Delta Air Lines paid its top executive $8 million in total compensation in 2010, down slightly from the previous year.
Chief Executive Richard Anderson's pay package included a $600,000 salary -- the same level as in 2009 -- along with stock awards valued at $6 million and $1.3 million in incentives. He also received $183,297 in other compensation such as retirement plan contributions, life insurance premiums, tax reimbursements, flight benefits and financial planning and home security services.
Delta posted a profit of $593 million in 2010, its first in three years.
In 2009, Anderson's pay package was slightly bigger at $8.4 million, including more in stock awards and other compensation.
Delta's No. 2 executive, President Ed Bastian, received $4.7 million in total compensation last year, up from $4 million the previous year. Other executives also received boosts, including Chief Operating Officer Steve Gorman, with $3.3 million in compensation; Chief Financial Officer Hank Halter, who received $2.3 million; and and Executive Vice President Glen Hauenstein, who received $2.5 million.
The compensation amounts were released Friday in Atlanta-based Delta's annual proxy report, required in advance of its annual shareholder meeting, which is June 30 in New York City.
Delta's board of directors recommended a vote for two management proposals: one for an advisory approval of compensation of its executives, and recommended a vote for approval of an advisory vote on executive compensation every year to comply with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
The board also recommended a vote against a stockholder proposal for cumulative voting for the election of directors, a type of voting that strengthens the ability of smaller shareholders to elect directors.
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