Delta Air Lines is giving its employees a $1.5 billion reward

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Delta Airlines Boeing 747-400 JFK Airport

REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Delta Air Lines announced on Friday that its 80,000 employees will receive $1.5 billion in profit-sharing.

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According to the airline, this is the largest amount ever paid out in the history of profit-sharing programs.

For Delta's employees, individuals will receive the equivalent of 21% of their annual compensation.

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"We are often asked what makes Delta different," Delta CEO Richard Anderson and President Ed Bastian said in a memo to employees.

"The difference is you. Our unique people-focused culture is the advantage that none of our competitors can match."

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According to AirwaysNews, Delta's profit-sharing plan is structured to so that employees are returned roughly 10% of profits, but can escalate to 20% if the company earns more than $2.5 billion a year.

Delta is coming off of a stellar 2015 in which the company reported adjusted, pre-tax profits of $5.9 billion.

This latest round of profit-sharing comes on the heels the $1.1 billion the airline paid out to employees in February of 2015.

In total, Delta states that it has doled out a total of $4.1 billion in profit-sharing and other performance rewards over the past five years.

Employees at fellow legacy carrier, United, earned $698 million in profit sharing for 2015 while American Airlines does not engage in the activity.

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Earlier this month, Anderson announced that he will retire from his role as CEO in May and will be succeeded by Bastian.

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