Delta Air Lines (DAL) will suspend its quarterly dividend. This will end 6 consecutive years of dividend increases by the air transportation company. Delta Air had raised its dividend by double digits in each of the last six years. In 2019 the company hiked its dividend by 15.0 percent and bought back 6.0 percent of its shares outstanding.

In order to preserve liquidity, Delta has suspended its capital return program, including the company's stock repurchase program and the Board's suspension of future dividend payments.

'The growing need to protect Delta's future has led to difficult decisions across our business that are impacting all of our stakeholders,' said Delta CEO Ed Bastian in the company's press release announcing that Delta has obtained a $2.6 billion credit facility and will suspend its dividend and buybacks. 'Maintaining ample liquidity during this crisis is critical to the essential service that Delta provides in America's transportation infrastructure as well as the jobs of more than 90,000 Delta people across the country.'

Delta Air Lines, Inc. provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States and across the world. The company's route network is centered around a system of significant hubs and key markets at airports in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, São Paulo, Seattle, Seoul-Incheon and Tokyo-Narita. Delta's network includes its international joint ventures, its alliances with other foreign airlines, its membership in SkyTeam and agreements with multiple domestic regional carriers that operate as Delta Connection. Delta's dividend was established in 2013 and suspended in 2020.