Delta, MasterCard Announce New Co-Brand Debit Card Partnership

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) and MasterCard Worldwide today begin an exclusive brand partnership to offer customers and businesses co-branded Delta SkyMiles Debit MasterCard® cards. It will create the largest and most comprehensive debit card program offered to Delta customers.

"MasterCard has the experience, infrastructure and deep commitment to help support our debit card growth plans, and they are absolutely the right partner,” said Jeff Robertson, vice president of Delta’s SkyMiles program.

Delta and MasterCard have executed the first phase of the agreement; the two companies will now work over the next several months to build a national network of financial institutions to offer the Delta SkyMiles Debit MasterCard cards to current and prospective Delta customers through local bank branches across the United States.

In addition to offering cardholders the ability to earn Delta miles on qualifying purchases, the Delta SkyMiles Debit MasterCard card will provide a range of benefits. These include access to hundreds of merchant-funded discounts as well as purchase protections including Extended Warranty and Satisfaction Guarantee.

"Delta fliers who prefer a debit card option will soon be able to enjoy the powerful benefits of the Delta SkyMiles Debit MasterCard for years to come,” said Chris McWilton, President, U.S. Markets, MasterCard Worldwide. "Delta provides exceptional service to loyal travelers in nearly every major market of the country, serving more small- and medium-sized communities than any other airline and our localized approach positions us to further strengthen Delta customer relationships.”

The Delta SkyMiles Debit MasterCard will be available as Platinum Debit MasterCard®, World Debit™ MasterCard® or Debit MasterCard BusinessCard® card products.

About Delta SkyMiles

The Delta SkyMiles program offers members multiple mileage-earning opportunities when flying Delta, Delta Shuttle, Delta Connection carriers, Delta Private Jets and other SkyTeam airlines. With more than 140 worldwide SkyMiles partners, SkyMiles members can earn miles through participating hotels, car rental companies, restaurants, SkyMilesShopping.com, SkyMilesDining.com, floral and gift retailers, financial and realty services, and more. Now in its 29th year, SkyMiles is one of the longest-running and most successful loyalty programs in the travel industry. It was named "Best Domestic Frequent Flyer program" for 2007 through 2009 by readers of Executive Traveler magazine and "Best Frequent Flyer Program" for 2006 through 2009 by Business Traveler magazine.

Last year, frequent flyers redeemed more than 230 billion miles in the SkyMiles program for more than 11 million award redemptions. In 2009, 8.5 percent of revenue miles flown on Delta were for award travel, among the best of U.S. network airlines according to data filed in airlines' 10-K annual reports. Delta offers more ways to redeem frequent flyer miles than any other airline – including airline tickets, mileage upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays, Delta Sky Club memberships, merchandise and more than 30 types of gift cards.

All SkyMiles program rules apply to SkyMiles program membership, miles, offers, mile accrual, mile redemption and travel benefits. To review the rules, please visit delta.com/memberguide. Offers void where prohibited by law. Offers subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

About Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With its unsurpassed global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 354 destinations in 65 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 75,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry’s leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline’s service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world’s largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.

About MasterCard Worldwide

MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes over 22 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial-institution customers and merchants. Powered by the MasterCard Worldwide Network and through its family of brands, including MasterCard^®, Maestro^® and Cirrus^®, MasterCard serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to www.mastercard.com. Follow us on Twitter: @mastercardnews.