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Delta Air Lines has confirmed it will borrow $6.5 billion backed by its frequent-flyer program, SkyMiles.
The carrier thus becomes the United States-based carrier to tap its loyalty platform to shore up liquidity during the Covid-19 crisis.
The airline plans to sell senior secured notes and enter into a new term loan, both backed by its loyalty program.
SkyMiles will lend the net proceeds of the bond offering to Delta, although a portion will go to a reserve account.
Delta said last week that it had about $16 billion in cash at the end of June and that it was burning around $27 million a day.
United Airlines announced plans in June to use its frequent-flyer program, MileagePlus, to back a $5 billion loan.
American Airlines has said it also plans to use its program to as collateral for a nearly $5 billion federal loan.
Delta explained in a statement it would create SkyMiles IP, a newly formed Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated with limited liability and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary to facilitate the deal.
The Atlanta-based airline said it expects capacity to be down 60 per cent in September compared with the same month last year.
Harder-hit international flying will be cut by 80 per cent, with domestic routes down by half.
Source: breakingtravelnews.com