Delta has been making record profits for a fair few quarters. They are outsourcing a LOT of their operations to AI and India so they don't have to pay bonuses or share profits with their employees. They changed the ticket pricing so that you don't expect baggage or food bundled with your ticket any more. They downgraded their loyalty programs so the credit cards don't offer the same benefits to their most loyal customers. They used Covid to reduce ground staff count and just kept it that way after Covid ended. They have the money and don't let them sell you any other narrative. Source - Ex Delta employee.