As a result of the Merger, the accounts of Northwest are included for all periods incidental to the Closing Date.Preparation of these find financial statements require estimates an d assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Item 1 Equity Disclosure of stockholders equity requires a company to disclose changes in the snap off accounts comprising stockholders equity in order to make financial statements sufficiently informative.These changes may be disclosed in separate statements or in the basic financial statements or notes. In October2009, the Financial Accounting Standards board issued Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables. The standard revises counselor on the determination of when individual deliverables may be treated as separate units of accounting and the allocation of consideration among one by one identified deliverables. It also expands disclosure requirements regarding an entitys multiple element revenue arrangements. Item 2 D ebtIn terms of long-term debt, disclosure generally must indicate the constitution of the liabilities, maturity dates, interest rates, call provisions, variation privileges, restrictions imposed by creditors, and assets designed or pledged as securities. It is recommended that companies show any assets pledged as a certificate for the debt in the assets section of the balance sheet. The fair values for all long-term debt should be disclosed if a practical estimation can be made. Lastly, it is required that companies disclose future payments for sinking fund requirements and maturity amounts of long-term debt during each of the next vanadium years.This type of disclosure allows users of financial statements to evaluate amounts and time for future cash flows. each off-balance sheet accounting that a company may do is required to be included in the notes in extensive detail. In Note 5, Delta Air Lines, Inc. acknowledges debt and gives specific details regarding its terms and condi tions. For example, during 2010, the company enter a $391million loss on extinguishment of debt, of which $304million related to a non-cash write-down of debt discounts that were enter as part of purchase accounting.In the 2010 annual report, the company includes a table summarizing scheduled maturities of the companys debt, including current. The nature of this disclosure aligns with the GAAP requirements. Item 3 Income Taxes Delta Air Lines, Inc. accounts for deferred income taxes under the liability method. They signalize deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the tax effects of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities, as deliberate by current enacted tax rates. A paygrade allowance is save to reduce deferred tax assets when necessary.Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded net as current and old deferred income taxes on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The income tax provisions are based on calculations and assumptions that are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) and other taxing regimen. Although the positions they have taken on previously filed tax returns are reasonable, they have established tax and interest reserves in recognition that taxing authorities may challenge these positions, which could result in additional liabilities for taxes and interest.This company reviews and adjusts the reserves as destiny warrant and events occur, such as lapsing of applicable statutes of limitations, conclusion of tax audits, a change in exposure based on current calculations, assignment of new issues, release of administrative counselor-at-law or the rendering of a coquette decision affecting a ill-tempered issue. They adjust the income tax provision in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known. Item 4 Earnings per ShareBasic earnings per share (EPS) are net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares o utstanding during the period. Diluted EPS includes the incremental shares presume to be issued upon exercise of stock options and the incremental shares assumed to be issued under performance shares and circumscribe stock unit arrangements. For the 2010, 2009, and 2008 EPS computations, 18 million, 26 million, and 12 million stock options were excluded from the calculation of weighted shares for diluted EPS because their affects were ant dilutive.Item 5 Accounts Receivables Accounts receivable primarily consist of amounts due from credit card companies from the sale of rider airline tickets, customers of the company aircraft maintenance and shipment transportation services and other companies for the purchase of gnarlage credits under the companys SkyMiles Program. Delta Air Lines, Inc. provides an allowance for unfit accounts equal to the estimated losses expected to be incurred based on historical chargebacks, write-offs, bankruptcies and other specific analyses.Bad debt expe nse and write-offs were not material for the years ended December31, 2010, 2009 and 2008. Item 6 Cash and Cash Equivalents Short-term, super liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased are classified as cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value. Restricted cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheets are primarily held to meet certain projected self-insurance obligations and are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value.According to Note 2, at December31, 2010 and 2009, the company recorded $407million and $419million, respectively, in restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and $33million and $16million, respectively, in other noncurrent assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Item 7 Short-Term Investments Investments with maturities of greater than three months, but not in excess of one year, when purchased are classified as short- term investments on the companys Consolidated Balance Sheets.At December 31, 2010, the short-term investments are treasury bills recorded at cost, which approximates fair value. At December31, 2009, the short-term investments were invested in a money market fund that was recorded at fair value and liquidated in an orderly manner in 2010. According to Note 2 in the 2010 Annual Report, at December31, 2010, short-term investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheet consisted of treasury bills and were recorded at cost, which approximates fair value. During the year ended December31, 2010, Delta Air Lines, Inc. eceived $77million from an investment in a money market fund that was liquidated in an orderly manner, $71million of which was recorded in short-term investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December31, 2009. This investment was classified in Level 3 of the three-tier fair value hierarchy due to uncertainty regarding the timing and expected amount of the distribution. Item 8 Revenue Recognition Delta Air Lines, Inc. recorded the sales of passenger tickets in air traffic liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.Passenger revenue is recognized when they provide transportation or when the ticket expires unused, lessen the related air traffic liability. The company periodically evaluates the estimated air traffic liability and records any adjustments in their Consolidated Statements of Operations. These adjustments relate primarily to refunds, exchanges, transactions with other airlines and other items for which final settlement occurs in periods subsequent to the sale of the related tickets at amounts other than the original sales price.This company is required to charge certain taxes and fees on passenger tickets, including U. S. federal transportation taxes, federal surety charges, airport passenger facility charges and alien arrival and departure taxes. These taxes and fees are legal assessments on the customer for which Delta Air Lines, Inc. acts as a collection agent. Because they are not entitled to retain these taxes and fees, they do not include such amounts in passenger revenue. The company records a liability when the amounts are collected and reduce the liability when payments are ade to the applicable government commission or operating carrier. Item 9 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Delta Air Lines, Inc. applies a fair value-based outrage test to the net book value of good will and indefinite-lived nonphysical assets on an annual basis and, if certain events or circumstances indicate that an impairment loss may have been incurred, on an interim basis. The annual impairment test date for thanksgiving and indefinite-lived intangible assets is October 1. They value goodwill and identified intangible assets primarily using the income approach valuation technique.These measurements include the following significant unperceivable inputs the projected revenues, expenses and cash flows, an estimated weighted a verage cost of capital, assumed discount rates depending on the asset anda tax rate. These assumptions are consistent with those hypothetical market participants would use. Since the company is required to make estimates and assumptions when evaluating goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment, the actual amounts may differ materially from these estimates. Changes in assumptions or circumstances could result in impairment.Factors which could cause impairment include, but are not limited to, negative trends in our market capitalization, an increase in fuel prices, declining passenger mile yields, lower passenger demand as a result of the weakened U. S. and global economy,interruption to the operations due to an employee strike, terrorist attack, or other reasons,changes to the regulatory environment and consolidation of competitors in the airline industry. According to Note 4, during 2008, Delta Air Lines, Inc. experienced a significant decline in market capitali zation primarily from record high fuel prices and overall airline industry conditions.In addition, the resolve of their intention to merge with Northwest established a stock exchange ratio based on the relative valuation of Delta and Northwest It was determined that these factors combined with further increases in fuel prices were an indicator that a goodwill impairment test was required. As a result, they estimated fair value based on a discounted projection of future cash flows, supported with a market-based valuation. The company determined that goodwill was impaired and recorded a non-cash charge of $6. 9billion for the year ended December31, 2008.Item 10 Inventories Inventories of expendable parts related to flight equipment are carried at moving average cost and charged to operations as consumed. An allowance for obsolescence is provided over the remaining useful life of the related fleet for give up parts expected to be available at the date aircraft are retired from servic e. The company also provided allowances for parts identified as excess or obsolete to reduce the carrying costs to the lower of cost or net realizable value. These parts are assumed to have an estimated residual value of 5% of the original cost.Conclusion Closing Statements In summation, Delta Air Lines, Inc. is not a highly profitable company. Although it is currently a major airline in the United States and grew through the addition of routes and the acquisition of other airlines, they are not performing so well due to the economic recession. The current economic environment has taken a price on the company, like most companies throughout the United States in the last few years. Delta Air Lines, Inc. is not as liquid as it would like to be, and the coverage ratios are being affected.Over the last few years, the companys profitability has increased in all facets. If this trend continues, Delta Air Lines, Inc. will be on its way to becoming more liquid and therefore, more financiall y stable. Delta Air Lines, Inc. management seems to be exhausting to efficiently utilize all its resources but is falling short in placing this company in a promising financial position. If this company continues to conduct their business in the same manner and direction as they have thus far, then they will fall short of continuing to be a profitable and successful company for years to come.