Delta Offering Early Retirement Inducement

Delta Air Lines Inc. said it will offer nonunion employees a one-time chance to retire early with enhanced medical benefits, resulting in a pretax charge of as much as $135 million in the second and third quarters of fiscal 2000. The nation’s third-largest carrier also said earnings for its second quarter ended Dec. 31 will exceed the $1.06-a-share average estimate of analysts polled by First Call/Thomson Financial, though it declined to give a new estimate, which it plans to release Tuesday. An estimated 10,000 of Delta’s more than 50,000 U.S. and nonunion workers are eligible for the early retirement plan, the company said. Most of the retirees would be replaced, Delta said. Delta shares fell $2.19 to close at $49.81 on the NYSE.