DELTA AIR LINES INC /DE/
8-K, 1999-01-08
AIR TRANSPORTATION, SCHEDULED
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<PAGE>   1
                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                      the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 8, 1999
                                                         ---------------


                             DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



         Delaware                   1-5424                 58-0218548
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission          (IRS Employer
of incorporation)                  File Number)         Identification No.)


       Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia 30320
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:        (404) 715-2600
                                                    ---------------------------
<PAGE>   2

Item 7.         FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

                The documents attached hereto as Exhibits 1, 4.1, 4.2, 8 and 23
are being filed in connection with, and incorporated by reference in, the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-58647) of Delta Air Lines,
Inc. (the "Company"), which Registration Statement was declared effective by
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on July 20, 1998. The
exhibits relate to an offering by the Company from time to time of up to $300
million aggregate principal amount of Medium-Term Notes, Series C, pursuant to
a Prospectus Supplement dated January 8, 1999 and filed with the Commission on
such date.

                The Exhibit Index on page 4 is hereby incorporated herein by
reference.



                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>   3


                                   SIGNATURE



         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                      DELTA AIR LINES, INC.



                                      BY: /s/ Mark T. Greenquist
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Mark T. Greenquist
                                          Vice President and Treasurer


DATE:  January 8, 1999



                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>   4


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No.
- -----------
<S>                   <C>
      1               Form of Distribution Agreement

      4.1             Form of Fixed Rate Note

      4.2             Form of Floating Rate Note

      8               Tax Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell, Special Tax Counsel
                      to the Company

      23              Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell (included in Exhibit 8)
</TABLE>



                               - 4 -

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 1


                              DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

                                  $300,000,000

                               Medium-Term Notes,
                                    Series C

                             Distribution Agreement



                                                                January 8, 1999



Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
Seven World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004

Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                    Incorporated
Merrill Lynch World Headquarters
World Financial Center
North Tower, 10th Floor
New York, New York 10281

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
1585 Broadway
New York, New York 10036

Dear Sirs:

         Delta Air Lines, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes
to issue and sell from time to time its Medium-Term Notes, Series C (the
"Securities") in an aggregate amount up to $300,000,000 and agrees with each of
you (individually, an "Agent") as set forth in this Agreement.

         Subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and to the
reservation by the Company of the right to sell Securities directly on its own
behalf, the Company hereby (i) appoints each Agent as an agent of the Company
for the purpose of soliciting and receiving offers to purchase Securities from
the Company pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof and (ii) agrees that, except as
otherwise contemplated




<PAGE>   2



herein, whenever it determines to sell Securities directly to any Agent as
principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each a "Terms Agreement"),
substantially in the form of Annex I hereto, relating to such sale in accordance
with Section 2(b) hereof.

                  The Securities will be issued under an indenture, dated as of
May 1, 1991 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Bank of New York,
successor to The Citizens and Southern National Bank of Florida, as Trustee (the
"Trustee"). The Securities shall have the maturity ranges, interest rates, if
any, redemption provisions and other terms set forth in the Prospectus referred
to below as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time. The Securities
will be issued, and the terms and rights thereof established from time to time
by the Company in accordance with the Indenture.

                  1. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with,
each Agent that:

                  (a) A registration statement (the "Initial Registration
         Statement") in respect of the Securities has been filed with the
         Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"); the Initial
         Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each
         in the form heretofore delivered or to be delivered to the Agents and,
         excluding exhibits to the Initial Registration Statement, but including
         all documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained
         therein, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form,
         other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the
         offering (a "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement"), filed pursuant to
         Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
         which became effective upon filing; no other document with respect to
         the Initial Registration Statement or document incorporated by
         reference therein has heretofore been filed or transmitted for filing
         with the Commission; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
         the Initial Registration Statement has been issued and no proceeding
         for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission
         (any preliminary prospectus included in the Initial Registration
         Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the
         rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act, being
         hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus"; the various parts of the
         Initial

                                       -2-



<PAGE>   3



         Registration Statement, including all exhibits thereto and including
         (i) the information contained in the form of final prospectus filed
         with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance
         with Section 4(a) hereof and deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the
         Act to be part of the registration statement at the time it was
         declared effective and (ii) the documents incorporated by reference in
         the prospectus contained in the Initial Registration Statement at the
         time such part of the registration statement became effective but
         excluding Form T-1, each as amended at the time such part of the
         registration statement became effective or such part of the Rule 462(b)
         Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes effective
         being hereinafter collectively called the "Registration Statement";
         such final Prospectus, in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)
         under the Act, being hereinafter called the "Prospectus"; any reference
         herein to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed
         to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein
         pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act, as of the date of such
         Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference
         to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the
         Prospectus, including any supplement to the Prospectus that sets forth
         only the terms of a particular issue of the Securities (a "Pricing
         Supplement"), shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents
         filed after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as
         the case may be, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
         (the "Exchange Act"), and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary
         Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any
         amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and
         include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section
         13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the
         Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the
         Registration Statement; and any reference to the Prospectus as amended
         or supplemented shall be deemed to refer to the Prospectus as amended
         or supplemented (including by the applicable Pricing Supplement filed
         in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof) in relation to the Securities
         sold pursuant to this Agreement, in the form in which it is filed with
         the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with
         Section 4(a) hereof, including any

                                       -3-



<PAGE>   4



         documents incorporated by reference therein as of the
         date of such filing);

                  (b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus,
         when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the
         case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of
         the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and
         regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents
         contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading; and any further documents so filed
         and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, or any amendment or
         supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed
         with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material
         respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as
         applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
         and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
         state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
         make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that
         this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or
         omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
         furnished in writing to the Company by any Agent expressly for use in
         the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to relate to a particular
         issuance of Securities;

                  (c) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and
         any amendments or supplements thereto will conform, in all material
         respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of
         1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), and the rules and
         regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of
         the applicable effective date in the case of the Registration Statement
         and any amendment thereto and as of the applicable filing date in the
         case of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, contain
         an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
         required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
         therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and
         warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in
         reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing
         to the Company by any Agent expressly for use in the Prospectus as
         amended or

                                       -4-



<PAGE>   5



         supplemented to relate to a particular issuance of Securities;

                  (d) Since the date of the latest audited financial statements
         included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, there has been
         no material adverse change in, or any development known to the Company
         which would have a material adverse effect on, the financial condition
         or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
         whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of
         business, except as set forth in or contemplated by the Prospectus;

                  (e) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
         existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
         of Delaware, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its
         properties and conduct its business as it is now being conducted except
         where the failure to have such power or authority would not
         individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the
         financial condition or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
         taken as a whole; the Company is an "air carrier" within the meaning of
         the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended, and is duly qualified as
         a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and in good
         standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it has
         intrastate routes or has a principal office or major overhaul facility
         and where the failure to so qualify would have a material adverse
         effect on the financial condition or operations of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and each subsidiary of the Company has
         been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
         standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation;

                  (f) The Company has an authorized capital stock as set forth
         in the Prospectus and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the
         Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully
         paid and non-assessable; and all of the issued shares of capital stock
         of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized
         and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and (except for
         directors' qualifying shares) are owned directly or indirectly by the
         Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;

                                       -5-



<PAGE>   6



                  (g) The Securities have been duly authorized, and, when issued
         and delivered pursuant to this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, will
         have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will
         constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company,
         enforceable in accordance with their terms (subject, as to enforcement,
         to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general
         applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
         equity principles), and will be entitled to the benefits provided by
         the Indenture; the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and
         delivered by the Company and the Trustee, has been duly qualified under
         the Trust Indenture Act and constitutes a valid and legally binding
         instrument, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
         terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or
         affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles; and the
         Indenture conforms in all material respects and the Securities of any
         particular issuance of Securities will conform in all material respects
         to the descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus as amended or
         supplemented to relate to such issuance of Securities;

                  (h) The issue and sale of the Securities, the compliance by
         the Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the
         Indenture, this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, and the consummation
         of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict
         with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or
         provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage,
         deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which
         the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the
         property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject
         (except for such conflicts, breaches, violations and defaults that
         would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or
         operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and
         that would not affect the validity of the Securities), nor will such
         action result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of
         Incorporation, as amended, or the By-Laws of the Company or any statute
         or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or
         body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of

                                       -6-



<PAGE>   7



         its subsidiaries or any of their properties; and no consent, approval,
         authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such
         court or governmental agency or body is required for the solicitation
         of offers to purchase Securities, the issue and sale of the Securities
         or the consummation by the Company of the other transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or the Indenture,
         except such as have been obtained under the Act or the Trust Indenture
         Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or
         qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky
         laws in connection with the solicitation by such Agent of offers to
         purchase Securities from the Company and with purchases of Securities
         by such Agent as principal, as the case may be, in each case in the
         manner contemplated hereby;

                  (i) Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no
         legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any
         of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any property of the Company
         or any of its subsidiaries is subject, which, in the reasonable
         judgment of the Company, individually or in the aggregate is likely to
         have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position
         or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole,
         and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are
         threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by
         others; and

                  (j) Immediately after any sale of Securities by the Company
         hereunder or under any Terms Agreement, the aggregate amount of
         Securities which shall have been issued and sold by the Company
         hereunder or under any Terms Agreement and of any debt securities of
         the Company (other than such Securities) that shall have been issued
         and sold pursuant to the Registration Statement will not exceed the
         amount of debt securities registered under the Registration Statement.

                  2. (a) On the basis of the representations and warranties, and
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, each of the Agents hereby
severally and not jointly agrees, as agent of the Company, to use its reasonable
efforts to solicit and receive offers to purchase the Securities from the
Company upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented from time to time. The Company may from time

                                       -7-



<PAGE>   8



to time offer Securities for sale otherwise than through an Agent; provided,
however, that so long as this Agreement shall be in effect with respect to any
Agent, the Company shall not solicit or accept offers to purchase, or sell, any
Securities through any agent other than an Agent, unless such solicitation or
acceptance is on terms with respect to commissions substantially similar to
those set forth herein and the Company shall give the Agents reasonable notice
of the appointment of such agents for the purpose of soliciting the Securities.
However, the Company reserves the right to sell, and may solicit and accept
offers to purchase, Securities directly on its own behalf, and, in the case of
any such sale not resulting from a solicitation made by any Agent, no commission
will be payable with respect to such sale. These provisions shall not limit
Section 4(f) hereof or any similar provision included in any Terms Agreement.

                  Procedural details relating to the issue and delivery of
Securities, the solicitation of offers to purchase Securities and the payment in
each case therefor shall be as set forth in the Administrative Procedure
attached hereto as Annex II as it may be amended from time to time by written
agreement between the Agents and the Company (the "Administrative Procedure").
The provisions of the Administrative Procedure shall apply to all transactions
contemplated hereunder other than those made pursuant to a Terms Agreement. Each
Agent and the Company agree to perform the respective duties and obligations
specifically provided to be performed by each of them in the Administrative
Procedure. The Company will furnish to the Trustee a copy of the Administrative
Procedure as from time to time in effect.

                  The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to
instruct the Agents to suspend at any time, for any period of time or
permanently, the solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities. As soon as
practicable, but in any event not later than one business day in New York City,
after receipt of notice from the Company, the Agents will suspend solicitation
of offers to purchase Securities from the Company until such time as the Company
has advised the Agents that such solicitation may be resumed.

                  The Company agrees to pay each Agent a commission, at the time
of settlement of any sale of a Security by the Company as a result of a
solicitation made by such Agent, in an amount equal to the following applicable
percentage of the principal amount of such Security sold:


                                       -8-



<PAGE>   9



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              Commission
                                            (percentage of
                                              aggregate
                                           principal amount
Range of Maturities                       of Securities sold)
- -------------------                       -------------------
<S>                                       <C>
From 9 months to less than 1 year ............  0.125%
From 1 year to less than 18 months ...........  0.150%
From 18 months to less than 2 years ..........  0.200%
From 2 years to less than 3 years ............  0.250%
From 3 years to less than 4 years ............  0.350%
From 4 years to less than 5 years ............  0.450%
From 5 years to less than 6 years ............  0.500%
From 6 years to less than 7 years ............  0.550%
From 7 years to less than 10 years ...........  0.600%
From 10 years to less than 15 years ..........  0.625%
From 15 years to less than 20 years ..........  0.700%
From 20 years to less than 30 years ..........  0.750%
30 years and more ......................  [to be negotiated]
</TABLE>

                  (b) Each sale of Securities to any Agent as principal shall be
made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (unless the Company and
such Agent shall otherwise agree) a Terms Agreement which will provide for the
sale of such Securities to, and the purchase thereof by, such Agent. Such Agent
shall be authorized to engage the services of any other broker or dealer in
connection with the reoffering of Securities purchased by such Agent as
principal, and a Terms Agreement may specify certain provisions relating to the
reoffering of such Securities by such Agent. The commitment of any Agent to
purchase Securities as principal, whether pursuant to any Terms Agreement or
otherwise, shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations
and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms
and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the
principal amount of Securities to be purchased by any Agent pursuant thereto,
the price to be paid to the Company for such Securities, any provisions relating
to rights of, and default by, underwriters acting together with such Agent in
the reoffering of the Securities and the time and date and place of delivery of
and payment for such Securities. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify any
requirements for opinions of counsel, accountants' letters and officers'
certificates pursuant to Section 4 hereof.

                  For each sale of Securities to an Agent as principal that is
not made pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the procedural details relating to the
issue and delivery of

                                       -9-



<PAGE>   10



such Securities and payment therefor shall be as set forth in the Administrative
Procedure. For each such sale of Securities to an Agent as principal that is not
made pursuant to a Terms Agreement, and unless otherwise agreed by the Company
and such Agent, the Company agrees to pay such Agent a commission (or grant an
equivalent discount) as provided in Section 2(a) hereof and in accordance with
the schedule set forth therein.

                  Each time and date of delivery of and payment for Securities
to be purchased by an Agent as principal, whether set forth in a Terms Agreement
or in accordance with the Administrative Procedure, is referred to herein as a
"Time of Delivery".

                  3. The documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section
6 hereof on the Commencement Date (as defined below) shall be delivered to the
Agents at the offices of Sullivan & Cromwell, located at 125 Broad Street, New
York, New York 10004, at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of this
Agreement, which date and time of such delivery may be postponed by agreement
between the Agents and the Company but in no event shall be later than the day
prior to the date on which solicitation of offers to purchase Securities is
commenced or on which any Terms Agreement is executed (such time and date being
referred to herein as the "Commencement Date").

                  4. The Company covenants and agrees with each Agent:

                  (a) (i) To make no amendment or supplement to the Registration
         Statement or the Prospectus (A) prior to the Commencement Date which
         shall be disapproved by any Agent promptly after reasonable notice
         thereof or (B) after the date of any Terms Agreement or other agreement
         by an Agent to purchase Securities as principal and prior to the
         related Time of Delivery which shall be disapproved by any Agent party
         to such Terms Agreement or so purchasing as principal promptly after
         reasonable notice thereof; (ii) to prepare, with respect to any
         Securities to be sold through or to such Agent pursuant to this
         Agreement, a Pricing Supplement with respect to such Securities in a
         form previously approved by such Agent and to file or transmit for
         filing such Pricing Supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) under the Act
         not later than the close of business of the Commission on the fifth
         business day after the date on which such Pricing Supplement is

                                      -10-



<PAGE>   11



         first used; (iii) to make no amendment or supplement to the
         Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than any Pricing
         Supplement, at any time prior to having afforded each Agent a
         reasonable opportunity to review and comment on it; (iv) to file
         promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements
         required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to
         Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as
         the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the
         offering or sale of the Securities, and during such time period to
         advise such Agent, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof,
         of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been
         filed or has become effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or
         any amended Prospectus has been filed or transmitted for filing with
         the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or
         of any order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus
         relating to the Securities, of the suspension of the qualification of
         the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the
         initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of
         any request by the Commission for the amendment or supplement of the
         Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and
         (v) in the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such
         order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to
         the Securities or suspending any such qualification, to use promptly
         its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal;

                  (b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as such
         Agent reasonably may request to qualify the Securities for offering and
         sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as such Agent may
         request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of
         sales and dealings in such jurisdictions for as long as may be
         necessary to complete the distribution or sale of the Securities;
         provided, however, that in connection therewith the Company shall not
         be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general
         consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or subject
         itself to taxation as doing business in any such jurisdiction;

                  (c) To furnish such Agent with copies of the Registration
         Statement and each amendment thereto, with copies of the Prospectus as
         each time amended or supplemented, other than any Pricing Supplement
         (except

                                      -11-



<PAGE>   12



         as provided in the Administrative Procedure), in the form in which it
         is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and
         with copies of the documents incorporated by reference therein, all in
         such quantities as such Agent may reasonably request from time to time;
         and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time in
         connection with the offering or sale of the Securities (including
         Securities purchased from the Company by such Agent as principal) and
         if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the
         Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
         necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is
         delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be
         necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus
         or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by
         reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the
         Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify such Agent and
         request such Agent, in its capacity as agent of the Company, to suspend
         solicitation of offers to purchase Securities from the Company (and, if
         so notified, such Agent shall cease such solicitations as soon as
         practicable, but in any event not later than one business day later);
         and if the Company shall decide to amend or supplement the Registration
         Statement or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented, to so
         advise such Agent promptly by telephone (with confirmation in writing)
         and to prepare and cause to be filed promptly with the Commission an
         amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
         as then amended or supplemented that will correct such statement or
         omission or effect such compliance; provided, however, that if during
         such same period such Agent continues to own Securities purchased from
         the Company by such Agent as principal or such Agent is otherwise
         required to deliver a prospectus in respect of transactions in the
         Securities, the Company shall promptly prepare and file with the
         Commission such an amendment or supplement;

                  (d) To make generally available to its security holders as
         soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months
         after (i) the effective date of the Registration Statement, (ii) the
         effective date of each post-effective amendment to the Registration

                                      -12-



<PAGE>   13



         Statement, and (iii) the date of each filing by the Company with the
         Commission of an Annual Report on Form 10-K that is incorporated by
         reference in the Registration Statement, an earning statement (as
         defined in Rule 158 under the Act) of the Company and its subsidiaries
         (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and
         the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at
         the option of the Company, Rule 158);

                  (e) So long as any Securities are outstanding, to furnish to
         such Agent copies of all reports or other communications (financial or
         other) furnished to stockholders, and deliver to such Agent (i) as soon
         as they are available, copies of any reports and financial statements
         furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities
         exchange on which any class of securities of the Company is listed; and
         (ii) such additional information concerning the business and financial
         condition of the Company as such Agent may from time to time reasonably
         request (such financial statements to be on a consolidated basis to the
         extent the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries are
         consolidated in reports furnished to its stockholders generally or to
         the Commission);

                  (f) That, from the date of any Terms Agreement with such Agent
         or other agreement by such Agent to purchase Securities as principal
         and continuing to and including the earlier of (i) the termination of
         the trading restrictions for the Securities purchased thereunder, as
         notified to the Company by such Agent and (ii) the related Time of
         Delivery, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of
         such Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, offer,
         sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of
         the Company (other than debt securities under bank or other
         institutional credit agreements in effect as of the date of any Terms
         Agreement) which both mature more than 9 months after such Time of
         Delivery and are substantially similar to the Securities;

                  (g) That each acceptance by the Company of an offer to
         purchase Securities hereunder (including any purchase by such Agent as
         principal not pursuant to a Terms Agreement), and each execution and
         delivery by the Company of a Terms Agreement with such Agent, shall be
         deemed to be an affirmation to such Agent that the

                                      -13-



<PAGE>   14



         representations and warranties of the Company contained in or made
         pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such
         acceptance or of such Terms Agreement, as the case may be, as though
         made at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such
         representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the
         settlement date for the Securities relating to such acceptance or as of
         the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as
         though made at and as of such date (except that such representations
         and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement
         and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such
         Securities);

                  (h) That reasonably in advance of each time the Registration
         Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other
         than by a Pricing Supplement) and each time a document filed under the
         Act or the Exchange Act is incorporated by reference into the
         Prospectus, and each time the Company sells Securities to such Agent as
         principal pursuant to a Terms Agreement and such Terms Agreement
         specifies the delivery of an opinion or opinions by Sullivan &
         Cromwell, counsel to the Agents, as a condition to the purchase of
         Securities pursuant to such Terms Agreement, the Company shall furnish
         to such counsel such papers and information as they may reasonably
         request to enable them to furnish to such Agent the opinion or opinions
         referred to in Section 6(b) hereof;

                  (i) That each time the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than by a Pricing
         Supplement), each time a document filed under the Act or the Exchange
         Act is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus and each time the
         Company sells Securities to such Agent as principal pursuant to a Terms
         Agreement and such Terms Agreement specifies the delivery of an opinion
         under this Section 4(i) as a condition to the purchase of Securities
         pursuant to such Terms Agreement, the Company shall furnish or cause to
         be furnished forthwith to such Agent a written opinion of counsel for
         the Company reasonably satisfactory to such Agent, dated the date of
         such amendment, supplement, incorporation or Time of Delivery relating
         to such sale, as the case may be, in form reasonably satisfactory to
         such Agent, to the effect that such Agent may rely on the opinion of
         such counsel referred

                                      -14-



<PAGE>   15



         to in Section 6(c) hereof which was last furnished to such Agent to the
         same extent as though it were dated the date of such letter authorizing
         reliance (except that the statements in such last opinion shall be
         deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as
         amended and supplemented to such date) or, in lieu of such opinion, an
         opinion of the same tenor as the opinion of such counsel referred to in
         Section 6(c) hereof but modified to relate to the Registration
         Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date;

                  (j) That each time the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented and each time that a
         document filed under the Act or the Exchange Act is incorporated by
         reference into the Prospectus, in either case to set forth financial
         information included in or derived from the Company's consolidated
         financial statements or accounting records, and each time the Company
         sells Securities to such Agent as principal pursuant to a Terms
         Agreement and such Terms Agreement specifies the delivery of a letter
         under this Section 4(j) as a condition to the purchase of Securities
         pursuant to such Terms Agreement, the Company shall cause the
         independent certified public accountants who have certified the
         financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or
         incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement forthwith to
         furnish such Agent a letter, dated the date of such amendment,
         supplement, incorporation or Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as
         the case may be, in form reasonably satisfactory to such Agent, of the
         same tenor as the letter referred to in Section 6(d) hereof but
         modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as
         amended or supplemented to the date of such letter, with such changes
         as may be necessary to reflect changes in the financial statements and
         other information derived from the accounting records of the Company,
         to the extent such financial statements and other information are
         available as of a date not more than five business days prior to the
         date of such letter; provided, however, that, with respect to any
         financial information or other matter, such letter may reconfirm as
         true and correct at such date as though made at and as of such date,
         rather than repeat, statements with respect to such financial
         information or other matter made in the letter referred to in

                                      -15-



<PAGE>   16



         Section 6(d) hereof which was last furnished to such Agent;

                  (k) That each time the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than by a Pricing
         Supplement), each time a document filed under the Act or the Exchange
         Act is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, and each time the
         Company sells Securities to such Agent as principal and the applicable
         Terms Agreement specifies the delivery of a certificate under this
         Section 4(k) as a condition to the purchase of Securities pursuant to
         such Terms Agreement, the Company shall furnish or cause to be
         furnished forthwith to such Agent a certificate, dated the date of such
         supplement, amendment, incorporation or Time of Delivery relating to
         such sale, as the case may be, in such form and executed by such
         officers of the Company as shall be reasonably satisfactory to such
         Agent, to the effect that the statements contained in the certificate
         referred to in Section 6(g) hereof which was last furnished to such
         Agent are true and correct at such date as though made at and as of
         such date (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the
         Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented
         to such date), or, in lieu of such certificate, certificates of the
         same tenor as the certificates referred to in said Section 6(g) but
         modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as
         amended and supplemented to such date; and

                  (l) To offer to any person who has agreed to purchase
         Securities as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by such
         Agent the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Securities if,
         on the related settlement date fixed pursuant to the Administrative
         Procedure, any condition set forth in Section 6(a), 6(e) or 6(f) hereof
         shall not have been satisfied (it being understood that the judgment of
         such person with respect to the impracticability or inadvisability of
         such purchase of Securities shall be substituted, for purposes of this
         Section 4(1), for the respective judgments of an Agent with respect to
         certain matters referred to in such Sections 6(a), 6(e) and 6(f), and
         that such Agent shall have no duty or obligation whatsoever to exercise
         the judgment permitted under such Sections 6(a), 6(e) and 6(f) on
         behalf of any such person).


                                      -16-



<PAGE>   17



                  5. The Company covenants and agrees with each Agent that the
Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements
and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in connection with the
registration of the Securities under the Act and all other expenses in
connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act and all other
expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any
Pricing Supplements and all other amendments and supplements thereto and the
mailing and delivering of copies thereof to such Agent; (ii) the fees and
expenses of counsel for the Agents in connection with the establishment of the
program contemplated hereby, any opinions to be rendered by such counsel
hereunder and the transactions contemplated hereunder; (iii) the cost of
printing, preparing by word processor or reproducing this Agreement, any Terms
Agreement, any Indenture, any Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda and any
other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of
the Securities; (iv) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the
Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in
Section 4(b) hereof, including fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agents
in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and
legal investment surveys; (v) any fees charged by securities rating services for
rating the Securities; (vi) any filing fees incident to any required review by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of
the Securities; (vii) the cost of preparing the Securities; (viii) the fees and
expenses of any Trustee and any agent of any Trustee and any transfer or paying
agent of the Company and the fees and disbursements of counsel for any Trustee
or such agent in connection with any Indenture and the Securities; (ix) any
advertising expenses connected with the solicitation of offers to purchase and
the sale of Securities so long as such advertising expenses have been approved
by the Company; and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance
of the Company's obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically
provided for in this Section. Except as provided in this Section 5 and in
Sections 7 and 8 hereof, each Agent shall pay all other expenses it incurs.

                  6. The obligation of any Agent, as agent of the Company, at
any time ("Solicitation Time") to solicit offers to purchase the Securities and
the obligation of any Agent to purchase Securities as principal, pursuant to any
Terms Agreement or otherwise, shall in each case be subject, in

                                      -17-



<PAGE>   18



such Agent's discretion, to the condition that all representations and
warranties and other statements of the Company herein (and, in the case of an
obligation of an Agent under a Terms Agreement, in or incorporated in such Terms
Agreement by reference) are true and correct at and as of the Commencement Date
and any applicable date referred to in Section 4(k) hereof that is prior to such
Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, and at and as of such
Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, the condition that
prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, the
Company shall have performed in all material respects all of its obligations
hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

                  (a) (i) With respect to any Securities sold at or prior to
         such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, the
         Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the Pricing
         Supplement) with respect to such Securities shall have been filed with
         the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act within the
         applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and
         regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof;
         (ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
         Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding
         for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the
         Commission; and (iii) all requests for additional information on the
         part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the reasonable
         satisfaction of such Agent;

                  (b) Sullivan & Cromwell, counsel to the Agents, shall have
         furnished to such Agent (i) such opinion or opinions, dated the
         Commencement Date, with respect to the incorporation of the Company,
         the validity of the Indenture, the Securities, the Registration
         Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and other related
         matters as such Agent may reasonably request, and (ii) if and to the
         extent requested by such Agent, with respect to each applicable date
         referred to in Section 4(h) hereof that is on or prior to such
         Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, an opinion
         or opinions, dated such applicable date, to the effect that such Agent
         may rely on the opinion or opinions which were last furnished to such
         Agent pursuant to this Section 6(b) to the same extent as though it or
         they were dated the date of such letter authorizing reliance (except
         that the statements in

                                      -18-



<PAGE>   19



         such last opinion or opinions shall be deemed to relate to the
         Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented
         to such date) or, in any case, in lieu of such an opinion or opinions,
         an opinion or opinions of the same tenor as the opinion or opinions
         referred to in clause (i) but modified to relate to the Registration
         Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date;
         and in each case such counsel shall have received such papers and
         information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon
         such matters;

                  (c) Counsel to the Company reasonably satisfactory to the
         Agents (it being understood that the Company's General Counsel, Deputy
         General Counsel or Associate General Counsel is reasonably satisfactory
         to the Agents) shall have furnished to such Agent its written opinions,
         dated the Commencement Date and each applicable date referred to in
         Section 4(i) hereof that is on or prior to such Solicitation Time or
         Time of Delivery, as the case may be, in form and substance
         satisfactory to such Agent, to the effect that:

                           (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is
                  validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
                  laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority
                  (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its
                  business as it is now being conducted except where the failure
                  to have such power or authority would not individually or in
                  the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the financial
                  condition or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
                  taken as a whole;

                          (ii) The Company is an "air carrier" within the
                  meaning of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended, and
                  has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the
                  transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws
                  of each jurisdiction in the United States of America other
                  than that of its incorporation in which it has intrastate
                  routes or has a principal office or major overhaul facility
                  and where the failure to so qualify would have a material
                  adverse effect on the financial condition or operations of the
                  Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (such counsel
                  being entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this
                  clause upon opinions of local

                                      -19-



<PAGE>   20



                  counsel and in respect of matters of fact upon certificates of
                  officers of the Company, provided that such counsel shall
                  state that such counsel believes that both such Agent and such
                  counsel are justified in relying upon such opinions and
                  certificates);

                           (iii) Each material subsidiary of the Company has
                  been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
                  corporation in good standing under the laws of its
                  jurisdiction of incorporation; and all of the issued shares of
                  capital stock of each such subsidiary (except for directors'
                  qualifying shares) are owned directly or indirectly by the
                  Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities
                  or claims (such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of
                  the opinion in this clause upon opinions of local counsel and
                  in respect of matters of fact upon certificates of officers of
                  the Company or its subsidiaries, provided that such counsel
                  shall state that such counsel believes that both such Agent
                  and such counsel are justified in relying upon such opinions
                  and certificates);

                           (iv) The Company has an authorized capital stock as
                  set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and all
                  of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been
                  duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
                  non-assessable;

                           (v) There are various legal or governmental
                  proceedings pending to which the Company or one of its
                  subsidiaries is a party or to which property of the Company or
                  one of its subsidiaries is subject. Although the ultimate
                  outcome of these proceedings cannot be predicted with
                  certainty and could have a material adverse effect on Delta's
                  consolidated financial condition, results of operations or
                  liquidity, to the best of such counsel's knowledge after
                  reasonable investigation, there are no legal or governmental
                  proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its
                  subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the
                  Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which,
                  individually or in the aggregate, are likely to have a
                  material adverse effect on the consolidated financial
                  condition,

                                      -20-



<PAGE>   21



                  results of operations or liquidity of the Company and its
                  subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and, to the best of such
                  counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or
                  contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by
                  others;

                           (vi) This Agreement and any applicable Terms
                  Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
                  the Company;

                           (vii) The Securities have been duly authorized and,
                  when duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered by the
                  Company, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations
                  of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms
                  (subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency,
                  reorganization and other laws of general applicability
                  relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
                  equity principles), and will be entitled to the benefits
                  provided by the Indenture; and the Indenture conforms, and the
                  Securities will conform, in all material respects to the
                  descriptions thereof in the Prospectus as amended or
                  supplemented;

                           (viii) The Indenture has been duly authorized,
                  executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid
                  and legally binding instrument, enforceable against the
                  Company in accordance with its terms, subject, as to
                  enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and
                  other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
                  creditors' rights and to general equity principles; and the
                  Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture
                  Act;

                           (ix) The issue and sale of the Securities, the
                  compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the
                  Securities, the Indenture, this Agreement and any applicable
                  Terms Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
                  herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or
                  result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or
                  provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture,
                  mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or
                  instrument known to such counsel to which the Company or any
                  of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the

                                      -21-



<PAGE>   22



                  Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of
                  the property or assets of the Company or any of its
                  subsidiaries is subject (except for such conflicts, breaches,
                  violations and defaults that would not have a material adverse
                  effect on the financial condition or operations of the Company
                  and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and that would not
                  affect the validity of the Securities), nor will such actions
                  result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate
                  of Incorporation, as amended, or By-Laws of the Company or any
                  statute or any order, rule or regulation known to such counsel
                  of any court or governmental agency or body having
                  jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
                  any of their properties;

                           (x) To the best of such counsel's knowledge after
                  reasonable investigation, no consent, approval, authorization,
                  order, registration or qualification of or with any such court
                  or governmental agency or body is required for the
                  solicitation of offers to purchase Securities, the issue and
                  sale of the Securities or the consummation by the Company of
                  the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any
                  applicable Terms Agreement, or the Indenture, except such as
                  have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act
                  and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or
                  qualifications as may be required under state securities or
                  Blue Sky laws in connection with the solicitation by the
                  Agents of offers to purchase Securities from the Company and
                  with purchases of Securities by an Agent as principal, as the
                  case may be, in each case in the manner contemplated hereby;

                           (xi) The documents incorporated by reference in the
                  Prospectus as amended or supplemented (other than the
                  financial statements and related schedules and other financial
                  data therein derived from the Company's accounting records, as
                  to which such counsel need express no opinion), when they
                  became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the
                  case may be, complied as to form in all material respects with
                  the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as
                  applicable, and the rules and regulations of the

                                      -22-



<PAGE>   23



                  Commission thereunder; and such counsel has no reason to
                  believe that any of such documents, when they became effective
                  or were so filed, as the case may be, contained, in the case
                  of a registration statement which became effective under the
                  Act, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
                  state a material fact required to be stated therein or
                  necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and,
                  in the case of other documents which were filed under the Act
                  or the Exchange Act with the Commission, an untrue statement
                  of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
                  necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
                  light of the circumstances under which they were made when
                  such documents were so filed, not misleading; and

                           (xii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus
                  as amended and supplemented and any further amendments and
                  supplements thereto made by the Company prior to the date of
                  such opinion (other than the financial statements and related
                  schedules and other financial data therein derived from the
                  Company's accounting records, as to which such counsel need
                  express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects
                  with the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act
                  and the rules and regulations thereunder; such counsel has no
                  reason to believe that, as of the effective date of the
                  Registration Statement, either the Registration Statement or
                  the Prospectus (or, as of its date, any amendment or
                  supplement thereto made by the Company prior to the date of
                  such opinion), other than the financial statements and related
                  schedules and other financial data therein derived from the
                  Company's accounting records, as to which such counsel need
                  express no opinion, contained an untrue statement of a
                  material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to
                  be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
                  not misleading or that, as of the date of such opinion, either
                  the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any such
                  amendment or supplement thereto), other than the financial
                  statements and related schedules and other financial data
                  therein derived from the Company's accounting records, as to
                  which such counsel need express no opinion, contains an untrue
                  statement

                                      -23-



<PAGE>   24



                  of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required
                  to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
                  therein not misleading; the statements in the Prospectus as
                  amended or supplemented with respect to statutes,
                  administrative orders and regulations and legal and
                  governmental proceedings fairly and accurately present in all
                  material respects the information required to be set forth
                  therein and there are no statutes, administrative orders or
                  regulations required to be described in the Prospectus as
                  amended or supplemented which are not described as required;
                  the statements in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented as
                  to the route system which the Company presently operates or is
                  authorized to operate are correct in all material respects,
                  and no authorization of the Company to operate any such route
                  is the subject of any "show cause" or other order of, or any
                  proceeding before, or any investigation by, the Department of
                  Transportation (other than proceedings for the granting and
                  renewal of temporary certificates or exemption rights) which
                  in the opinion of such counsel is reasonably likely to result
                  in a final order impairing the validity of such authorization;
                  and such counsel does not know of any amendment to the
                  Registration Statement required to be filed or any contracts
                  or other documents of a character required to be filed as an
                  exhibit to the Registration Statement or required to be
                  incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as amended or
                  supplemented or required to be described in the Registration
                  Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented which
                  are not filed or incorporated by reference or described as
                  required;

                  With respect to the opinions in clauses (vii) and (viii)
         above, such counsel may rely as to all matters of New York law on the
         opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell delivered pursuant to Section 6(b).

                  (d) Not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the
         Commencement Date and on each applicable date referred to in Section
         4(j) hereof that is on or prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of
         Delivery, as the case may be, the Company's independent auditing firm,
         Arthur Andersen LLP, shall have furnished to such Agent a letter, dated
         the Commencement Date or such

                                      -24-



<PAGE>   25



         applicable date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory
         to such Agent, to the effect set forth in Annex III hereto;

                  (e) There shall not have been (i) any change or decrease
         specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (d) of this
         Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a
         prospective change, in or affecting the business or properties of the
         Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the effect of which, in
         any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in the reasonable
         judgment of such Agent so material and adverse as to make it
         impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the solicitation by such
         Agent of offers to purchase Securities from the Company or the purchase
         by such Agent of Securities from the Company as principal, as the case
         may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus
         as amended or supplemented;

                  (f) There shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a
         suspension of trading in the Company's common stock by the Commission
         or the New York Stock Exchange or a suspension or material limitation
         of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or
         the establishment of minimum prices on such Exchange; (ii) the
         declaration of a banking moratorium either by Federal or New York State
         authorities; or (iii) the occurrence of any material outbreak or
         material escalation of hostilities or other calamity or crisis the
         effect of which on the financial markets of the United States is such
         as to make it, in the reasonable judgment of such Agent, impracticable
         to proceed with the solicitation of offers to purchase Securities or
         the purchase of Securities from the Company as principal, pursuant to
         the applicable Terms Agreement or otherwise, as the case may be, on the
         terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or
         supplemented; or (iv) (a) any downgrading in the rating accorded the
         Company's unsecured debt securities or preferred stock by any
         "nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as that term
         is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the
         Act or (b) any such organization shall have publicly announced that it
         has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications,
         its rating of any of the Company's unsecured debt securities or
         preferred stock; and


                                      -25-



<PAGE>   26



                  (g) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished
         to such Agent certificates of officers of the Company dated the
         Commencement Date and each applicable date referred to in Section 4(k)
         hereof that is on or prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of
         Delivery, as the case may be, in such form and executed by such
         officers of the Company as shall be satisfactory to such Agent, as to
         the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company
         herein at and as of the Commencement Date or such applicable date, as
         the case may be, as to the performance by the Company in all material
         respects of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or
         prior to the Commencement Date or such applicable date, as the case may
         be, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (e) of this
         Section 6, and as to such other matters as such Agent may reasonably
         request.

                  7. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Agent and each person who controls any Agent within the meaning of either the
Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject
under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the Registration Statement or in any amendment thereof, or in any Preliminary
Prospectus, preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Securities or the
Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or in any other
prospectus relating to the Securities, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that (i) the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any
such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by any Agent specifically for use in connection with
the preparation

                                      -26-



<PAGE>   27



thereof, (ii) such indemnity with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus shall
not inure to the benefit of any Agent (or any person controlling such Agent) as
to whom it shall be established that the person asserting any such loss, claim,
damage or liability purchased the Securities which are the subject thereof if
such Agent did not send or deliver a copy of the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented at or prior to the confirmation of the sale of such Securities to
such person in any case where such delivery is required by the Act and the
untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in such Preliminary
Prospectus was corrected in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and (iii)
the Company will not be liable for any such loss, claim, damage or liability in
connection with any settlement of any pending or threatened litigation or any
pending or threatened governmental agency investigation or proceeding if that
settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnity agreement will be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

                  (b) Each Agent severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the
Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the
meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Agent and agrees to reimburse each
such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim,
damage, liability or action, but only with reference to written information
furnished to the Company by such Agent specifically for inclusion in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus
supplement relating to the Securities, the Prospectus, or in any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto, or any other prospectus relating to the
Securities. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which
any Agent may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that the second sentence
in the second paragraph under "Supplemental Plan of Distribution" in the
Prospectus Supplement, dated January 8, 1999, constitutes the only information
furnished in writing by the Agents or on the Agents' behalf for inclusion in the
Registration Statement, or any amendment thereof, any Preliminary Prospectus,
any preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Securities, the
Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or in any
prospectus relating

                                      -27-



<PAGE>   28



to the Securities, and the Agents will confirm that such statement is correct.

                  (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including
any governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim for
indemnification in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party
under Section 7(a) or (b), notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will
not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under Section 7(a) or (b) except to the extent that the
indemnifying party is prejudiced thereby. In case any such action or proceeding
is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party
of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to
participate therein (jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly
notified), and to the extent that it may elect, by written notice, delivered to
such indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such
indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, that if the
defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified
parties which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to
select separate counsel to defend such action on behalf of such indemnified
party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to appoint counsel to defend such action
and approval by the indemnified party of such counsel, the indemnifying party
will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal
or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed
separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence
(it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable
for the expenses of more than one separate counsel, approved by the Agent in the
case of paragraph (a) of this Section 7, representing the indemnified parties
under such paragraph (a) who are parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying
party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified

                                      -28-



<PAGE>   29



party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice
of commencement of the action or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized the
employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the
indemnifying party; and except that, if clause (i) or (iii) is applicable, such
liability shall be only in respect of the counsel referred to in such clause (i)
or (iii).

                  (d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or (b)
of this Section 7 is due in accordance with its terms but is for any reason held
by a court to be unavailable on grounds of policy or otherwise, the Company and
the Agent shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with investigation or defending same) to which the Company and one or more of
the Agents may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and each Agent on the
other from the offering of the Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or
liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If the allocation provided by
the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the
indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above,
then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable to
such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only
such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one
hand and each Agent on the other in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and each Agent on the
other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds
from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to
the total discounts and commissions received by such Agent in respect thereof.
The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company or any Agent and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The Company and each Agent agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) were
determined by pro rata allocation (even

                                      -29-



<PAGE>   30



if all Agents were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Agent shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which (i) the
total price at which the applicable Securities purchased by or through it were
sold exceeds (ii) the amount of any damages which such Agent has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The
obligations of each of the Agents under this subsection (d) to contribute are
several in proportion to the respective purchases made by or through it to which
such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates and
are not joint. For purposes of this Section 7, each person who controls any
Agent within the meaning of the Act shall have the same rights to contribution
as any Agent, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of
either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have
signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have
the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the
provisions of this paragraph (d).

                  8. Each Agent, in soliciting offers to purchase Securities
from the Company and in performing the other obligations of such Agent hereunder
(other than in respect to any purchase by an Agent as principal, pursuant to a
Terms Agreement or otherwise), is acting solely as agent for the Company and not
as principal. Each Agent will make reasonable efforts to assist the Company in
obtaining performance by each purchaser whose offer to purchase Securities from
the Company was solicited by such Agent and has been accepted by the Company,
but such Agent shall not have any liability to the Company in the event such
purchase is not consummated for any reason. If the Company shall default on its
obligation to deliver Securities to a purchaser whose offer it has accepted, the
Company shall

                                      -30-



<PAGE>   31



(i) hold each Agent harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or
as a result of such default by the Company and (ii) notwithstanding such
default, pay to the Agent that solicited such offer any commission to which it
would be entitled in connection with such sale.

                  9. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations,
warranties and other statements by any Agent and the Company set forth in or
made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless
of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on
behalf of any Agent or any controlling person of any Agent, or the Company, or
any officer or director or any controlling person of the Company, and shall
survive each delivery of and payment for any of the Securities.

                  10. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2(a) hereof, the
provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase
Securities from the Company may be suspended or terminated at any time by the
Company as to any Agent or by any Agent as to such Agent upon the giving of
written notice of such suspension or termination to such Agent or the Company,
as the case may be. In the event of such suspension or termination with respect
to any Agent, (x) this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect with
respect to any Agent as to which such suspension or termination has not
occurred, (y) this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect with respect
to the rights and obligations of any party which have previously accrued or
which relate to Securities which are already issued, agreed to be issued or the
subject of a pending offer at the time of such suspension or termination and (z)
in any event, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect insofar as
the fourth paragraph of Section 2(a), Section 4(d), Section 4(e), Section 4(f),
Section 5, Section 7, Section 8 and Section 9 hereof are concerned.

                  11. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or in the
Administrative Procedure, all statements, requests, notices and advices
hereunder shall be in writing, or by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing,
and if to Salomon Smith Barney Inc. shall be sufficient in all respects when
delivered or sent by facsimile transmission or registered mail to Seven World
Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, Facsimile Transmission No. (212)
783-2274, Attention: Medium-Term Note Department, and if to Goldman, Sachs & Co.
shall be sufficient in all respects when

                                      -31-



<PAGE>   32



delivered or sent by facsimile transmission or registered mail to 85 Broad
Street, New York, New York 10004, Facsimile Transmission No. (212) 902-3000,
Attention: Registration Department, and if to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated shall be sufficient in all respects when delivered or sent by
telex, facsimile transmission or registered mail to World Financial Center,
North Tower - 10th Floor, 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10281- 1310,
Facsimile Transmission No. (212) 449-2234, Attention: MTN Product Management,
and if to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated shall be sufficient in all respects
when delivered or sent by facsimile transmission or registered mail to 1585
Broadway, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10036, Facsimile Transmission No. (212)
761-0780, Attention: Manager - Continuously Offered Products, with a copy to
1585 Broadway, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10036, Facsimile Transmission No.
(212) 761-0260, Attention: Peter Cooper, Investment Banking Information Center,
and if to the Company shall be sufficient in all respects when delivered or sent
by facsimile transmission or registered mail to the address of the Company set
forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Treasurer with a copy to the
Company's General Counsel (provided that the failure to send a copy to the
General Counsel shall not affect the validity of the notice).

                  12. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be binding
upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, each Agent and the Company, and to the
extent provided in Section 7 and Section 9 hereof, the officers and directors of
the Company and any person who controls any Agent or the Company, and their
respective personal representatives, successors and assigns, and no other person
shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement or any
Terms Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities through or from any Agent
hereunder shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason of such purchase.

                  13. Time shall be of the essence in this Agreement and any
Terms Agreement. As used herein, the term "business day" shall mean any day when
the office of the Commission in Washington, D.C. is normally open for business.

                  14. THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY TERMS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


                                      -32-



<PAGE>   33



                  15. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be executed by
any one or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of such respective
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

                  If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding,
please sign and return to us five counterparts hereof, whereupon this letter and
the acceptance by you thereof shall constitute a binding agreement between the
Company and each of you in accordance with its terms.

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     DELTA AIR LINES, INC.



                                                     By:                     
                                                        -----------------------
                                                        Name:
                                                        Title:


                                      -33-



<PAGE>   34



Accepted in New York, New York, as of the date hereof:


SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.


By:                             
   -----------------------------
   Name:
   Title:





- --------------------------------
   (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)


MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                    INCORPORATED

By:                             
   -----------------------------
   Name:
   Title:

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED


By:                             
   -----------------------------
   Name:
   Title:


                                      -34-



<PAGE>   35



                                                                         ANNEX I









                              DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

                               Medium-Term Notes,
                                    Series B

                                 Terms Agreement



                                                    ____________________ , 19___
                                                     




Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
Seven World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004

Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                    Incorporated
Merrill Lynch World Headquarters
World Financial Center
North Tower, 10th Floor
New York, New York 10281

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
1585 Broadway
New York, New York 10036


Dear Sirs:

                  Delta Air Lines, Inc. (the "Company") proposes, subject to the
terms and conditions stated herein and in the Distribution Agreement, dated
January 8, 1999 (the "Distribution Agreement"), between the Company on the one
hand and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. ("Salomon Smith Barney"), Goldman, Sachs &
Co. ("Goldman, Sachs"), Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch"), and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
("Morgan Stanley", and, collectively with Salomon Smith Barney, Goldman, Sachs,
and Merrill Lynch, the "Agents") on the other, to issue and sell to [Salomon
Smith Barney] [Goldman, Sachs] [Merrill Lynch] [Morgan Stanley] the securities
specified in the Schedule hereto (the "Purchased
                                    
<PAGE>   36



Securities"). Each of the provisions of the Distribution Agreement not
specifically related to the solicitation by the Agents, as agents of the
Company, of offers to purchase Securities is incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same
extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Nothing
contained herein or in the Distribution Agreement shall make any party hereto an
agent of the Company or make such party subject to the provisions therein
relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase securities from the Company,
solely by virtue of its execution of this Terms Agreement. Each of the
representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been
made at and as of the date of this Terms Agreement, except that each
representation and warranty in Section 1 of the Distribution Agreement which
makes reference to the Prospectus shall be deemed to be a representation and
warranty as of the date of the Distribution Agreement in relation to the
Prospectus (as therein defined), and also a representation and a warranty as of
the date of this Terms Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended and
supplemented to relate to the Purchased Securities.

                  An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to
the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Securities, in the
form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the
Commission.

                  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in
the Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees
to issue and sell to [Salomon Smith Barney] [Goldman, Sachs] [Merrill Lynch]
[Morgan Stanley] and [Salomon Smith Barney] [Goldman, Sachs] [Merrill Lynch]
[Morgan Stanley] agree[s] to purchase from the Company the Purchased Securities,
at the time and place, in the principal amount and at the purchase price set
forth in the Schedule hereto.

                  If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding,
please sign and return to us four counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance
hereof by you this letter and such acceptance hereof, including those provisions
of the


                                       I-2



<PAGE>   37



Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a
binding agreement between you and the Company.

                                               DELTA AIR LINES, INC.


                                               By:
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                  Name:
                                                  Title:

Accepted:

[SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.


By:                             
   -------------------------------
   Name:
   Title:]


[
- ----------------------------------
(Goldman, Sachs & Co.)]


[MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                    INCORPORATED


By:                             
   -------------------------------
   Name:
   Title:]


[MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED

By:                             
   -------------------------------
   Name:
   Title:]


                                       I-3



<PAGE>   38



                                                             Schedule to Annex I



Title of Purchased Securities:

         [  %] Medium-Term Notes, Series C

Aggregate Principal Amount:

         $

         [Price to Public:]

Purchase Price by [Salomon Smith Barney Inc.] [Goldman, Sachs & Co.] [Merrill
Lynch & Co.] [Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated]:

                  %, of the principal amount of the Purchased Securities [, plus
accrued interest from ____________ to _____________] [and accrued amortization,
if any, from ________________ to ________________]

Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:

         [By certified or official bank check or checks, payable to the order of
the Company, in [[New York] Clearing House] [immediately available] funds]

         [By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the
Company in immediately available funds]

Indenture:

         Indenture, dated as of May 1, 1991, between the Company and The Bank of
New York, successor to The Citizens and Southern National Bank of Florida, as
Trustee

Time of Delivery:


Closing Location:


Maturity:


Interest Rate:

         [  %]

Interest Payment Dates:

         [months and dates]



                                       I-4



<PAGE>   39



Documents to be Delivered:

         The following documents referred to in the Distribution Agreement shall
be delivered as a condition to the Closing:

                  [(1)  The opinion or opinions of counsel to the
                  Agents referred to in Section 4(h).]

                  [(2)  The opinion of counsel to the Company
                  referred to in Section 4(i).]

                  [(3)  The accountants' letter referred to in
                  Section 4(j).]

                  [(4)  The officers' certificate referred to in
                  Section 4(k).]

Other Provisions (including Syndicate Provisions, if applicable:



                                       I-5



<PAGE>   40



                                                                       ANNEX II



                              DELTA AIR LINES, INC.


                            Administrative Procedure


                  This Administrative Procedure relates to the Securities
defined in the Distribution Agreement, dated January 8, 1999 (the "Distribution
Agreement"), between Delta Air Lines, Inc. (the "Company") and Salomon Smith
Barney Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (the
"Agents"), to which this Administrative Procedure is attached as Annex II.
Defined terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings given
such terms in the Distribution Agreement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented or the Indenture.

                  The procedures to be followed with respect to the settlement
of sales of Securities directly by the Company to purchasers solicited by an
Agent, as agent, are set forth below. The terms and settlement details related
to a purchase of Securities by an Agent, as principal, from the Company will be
set forth in a Terms Agreement pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, unless
the Company and such Agent otherwise agree as provided in Section 2(b) of the
Distribution Agreement, in which case the procedures to be followed in respect
of the settlement of such sale will be as set forth below. An Agent, in relation
to a purchase of a Security by a purchaser solicited by such Agent, is referred
to herein as the "Selling Agent" and, in relation to a purchase of a Security by
such Agent as principal other than pursuant to a Terms Agreement, as the
"Purchasing Agent".

                  The Company will advise each Agent in writing of those persons
with whom such Agent is to communicate regarding offers to purchase Securities
and the related settlement details.

                  Each Security will be issued only in fully registered form and
will be represented by either a global security (a "Global Security") delivered
to the Trustee, as agent for The Depository Trust Company (the "Depositary") and
recorded in the book-entry system maintained by the Depositary (a "Book-Entry
Security") or a certificate issued in definitive form (a "Certificated
Security") delivered to a person designated by an Agent, as set forth in the
applicable Pricing Supplement. An owner of a Book-Entry Security will not be
entitled to receive a certificate






<PAGE>   41



representing such a Security, except as provided in the Indenture.

                  Certificated Securities will be issued in accordance with the
Administrative Procedure set forth in Part I hereof, and Book-Entry Securities
will be issued in accordance with the Administrative Procedure set forth in Part
II hereof.

                  Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Trustee to risk
or expend its own funds in connection with any payment to the Company, the
Depositary, the Agents or the purchaser, it being understood by all parties that
payments made by the Trustee to the Company, the Depositary, the Agents or the
purchaser shall be made only to the extent that funds are provided to the
Trustee for such purpose.

PART I:           ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR CERTIFICATED
                  SECURITIES

Posting Rates by Company:

                  The Company and the Agents will discuss from time to time the
rates of interest per annum to be borne by and the maturity of Certificated
Securities that may be sold as a result of the solicitation of offers by an
Agent. The Company may establish a fixed set of interest rates and maturities
for an offering period ("posting"). If the Company decides to change already
posted rates, it will promptly advise the Agents to suspend solicitation of
offers until the new posted rates have been established with the Agents.

Acceptance of Offers by Company:

                  Each Agent will promptly advise the Company by telephone or
other appropriate means of all reasonable offers to purchase Certificated
Securities, other than those rejected by such Agent. Each Agent may, in its
discretion reasonably exercised, reject any offer received by it in whole or in
part. Each Agent also may make offers to the Company to purchase Certificated
Securities as a Purchasing Agent. The Company will have the sole right to accept
offers to purchase Certificated Securities and may reject any such offer in
whole or in part.

                  The Company will promptly notify the Selling Agent or
Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, of its acceptance or rejection of an offer
to purchase Certificated Securities. If the Company accepts an offer to purchase
Certificated Securities, it will confirm such acceptance in


                                      II-2



<PAGE>   42



writing to the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, and the
Trustee.

Communication of Sale Information to Company by Selling Agent:

                  After the acceptance of an offer by the Company, the Selling
Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, will communicate the following
details of the terms of such offer (the "Sale Information") to the Company by
telephone (confirmed in writing) or by facsimile transmission or other
acceptable written means:

                  (1)      Principal Amount of Certificated Securities
                           to be purchased;

                  (2)      If a Fixed Rate Certificated Security, the interest
                           rate and the initial interest payment date;

                  (3)      Trade Date;

                  (4)      Settlement Date;

                  (5)      Maturity Date;

                  (6)      Issue Price;

                  (7)      Selling Agent's commission or Purchasing
                           Agent's discount, as the case may be;

                  (8)      Net Proceeds to the Company;

                  (9)      If a redeemable Certificated Security, such of the
                           following as are applicable:

                                      (i) Redemption Commencement Date,
                                     (ii) Initial Redemption Price (% of par),
                                          and
                                    (iii) Amount (% of par) that the Redemption
                                          Price shall decline (but not below 
                                          par) on each anniversary of the 
                                          Redemption Commencement Date;

                  (10)     If a Floating Rate Certificated Security, such of the
                           following as are applicable:

                                      (i) Interest Rate Basis,
                                     (ii) Index Maturity,


                                      II-3



<PAGE>   43



                              (iii) Spread or Spread Multiplier,
                               (iv) Maximum Rate,
                                (v) Minimum Rate,
                               (vi) Initial Interest Rate,
                              (vii) Interest Reset Dates,
                             (viii) Calculation Dates,
                               (ix) Interest Determination Dates,
                                (x) Interest Payment Dates,
                               (xi) Regular Record Dates, and
                              (xii) Calculation Agent;

                  (11)     Name, address and taxpayer identification
                           number of the registered owner(s);

                  (12)     Denomination of certificates to be delivered
                           at settlement;

                  (13)     Book-Entry Security or Certificated Security;
                           and

                  (14)     Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent.

Preparation of Pricing Supplement by Company:

                  If the Company accepts an offer to purchase a Certificated
Security, it will prepare a Pricing Supplement reflecting the terms of such
Certificated Security and arrange to have delivered to the Selling Agent or
Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, at least ten copies of such Pricing
Supplement, not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day
following the Trade Date, or if the Company and the purchaser agree to
settlement on the date of acceptance of such offer, not later than noon, New
York City time, on such date. The Company will arrange to have the Pricing
Supplement filed with the Commission not later than the close of business of the
Commission on the fifth business day following the date on which such Pricing
Supplement is first used.

Delivery of Confirmation and Prospectus to Purchaser by Selling Agent:

                  The Selling Agent will deliver to the purchaser of a
Certificated Security a written confirmation of the sale and delivery and
payment instructions. In addition, the Selling Agent will deliver to such
purchaser or its agent the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the
Pricing Supplement) in relation to such Certificated Security prior to or
together with the earlier of the


                                      II-4



<PAGE>   44



delivery to such purchaser or its agent of (a) the confirmation of sale or (b)
the Certificated Security.

Date of Settlement:

                  All offers of Certificated Securities solicited by a Selling
Agent or made by a Purchasing Agent and accepted by the Company will be settled
on a date (the "Settlement Date") which is the third business day after the date
of acceptance of such offer, unless the Company and the purchaser agree to
settlement (a) on any other business day after the acceptance of such offer or
(b) with respect to an offer accepted by the Company prior to 10:00 a.m., New
York City time, on the date of such acceptance.

Instruction from Company to Trustee for Preparation of Certificated Securities:

                  After receiving the Sale Information from the Selling Agent or
Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, the Company will communicate such Sale
Information to the Trustee by telephone (confirmed in writing) or by facsimile
transmission or other acceptable written means on the sale date.

                  The Company will instruct the Trustee by facsimile
transmission or other acceptable written means to authenticate and deliver the
Certificated Securities no later than 2:15 p.m., New York City time, on the
Settlement Date. Such instruction will be given by the Company prior to 3:00
p.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately preceding the
Settlement Date unless the Settlement Date is the date of acceptance by the
Company of the offer to purchase Certificated Securities in which case such
instruction will be given by the Company by 11:00 a.m., New York City time.

Preparation and Delivery of Certificated Securities by Trustee and Receipt of
Payment Therefor:

                  The Trustee will prepare each Certificated Security and
appropriate receipts that will serve as the documentary control of the
transaction.

                  In the case of a sale of Certificated Securities to a
purchaser solicited by a Selling Agent, the Trustee will, by 2:15 p.m., New York
City time, on the Settlement Date, deliver the Certificated Securities to the
Selling Agent for the benefit of the purchaser of such Certificated Securities
against delivery by the Selling Agent of a


                                      II-5



<PAGE>   45



receipt therefor. On the Settlement Date the Selling Agent will deliver payment
for such Certificated Securities in immediately available funds to the Company
in an amount equal to the issue price of the Certificated Securities less the
Selling Agent's commission; provided that the Selling Agent reserves the right
to withhold payment for which it has not received funds from the purchaser. The
Company shall not use any proceeds advanced by a Selling Agent to acquire
securities.

                  In the case of a sale of Certificated Securities to a
Purchasing Agent, the Trustee will, by 2:15 p.m., New York City time, on the
Settlement Date, deliver the Certificated Securities to the Purchasing Agent
against delivery of payment for such Certificated Securities in immediately
available funds to the Company in an amount equal to the issue price of the
Certificated Securities less the Purchasing Agent's discount.

Failure of Purchaser to Pay Selling Agent:

                  If a purchaser (other than a Purchasing Agent) fails to make
payment to the Selling Agent for a Certificated Security, the Selling Agent will
promptly notify the Trustee and the Company thereof by telephone (confirmed in
writing) or by facsimile transmission or other acceptable written means. The
Selling Agent will immediately return the Certificated Security to the Trustee.
Immediately upon receipt of such Certificated Security by the Trustee, the
Company will return to the Selling Agent an amount equal to the amount
previously paid to the Company in respect of such Certificated Security. The
Company will reimburse the Selling Agent on an equitable basis for its loss of
the use of funds during the period when they were credited to the account of the
Company.

                  The Trustee will cancel the Certificated Security in respect
of which the failure occurred, make appropriate entries in its records and,
unless otherwise instructed by the Company, destroy the Certificated Security.

PART II:  ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES

                  In connection with the qualification of the Book- Entry
Securities for eligibility in the book-entry system maintained by the
Depositary, the Trustee will perform the custodial, document control and
administrative functions described below, in accordance with its respective
obligations under a Letter of Representation from the Company and the Trustee to
the Depositary, dated the date


                                      II-6



<PAGE>   46



hereof, and a Medium-Term Note Certificate Agreement between the Trustee and the
Depositary, dated as of April 14, 1989, as amended (the "Certificate
Agreement"), and its obligations as a participant in the Depositary, including
the Depositary's Same-Day Funds Settlement System ("SDFS").

Posting Rates by the Company:

                  The Company and the Agents will discuss from time to time the
rates of interest per annum to be borne by and the maturity of Book-Entry
Securities that may be sold as a result of the solicitation of offers by an
Agent. The Company may establish a fixed set of interest rates and maturities
for an offering period ("posting"). If the Company decides to change already
posted rates, it will promptly advise the Agents to suspend solicitation of
offers until the new posted rates have been established with the Agents.

Acceptance of Offers by the Company:

                  Each Agent will promptly advise the Company by telephone or
other appropriate means of all reasonable offers to purchase Securities, other
than those rejected by such Agent. Each Agent may, in its discretion reasonably
exercised, reject any offer received by it in whole or in part. Each Agent also
may make offers to the Company to purchase Book-Entry Securities as a Purchasing
Agent. The Company will have the sole right to accept offers to purchase
Book-Entry Securities and may reject any such offer in whole or in part.

                  The Company will promptly notify the Selling Agent or
Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, of its acceptance or rejection of an offer
to purchase Book-Entry Securities. If the Company accepts an offer to purchase
Book-Entry Securities, it will confirm such acceptance in writing to the Selling
Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, and the Trustee.

Communication of Sale Information to the Company by Selling Agent and Settlement
Procedures:

                  A. After the acceptance of an offer by the Company, the
Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, will communicate
promptly, but in no event later than the time set forth under "Settlement
Procedure Timetable" below, the following details of the terms of such offer
(the "Sale Information") to the Company by telephone


                                      II-7



<PAGE>   47



(confirmed in writing) or by facsimile transmission or other acceptable written
means:

                  (1)      Principal Amount of Book-Entry Securities to
                           be purchased;

                  (2)      If a Fixed Rate Book-Entry Security, the interest
                           rate and initial interest payment date;

                  (3)      Trade Date;

                  (4)      Settlement Date;

                  (5)      Maturity Date;

                  (6)      Issue Price;

                  (7)      Selling Agent's commission or Purchasing Agent's
                           discount or commission, as the case may be;

                  (8)      Net Proceeds to the Company;

                  (9)      If a redeemable Book-Entry Security, such of the
                           following as are applicable:

                           (i)      Redemption Commencement Date,

                           (ii)     Initial Redemption Price (% of par), and

                           (iii)    Amount (% of par) that the Redemption Price
                                    shall decline (but not below par) on each
                                    anniversary of the Redemption Commencement
                                    Date;

                  (10)     If a Floating Rate Book-Entry Security, such of the
                           following as are applicable:

                           (i)      Interest Rate Basis,

                           (ii)     Index Maturity,

                           (iii)    Spread or Spread Multiplier,

                           (iv)     Maximum Rate,

                           (v)      Minimum Rate,

                           (vi)     Initial Interest Rate,



                                      II-8



<PAGE>   48



                           (vii)    Interest Reset Dates,

                           (viii)   Calculation Dates,

                           (ix)     Interest Determination Dates,

                           (x)      Interest Payment Dates,

                           (xi)     Regular Record Dates, and

                           (xii)    Calculation Agent;

                  (11)     Name, address and taxpayer identification
                           number of the registered owner(s);

                  (12)     Denomination of certificates to be delivered
                           at settlement;

                  (13)     Book-Entry Security or Certificated Security;
                           and

                  (14)     Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent.

                  B. After receiving the Sale Information from the Selling Agent
or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, the Company will communicate such Sale
Information to the Trustee by facsimile transmission or other acceptable written
means. The Trustee will assign a CUSIP number to the Global Security from a list
of CUSIP numbers previously delivered to the Trustee by the Company representing
such Book-Entry Security and then advise the Company and the Selling Agent or
Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, of such CUSIP number.

                  C. The Trustee will enter a pending deposit message through
the Depositary's Participant Terminal System, providing the following settlement
information to the Depositary, and the Depositary shall forward such information
to such Agent and Standard & Poor's Ratings Group:

                  (1)      The applicable Sale Information;

                  (2)      CUSIP number of the Global Security representing such
                           Book-Entry Security;

                  (3)      Whether such Global Security will represent any other
                           Book-Entry Security (to the extent known at such
                           time);



                                      II-9



<PAGE>   49



                  (4)      Number of the participant account maintained by the
                           Depositary on behalf of the Selling Agent or
                           Purchasing Agent, as the case may be;

                  (5)      The interest payment period; and

                  (6)      Initial Interest Payment Date for such Book- Entry
                           Security, number of days by which such date succeeds
                           the record date for the Depositary's purposes (which,
                           in the case of Floating Rate Securities which reset
                           weekly, shall be the date five calendar days
                           immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment
                           Date and in the case of all other Book-Entry
                           Securities shall be the Regular Record Date, as
                           defined in the Security) and, if calculable at that
                           time, the amount of interest payable on such Interest
                           Payment Date.

                  D. The Trustee will complete and authenticate the Global
Security previously delivered by the Company representing such Book-Entry
Security.

                  E. The Depositary will credit such Book-Entry Security to the
Trustee's participant account at the Depositary.

                  F. The Trustee will enter an SDFS deliver order through the
Depositary's Participant Terminal System instructing the Depositary to (i) debit
such Book-Entry Security to the Trustee's participant account and credit such
Book-Entry Security to such Agent's participant account and (ii) debit such
Agent's settlement account and credit the Trustee's settlement account for an
amount equal to the price of such Book-Entry Security less such Agent's
commission. The entry of such a deliver order shall constitute a representation
and warranty by the Trustee to the Depositary that (a) the Global Security
representing such Book-Entry Security has been issued and authenticated and (b)
the Trustee is holding such Global Security pursuant to the Certificate
Agreement.

                  G. Such Agent will enter an SDFS deliver order through the
Depositary's Participant Terminal System instructing the Depositary (i) to debit
such Book-Entry Security to such Agent's participant account and credit such
Book-Entry Security to the participant accounts of the participants with respect
to such Book-Entry Security and (ii) to debit the settlement accounts of such
participants


                                      II-10



<PAGE>   50



and credit the settlement account of such Agent for an amount equal to the price
of such Book-Entry Security.

                  H. Transfers of funds in accordance with SDFS deliver orders
described in Settlement Procedures "F" and "G" will be settled in accordance
with SDFS operating procedures in effect on the settlement date.

                  I. Upon confirmation of receipt of funds, the Trustee will
transfer to the account of the Company maintained at The Bank of New York, New
York, New York, or such other account as the Company may have previously
specified to the Trustee, in funds available for immediate use in the amount
transferred to the Trustee in accordance with Settlement Procedure "F".

                  J. Upon request, the Trustee will send to the Company a
statement setting forth the principal amount of Book-Entry Securities
outstanding as of that date under the Indenture.

                  K. Such Agent will confirm the purchase of such Book-Entry
Security to the purchaser either by transmitting to the participants with
respect to such Book-Entry Security a confirmation order or orders through the
Depositary's institutional delivery system or by mailing a written confirmation
to such purchaser.

                  L. The Depositary will, at any time, upon request of the
Company or the Trustee, promptly furnish to the Company or the Trustee a list of
the names and addresses of the participants for whom the Depositary has credited
Book- Entry Securities.

Preparation of Pricing Supplement:

                  If the Company accepts an offer to purchase a Book-Entry
Security, it will prepare a Pricing Supplement reflecting the terms of such
Book-Entry Security and arrange to have delivered to the Selling Agent or
Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, at least ten copies of such Pricing
Supplement not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day
following the Trade Date (defined below), or if the Company and the purchaser
agree to settlement on the business day following the date of acceptance of such
offer, not later than noon, New York City time, on such date. The Company will
arrange to have the Pricing Supplement filed with the Commission not later than
the close of business of the Commission on the fifth business


                                      II-11



<PAGE>   51



day following the date on which such Pricing Supplement is first used.

Delivery of Confirmation and Prospectus to Purchaser by Selling Agent:

                  The Selling Agent will deliver to the purchaser of a
Book-Entry Security a written confirmation of the sale and delivery and payment
instructions. In addition, the Selling Agent will deliver to such purchaser or
its agent the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the Pricing
Supplement) in relation to such Book-Entry Security.

Date of Settlement:

                  The receipt by the Company of immediately available funds in
payment for a Book-Entry Security and the authentication and issuance of the
Global Security representing such Book-Entry Security shall constitute
"settlement" with respect to such Book-Entry Security. All orders of Book-Entry
Securities, solicited by a Selling Agent or made by Purchasing Agent and
accepted by the Company on a particular date (the "Trade Date") will be settled
on a date (the "Settlement Date") which is the third business day after the
Trade Date pursuant to the "Settlement Procedure Timetable" set forth below,
unless the Company and the purchaser agree to settlement on another business day
which shall be no earlier than the next business day after the Trade Date.

Settlement Procedure Timetable:

                  For orders of Book-Entry Securities solicited by a Selling
Agent and accepted by the Company for settlement on the first business day after
the Trade Date, Settlement Procedures "A" through "I" set forth above shall be
completed as soon as possible but not later than the respective times (New York
City time) set forth below:

    SETTLEMENT
    PROCEDURE                               TIME
    ----------                              ----

         A             5:00 p.m.            on the business day following the
                                            Trade Date or 10:00 a.m. on the
                                            business day prior to the
                                            Settlement Date, whichever is
                                            earlier



                                      II-12



<PAGE>   52



         B            12:00 noon            on the second business day
                                            immediately preceding the
                                            Settlement Date

         C             2:00 p.m.            on the second business day
                                            immediately preceding the Settlement
                                            Date

         D             9:00 a.m.            on the Settlement Date

         E            10:00 a.m.            on the Settlement Date

        F-G            2:00 p.m.            on the Settlement Date

         H             4:45 p.m.            on the Settlement Date

         I             5:00 p.m.            on the Settlement Date


                  If the initial interest rate for a Floating Rate Book-Entry
Security has not been determined at the time that Settlement Procedure "A" is
completed, Settlement Procedures "B" and "C" shall be completed as soon as such
rate has been determined but no later than 2:00 p.m. on the second business day
immediately preceding the Settlement Date. Settlement Procedure "H" is subject
to extension in accordance with any extension of Fedwire closing deadlines and
in the other events specified in the SDFS operating procedures in effect on the
Settlement Date.

                  If settlement of a Book-Entry Security is rescheduled or
cancelled, the Trustee, upon obtaining knowledge thereof, will deliver to the
Depositary, through the Depositary's Participation Terminal System, a
cancellation message to such effect by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the business
day immediately preceding the scheduled Settlement Date.

Failure to Settle:

                  If the Trustee fails to enter an SDFS deliver order with
respect to a Book-Entry Security pursuant to Settlement Procedure "F", the
Trustee may deliver to the Depositary, through the Depositary's Participant
Terminal System, as soon as practicable, a withdrawal message instructing the
Depositary to debit such Book-Entry Security to the Trustee's participant
account, provided that the Trustee's participant account contains a principal
amount of the Global Security representing such Book-Entry Security that is at
least equal to the principal amount to be


                                      II-13



<PAGE>   53



debited. If a withdrawal message is processed with respect to all of the
Book-Entry Securities represented by a Global Security, the Trustee will mark
such Global Security "cancelled", make appropriate entries in the Trustee's
records and send such cancelled Global Security to the Company. The CUSIP number
assigned to such Global Security shall, in accordance with CUSIP Service Bureau
procedures, be cancelled and not immediately reassigned. If a withdrawal message
is processed with respect to one or more, but not all, of the Book-Entry
Securities represented by a Global Security, the Trustee will exchange such
Global Security for two Global Securities, one of which shall represent such
Book-Entry Security or Securities and shall be cancelled immediately after
issuance and the other of which shall represent the remaining Book-Entry
Securities previously represented by the surrendered Global Security and shall
bear the CUSIP number of the surrendered Global Security.

                  If the purchase price for any Book-Entry Security is not
timely paid to the participants with respect to such Book-Entry Security by the
beneficial purchaser thereof (or a person, including an indirect participant in
the Depositary, acting on behalf of such purchaser), such participants and, in
turn, the Agent for such Book-Entry Security may enter deliver orders through
the Depositary's Participant Terminal System debiting such Book-Entry Security
to such participant's account and crediting such Book-Entry Security to such
Agent's account and then debiting such Book-Entry Security to such Agent's
participant account and crediting such Book-Entry Security to the Trustee's
participant account and shall notify the Company and the Trustee thereof.
Thereafter, the Trustee will (i) immediately notify the Company of such order
and the Company shall transfer to such Agent funds available for immediate use
in an amount equal to the price of such Book- Entry Security which was credited
to the account of the Company maintained at the Trustee in accordance with
Settlement Procedure I, and (ii) deliver the withdrawal message and take the
related actions described in the preceding paragraph. If such failure shall have
occurred for any reason other than default by the applicable Agent to perform
its obligations hereunder or under the Distribution Agreement, the Company will
reimburse such Agent on an equitable basis for the loss of its use of funds
during the period when the funds were credited to the account of the Company.

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any failure to settle with
respect to a Book-Entry Security, the Depositary may take any actions in
accordance with its SDFS operating


                                      II-14



<PAGE>   54



procedures then in effect. In the event of a failure to settle with respect to
one or more, but not all, of the Book-Entry Securities to have been represented
by a Global Security, the Trustee will provide, in accordance with Settlement
Procedure "D" for the authentication and issuance of a Global Security
representing the other Book-Entry Securities to have been represented by such
Global Security and will make appropriate entries in its records. The Company
will, from time to time, furnish the Trustee with a sufficient quantity of
Securities.



                                      II-15



<PAGE>   55



                                                                      ANNEX III

                               Accountants' Letter


                  Pursuant to Section 4(j) and Section 6(d), as the case may be,
of the Distribution Agreement, the Company's independent certified public
accountants shall furnish letters to the effect that:

                  (i) They are independent certified public accountants with
         respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the
         Act and the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Securities
         and Exchange Commission thereunder;

                  (ii) In their opinion, the consolidated financial statements
         and any supplementary financial information and schedules audited
         (and, if applicable, financial forecasts and/or pro forma financial
         information) audited by them and included or incorporated by reference
         in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply as to form in
         all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of
         the Act or the Exchange Act and the related rules and regulations
         adopted thereunder, as applicable, they have made a review in
         accordance with standards established by the American Institute of
         Certified Public Accountants of the consolidated interim financial
         statements, selected financial data, pro forma financial information,
         financial forecasts and/or condensed financial statements derived from
         audited financial statements of the Company for the periods specified
         in such letter, as indicated in their reports thereon, copies of which
         have been furnished to the Agents;

                 (iii) They have performed the procedures specified by the
         American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review of any
         interim financial information included or incorporated by reference in
         the Prospectus as described in Statement on Auditing Standard No. 71,
         "Interim Financial Information," as indicated in their reports thereon;
         and on the basis of specified procedures including inquiries of
         officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and
         accounting matters regarding whether the unaudited condensed
         consolidated financial statements referred to in paragraph (vi)(A)(i)
         below comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
         accounting requirements of the Exchange Act as it applies to Form 10-Q
         and the related rules and regulations adopted thereunder,






<PAGE>   56



         nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that the
         unaudited condensed consolidated financial statement do not comply as
         to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
         requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the related rules and
         regulations adopted thereunder;

                  (iv) They have compared the information in the Prospectus
         under selected captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation
         S-K and on the basis of limited procedures specified in such letter
         nothing came to their attention as a result of the foregoing procedures
         that caused them to believe that this information does not conform in
         all material respects with the disclosure requirements of Items 301,
         302 and 503(d), respectively, of Regulation S-K;

                  (v) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an
         audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards,
         consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other
         information referred to below, a reading of the latest available
         interim financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries,
         inspection of the minute books of the Company and its subsidiaries
         since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or
         incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, inquiries of officials of
         the Company and its subsidiaries responsible for financial and
         accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be
         specified in such letter, nothing came to their attention that caused
         them to believe that:

                           (A) the latest available unaudited condensed
                  consolidated statements of operations, consolidated balance
                  sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included in
                  the Prospectus and/or included or incorporated by reference in
                  the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by
                  reference in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all
                  material respects with the applicable accounting requirements
                  of the Exchange Act and the related rules and regulations
                  adopted thereunder, or (ii) any material modifications should
                  be made to the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of
                  operations, consolidated balance sheets and


                                      III-2



<PAGE>   57



                  consolidated statements of cash flows included in the
                  Prospectus or included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on
                  Form 10-Q incorporated by reference in the Prospectus for them
                  to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting
                  principles;

                           (B) any other unaudited income statement data and
                  balance sheet items included in the Prospectus do not agree
                  with the corresponding items in the unaudited financial
                  statements from which such data and items were derived, and
                  any such unaudited data and items were not determined on a
                  basis substantially consistent with the basis for the
                  corresponding amounts in the audited consolidated financial
                  statements included or incorporated by reference in the
                  Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent
                  fiscal year;

                           (C) the unaudited financial statements which were not
                  included in the Prospectus but from which were derived the
                  unaudited condensed financial statements referred to in clause
                  (A) and any unaudited income statement data and balance sheet
                  items included in the Prospectus and referred to in clause (B)
                  were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with
                  the basis for the audited financial statements included or
                  incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on
                  Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year;

                           (D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed
                  financial statements included or incorporated by reference in
                  the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material
                  respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
                  Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder or the
                  pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the
                  historical amounts in the compilation of those statements;

                           (E) as of a specified date not more than five days
                  prior to the date of such letter, there have been any changes
                  in the consolidated capital stock (other than issuances of
                  capital stock upon


                                      III-3



<PAGE>   58



                  exercise of options and stock appreciation rights and upon
                  conversions of convertible securities, in each case which were
                  outstanding on the date of the latest balance sheet included
                  or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus) or any
                  increase in the consolidated long-term debt of the Company and
                  its subsidiaries, or any increases in consolidated net current
                  liabilities or decreases in shareowners' equity or other items
                  specified by the Agents, in each case as compared with amounts
                  shown in the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by
                  reference in the Prospectus except in each case for changes,
                  increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have
                  occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter;
                  and

                           (F) for the period from the date of the latest
                  financial statements included or incorporated by reference in
                  the Prospectus to the specified date referred to in clause (E)
                  there were any decreases in consolidated operating revenues or
                  operating income or the total or per share amounts of
                  consolidated net income available to common shareholders or
                  other items specified by the Agents, or any increases in any
                  items specified by the Agents, except in each case for
                  increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have
                  occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter;
                  and

            (vii) In addition to the audit referred to in their report(s)
         included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the limited
         procedures, inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures
         referred to in paragraphs (iii) and (vi) above, they have carried out
         certain specified procedures, not constituting an audit in accordance
         with generally accepted auditing standards, with respect to certain
         amounts, percentages and financial information specified by the Agents
         which are derived from the general accounting records of the Company
         and its subsidiaries, which appear in the Prospectus (excluding
         documents incorporated by reference), or in Part II of, or in exhibits
         and schedules to, the Registration Statement specified by the Agents,
         and have compared certain of such amounts, percentages and financial
         information with the accounting records of the Company


                                      III-4



<PAGE>   59


         and its subsidiaries and have found them to be in
         agreement.

                  All references in this Annex III to the Prospectus shall be
deemed to refer to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by
reference therein) as defined in the Distribution Agreement as of the
Commencement Date referred to in Section 6(d) thereof and to the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented (including the documents incorporated by reference
therein) as of the date of the amendment, supplement, incorporation or the Time
of Delivery relating to the Terms Agreement requiring the delivery of such
letter under Section 4(j) thereof.



                                      III-5




<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1



                                          REGISTERED

                                          Principal Amount $____________________
                                          CUSIP
                                          No.____________________              

                              DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
                           MEDIUM-TERM NOTE, SERIES C
                                  (Fixed Rate)

If the registered owner of this Note (as indicated below) is The Depository
Trust Company ("DTC") or a nominee of the Depositary, this Note is a Global Note
and the following legend is applicable: THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY
WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN
THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS NOT
EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE
DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE
INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE AS A
WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE
REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The
Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to the issuer or its
agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate
issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested
by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or
to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC),
ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY
PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an
interest herein.*

The following summary of terms is subject to the information set forth on the
reverse hereof:

         Principal Amount:                   Original Issue Date:

         Interest Rate:                      Interest Payment Dates:
                                                      March 15 and September 15

         Stated Maturity:

- ----------------------

*        Applies only if this Note is a Global Security.


                                       C-1

<PAGE>   2



         Redemption Price(s):               Regular Record Dates:
                                                     March 1 and September 1

         Redemption Period(s):              Authorized Denominations:

         Legal Defeasance:                  Covenant Defeasance:


         DELTA AIR LINES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under
the laws of Delaware (herein called the "Company," which term includes any
successor Person under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof) for
value received, hereby promises to pay to


         or registered assigns, the Principal Amount specified above on the
Stated Maturity specified above and to pay interest thereon from the Original
Issue Date specified above or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to
which interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be, on the
Interest Payment Dates specified above and at maturity and, if applicable, upon
redemption, commencing on the first such Interest Payment Date next succeeding
the Original Issue Date (provided that if the Original Issue Date is after a
Regular Record Date (as defined below) and before the Interest Payment Date
immediately following such Regular Record Date, interest payments will commence
on the second Interest Payment Date following the Original Issue Date), at the
Interest Rate per annum specified above, until the principal hereof is paid or
made available for payment and at the Interest Rate per annum specified above on
any overdue principal and premium, if any, and on any overdue instalment of
interest. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on
any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the
Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered
at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, whether
or not a Business Day (as defined on the reverse hereof, prior to such Interest
Payment Date; provided, however, that interest payable at maturity, will be
payable to the Person to whom principal shall be payable and provided further,
however, that if such Interest Payment Date would fall on a day that is not a
Business Day, such Interest Payment Date shall be the following day that is a
Business Day. Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, any such interest
not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable
to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person
in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the
close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted
Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of
Notes of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or
be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes of this series may be
listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more
fully provided in said Indenture.



                                       C-2

<PAGE>   3



The principal hereof (and premium, if any) and interest due at maturity or, if
applicable, upon redemption shall be paid in immediately available funds against
presentation of this Note at the office or agency of the Company maintained for
that purpose in the City of New York. Payment of interest on this Note due on
any Interest Payment Date will be paid by check to the Person entitled thereto
at his last address as it appears on the Security Register or in immediately
available funds by wire transfer to such account as may have been designated by
the Holder hereof (so long as such Holder owns at least one million dollars
aggregate principal amount of the Notes) to the Paying Agent at least fifteen
days prior to the Record Date immediately preceding the applicable Interest
Payment Date. Any such designation to the Paying Agent shall remain effective
until revoked in writing by the Holder of this Note.

REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS NOTE SET FORTH ON THE
REVERSE HEREOF, WHICH FURTHER PROVISIONS SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES HAVE THE SAME
EFFECT AS IF SET FORTH AT THIS PLACE.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereof has been executed by the Trustee
referred to on the reverse hereof, directly or through an Authenticating Agent,
by manual signature of an authorized signatory, this Note shall not be entitled
to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.




                                       C-3

<PAGE>   4



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated:




       TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF                   DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
            AUTHENTICATION

       This is one of the Securities of the
 series designated therein referred to in the
 within-mentioned Indenture.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE                  By____________________________
                                                    Vice President and Treasurer

By_______________________________
             Authorized Signatory                 Attest:_______________________
                                                          Corporate Secretary



                                       C-4

<PAGE>   5



                  [TO BE DELETED IF NOTE ISSUED AS GLOBAL NOTE]

                               __________________
                                  ABBREVIATIONS

         The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face
of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:


TENCOM  -  as tenants in common             UNIF GIFT MIN ACT-    Custodian
TEN ENT -  as tenants by the entireties      ____             ____
JT TEN  -  joint tenants with right of       (Cust.)          (Minor)
           survivorship and not as                 Under Uniform Gifts to Minor
           tenants in common                      Act___________________________
                                                                       (State)

     Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

              _____________________________________________________

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) 
unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
    IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

______________________________________

______________________________________



________________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS,INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and
appointing ____________, attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the
Corporation, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated________________________

                  ______________________________________________________________
                  NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with
                  the name as written upon the face of the written instrument in
                  every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any
                  change whatever.



                                       C-5

<PAGE>   6



                                                                  [REVERSE SIDE]

                              DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
                           MEDIUM-TERM NOTE, SERIES C
                                  (Fixed Rate)


         SECTION 1. General. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of
securities of the Company (herein called the "Notes") issued and to be issued in
one or more series under an Indenture dated as of May 1, 1991 (herein called the
"Indenture"), between the Company and The Bank of New York, as successor to The
Citizens and Southern National Bank of Florida, as Trustee (herein called the
"Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to
which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made
for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes
and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and
delivered. As provided in the Indenture, Securities may be issued in one or more
series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal
amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest, if any, at different
rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions, if any, may be subject
to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds, if any, may be subject to
different covenants and Events of Default and may otherwise vary as in the
Indenture provided or permitted. This Note is one of the series of securities
designated on the face hereof as Medium-Term Notes, Series C, limited in
aggregate principal amount to $300,000,000; provided, however, that the Company
may increase or decrease such principal amount from time to time. The Notes of
this series may be issued at various times with different maturity dates and
different principal repayment provisions, may bear interest at different rates
and may otherwise vary all as provided in the Indenture.

         SECTION 2. Redemption. If so provided on the face of this Note, this
Note may be redeemed by the Company on and after the first day of the Redemption
Period specified on the face hereof. If no such Redemption Period is specified
on the face hereof, this Note may not be redeemed prior to maturity. On and
after such date, if any, from which this Note may be redeemed, this Note may be
redeemed in whole or in part on any day in any Redemption Period in increments
of $1,000 at the option of the Company at the Redemption Price or Prices
indicated on the face hereof applicable to the relevant Redemption Period or
Periods, together with interest thereon payable to the date fixed for
redemption, on notice given not more than 60 nor less than 30 days prior to such
date. If less than all the Outstanding Notes having such terms are to be
redeemed, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee
not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, from the
Outstanding Notes having such terms not previously called for redemption, by
such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate. The notice of such
redemption shall specify which Notes are to be redeemed. In the event of
redemption of this Note, in part only, a new Note or Notes in authorized
denominations for the unredeemed portion hereof shall be issued in the name of
the Holder hereof upon the surrender hereof.


                                       C-6

<PAGE>   7



         SECTION 3. Payments. Interest on this Note will be payable semiannually
on the Interest Payment Dates specified on the face hereof and at maturity or,
if applicable, upon redemption.

         Interest payments on each Interest Payment Date for this Note will
include interest accrued from and including the Original Issue Date or from and
including the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been duly
paid or provided for, as the case may be, to but excluding such Interest Payment
Date. Interest payments for this Note shall be computed and paid on the basis of
a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

         "Business Day" means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York
are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

         SECTION 4. Events of Default. If an Event of Default with respect to
Notes of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes
of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect
provided in the Indenture.

         SECTION 5. Modifications and Waivers; Obligations of Company Absolute.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Notes at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also
contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal
amount of the Notes of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the
Holders of all Notes of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with
certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the
Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of
this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future
Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer
hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such
consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

         No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on this Note at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed.

         SECTION 6. Institution of Proceedings by Holders. As set forth in, and
subject to, the provisions of the Indenture, no Holder of any Note of this
series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the
Indenture or for any remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously
given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with
respect to this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of
the Outstanding Notes of this series shall have made written request, and
offered reasonable indemnity, to the


                                       C-7

<PAGE>   8



Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee, and the Trustee shall not have
received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
Notes of this series a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have
failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days; provided, however, that such
limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by the Holder hereof for the
enforcement or payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on
this Note.

         SECTION 7. Registration of Transfer. As provided in the Indenture and
subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is
registerable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Note for
registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in the City of
New York, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer
in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by
the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one
or more new Notes of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations
and for the same aggregate principal amount will be issued to the designated
transferee or transferees.

         No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer
or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

         SECTION 8. Authorized Denominations. The Notes of this series are
issuable only in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000
and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the
Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes of this
series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of this
series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by
the Holder surrendering the same.

         No service charge shall be made for any such exchange, but the Company
may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge payable in connection therewith.

         SECTION 9. Owners. Prior to due presentment of this Note for
registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company
or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the
owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note is overdue, and none of
the Company, the Trustee or any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.

         SECTION 10. Defeasance. If so specified on the face hereof, (1) the
entire indebtedness of this Note and (2) certain restrictive covenants and
Events of Default with respect to this Note are subject to defeasance, in each
case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

         SECTION 11. Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.


                                       C-8

<PAGE>   9



         SECTION 12. Defined Terms. All capitalized terms used in this Note
without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.


                                       C-9

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                                                                      REGISTERED

                                         Principal Amount $___________________
                                                           
                                         CUSIP
                                         No.______________
                                            
                              DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
                           MEDIUM-TERM NOTE, SERIES C
                                 (Floating Rate)

If the registered owner of this Note (as indicated below) is The Depository
Trust Company ("DTC") or a nominee of the Depositary, this Note is a Global Note
and the following legend is applicable: THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY
WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN
THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS NOT
EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE
DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE
INDENTURE AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE AS A
WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE
REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The
Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to the issuer or its
agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate
issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested
by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or
to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC),
ANY TRANSFER PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY
PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an
interest herein.*

The following summary of terms is subject to the information set forth on the
reverse hereof:

         Principal Amount:                  Interest Reset Date(s):
         Original Issue Date:               Interest Reset Period:
         Issue Price:                       Interest Payment Date(s):
         Stated Maturity:                   Interest Determination Date(s):
         Interest Rate Basis:               Regular Record Date(s):
         Initial Interest Rate:             Redemption Period(s):
         Index Maturity:                    Redemption Price(s):
         Index Currency:                    Spread (plus or minus):
         Spread Multiplier:                 Maximum Interest Rate:
         Minimum Interest Rate:             Calculation Date:

- -----------------

* Applies only if this Note is a Global Security.


                                       D-1

<PAGE>   2



         Calculation Agent: The Bank of New York

DELTA AIR LINES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws
of Delaware (herein called the "Company", which term includes any successor
Person under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to


or registered assigns, the Principal Amount specified above on the Stated
Maturity specified above and to pay interest thereon from the Original Issue
Date specified above or from the most recent Interest Payment Date specified
above to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be,
on the Interest Payment Dates specified above and at maturity and, if
applicable, upon redemption, commencing on the first such Interest Payment Date
next succeeding the Original Issue Date (provided that if the Original Issue
Date is after a Regular Record Date specified above and before the Interest
Payment Date immediately following such Regular Record Date, interest payments
will commence on the second Interest Payment Date following the Original Issue
Date), at the rate per annum determined in accordance with the provisions on the
reverse hereof, depending on the Interest Rate Basis (and the Spread or Spread
Multiplier, if any) specified above, until the principal hereof is paid or made
available for payment and at the rate per annum determined in accordance with
the provisions on the reverse hereof on any overdue principal and premium, if
any, and on any overdue instalment of interest. The interest so payable, and
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or
one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the
Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the fifteenth calendar
day, whether or not a Market Day (as defined on the reverse hereof), prior to
such Interest Payment Date; provided, however, that interest payable at maturity
will be payable to the Person to whom principal shall be payable. Except as
otherwise provided in the Indenture, any such interest not so punctually paid or
duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such
Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note
(or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a
Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by
the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes of this series
not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time
in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
securities exchange on which the Notes of this series may be listed, and upon
such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in
said Indenture.

         The principal hereof and interest due at maturity or, if applicable,
upon redemption shall be paid in immediately available funds against
presentation of this Note at the office or agency of the Company maintained for
that purpose in the City of New York. Payment of interest on this Note due on
any Interest Payment Date will be paid by check to the Person entitled thereto
at his last address as it appears on Security Register or in immediately
available funds by wire transfer to such account as may have been designated by
the Holder hereof (so long as such Holder owns


                                       D-2

<PAGE>   3



at least one million dollars aggregate principal amount of the Notes) to the
Paying Agent at least fifteen days prior to the Record Date immediately
preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date. Any such designation to the
Paying Agent shall remain effective until revoked in writing by the Holder of
this Note.

         REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS NOTE SET
FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, WHICH FURTHER PROVISIONS SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES
HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS SET FORTH AT THIS PLACE.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereof has been executed by the Trustee
referred to on the reverse hereof, directly or through an Authenticating Agent,
by manual signature of an authorized signatory, this Note shall not be entitled
to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.


Dated:



           TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF            DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
               AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the
series designated therein referred
to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE       By _____________________________________
                                          Vice President and Treasurer

By________________________________
              Authorized Signatory     Attest:_________________________________
                                              Corporate Secretary




                                       D-3

<PAGE>   4



                  [TO BE DELETED IF NOTE ISSUED AS GLOBAL NOTE]
                               __________________
                                  ABBREVIATIONS

         The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face
of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:


TENCOM  -  as tenants in common           UNIF GIFT MIN ACT-____ Custodian
TEN ENT -  as tenants by the entireties   ____
JT TEN  -  joint tenants with right of    (Cust.)            (Minor)
           survivorship and not as               Under Uniform Gifts to Minor
           tenants in common               Act_________________________________
                                                                        (State)
   
   Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
             
              _____________________________________________________

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s)
unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
   IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF
ASSIGNEE

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and
appointing ____________, attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the
Corporation, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated __________________________
     

       _____________________________________________________________


                                       D-4

<PAGE>   5



                  NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with
                  the name as written upon the face of the written instrument in
                  every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any
                  change whatever.

                                                                  [REVERSE SIDE]

                              DELTA AIR LINES, INC.
                           Medium-Term Note, Series C
                                 (Floating Rate)


         SECTION 1. General. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of
securities of the Company (herein called the "Notes") issued and to be issued in
one or more series under an Indenture dated as of May 1, 1991 (herein called the
"Indenture") between the Company and The Bank of New York, as successor to The
Citizens and Southern National Bank of Florida, as Trustee (herein called the
"Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture) to
which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made
for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes
and of the terms upon which the Notes are and are to be authenticated and
delivered. As provided in the Indenture, securities may be issued in one or more
series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal
amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest, if any, at different
rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions, if any, may be subject
to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds, if any, may be subject to
different covenants and Events of Default and may otherwise vary as in the
Indenture provided or permitted. This Note is one of the series of securities
designated on the face hereof as Medium-Term Notes, Series C, limited in
aggregate principal amount to $300,000,000; provided, however, that the Company
may increase or decrease such principal amount from time to time. The Notes of
this series may be issued at various times with different maturity dates
redemption dates and different principal repayment provisions may bear interest
at different rates and may otherwise vary all as provided in the Indenture.

         SECTION 2. Redemption. If specified on the face of this Note, this Note
may be redeemed by the Company on and after the first day of the Redemption
Period specified on the face hereof. If no such date is set forth on the face
hereof, this Note may not be redeemed prior to maturity. On and after such date,
if any, from which this Note may be redeemed, this Note may be redeemed in whole
or in part on any day within any Redemption Period in increments of $1,000 at
the option of the Company at the Redemption Price specified on the face hereof
applicable to such Redemption Period together with interest thereon payable to
the date fixed for redemption, on notice given not more than 60 nor less than 30
days prior to such Redemption Date. If less than all the Outstanding Notes
having such terms as specified by the Company are to be redeemed, the particular
Notes to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee not more than 60 days
prior to the date fixed for redemption, from the Outstanding Notes having such
terms as specified by the Company not previously called for redemption, by such
method as the Trustee


                                       D-5

<PAGE>   6



shall deem fair and appropriate. The notice of such redemption shall specify
which Notes are to be redeemed. In the event of redemption of this Note, in
part only, a new Note or Notes in authorized denominations for the unredeemed
portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the
surrender hereof.

         SECTION 3. Interest Rate Calculations.

         3.1 Interest Reset. Commencing with the first Interest Reset Date (as
defined below) following the Original Issue Date, and thereafter on each
succeeding Interest Reset Date, the rate of interest on this Note shall be reset
daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually as specified on the
face hereof under "Interest Reset Period"; each such reset rate shall be
applicable on and after the Interest Reset Date to which it relates to but not
including the next succeeding Interest Reset Date or until the Stated Maturity
or, if applicable, any redemption date; provided, however, that the interest
rate in effect from the Original Issue Date to the first Interest Reset Date
shall be the Initial Interest Rate as specified on the face hereof. Each such
reset rate (i) shall be further adjusted as of the Interest Reset Date to which
it relates by the addition or subtraction of the Spread, if any, specified on
the face hereof, or by the multiplication of the Spread Multiplier, if any,
specified on the face hereof and (ii) shall be applicable (as adjusted in
accordance with clause (i) of this sentence) on and after such Interest Reset
Date to which it relates to but not including the next succeeding Interest Reset
Date or Stated Maturity or, if applicable, redemption date, as the case may be.

         Unless otherwise specified on the face hereof, the Interest Reset Date
shall be, if this Note resets daily, each Market Day (as defined below); if this
Note resets weekly (unless the Interest Rate Basis on this Note is the Treasury
Rate), the Wednesday of each week; if this Note resets weekly and the Interest
Rate Basis on this Note is the Treasury Rate, the Tuesday of each week (except
as set forth in Section 3.8 below); if this Note resets monthly, the third
Wednesday of each month; if this Note resets quarterly, the third Wednesday of
March, June, September and December; if this Note resets semi-annually, the
third Wednesday of the two months of each year as specified on the face hereof;
and if this Note resets annually, the third Wednesday of the one month of each
year as specified on the face hereof. If any Interest Reset Date would otherwise
be a day that is not a Market Day, the Interest Reset Date shall be postponed to
the next day that is a Market Day except that if (a) the rate of interest on
this Note will be determined in accordance with the provisions of the heading
"Determination of LIBOR" below and (b) such Market Day is in the next succeeding
calendar month, such Interest Reset Date shall be the immediately preceding
Market Day. Subject to applicable provisions of law and except as specified
herein, on each Interest Reset Date the rate of interest on this Note shall be
the rate determined in accordance with the provisions of the applicable heading
below.

         The Calculation Agent's determination of the interest rate on this Note
will be final and binding in the absence of manifest error. In determining the
applicable interest rate, the Calculation Agent may obtain quotations from any
source that it deems reliable, including any agent, or any affiliate thereof,
that solicited the sale of this Note on behalf of the Company.


                                       D-6

<PAGE>   7



         3.2 Determination of Commercial Paper Rate. If the Interest Rate Basis
specified on the face hereof is the Commercial Paper Rate, the interest rate
with respect to this Note for any Interest Reset Date shall be the Commercial
Paper Rate plus or minus the Spread, if any, or multiplied by the Spread
Multiplier, if any, as specified on the face hereof, as determined on the
applicable Interest Determination Date.

         Unless otherwise specified on the face hereof, "Commercial Paper Rate"
means, with respect to any Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date, the
Money Market Yield (calculated as described below) of the rate quoted on a
discount basis on such date for commercial paper having the Index Maturity
specified on the face hereof as published in H.15 (519) under the heading
"Commercial Paper -- Nonfinancial." If such rate is not published prior to 3:00
P.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the Commercial
Paper Rate shall be the rate set forth in the H.15 Daily Update for that day
under the heading "Commercial Paper-Nonfinancial" in respect of commercial
paper having the Index Maturity specified on the face hereof. If such rate is
neither published in H.15 (519) or in the H.15 Daily Update by 3:00 P.M., New
York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the Commercial Paper Rate
on such Commercial Paper Interest Determination Date will be calculated by the
Calculation Agent and shall be the Money Market Yield of the arithmetic mean of
the offered rates, as of 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on that Commercial
Paper Interest Determination Date, of three leading dealers of commercial paper
in the City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent for commercial paper
having the Index Maturity specified on the face hereof placed for a
non-financial entity whose senior unsecured bond rating is "AA", or the
equivalent, from a nationally recognized statistical rating organization;
provided, however, that if the dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are
not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Commercial Paper Rate will be the
Commercial Paper Rate in effect on such Commercial Paper Interest Determination
Date or, if such Interest Determination Date is the first Interest Determination
Date, the Initial Interest Rate.

         "Money Market Yield" shall be a yield (expressed as a percentage)
calculated in accordance with the following formula:

              Money Market Yield =                        D X 360     x 100
                                                          -------
                                                            360 - (D X M)

where "D" refers to the per annum rate for commercial paper quoted on a bank
discount basis and expressed as a decimal; and "M" refers to the actual number
of days in the interest period for which interest is being calculated.

         "H.15 Daily Update" means the daily update of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System at http://www.bog.frb.fed.us/release/H15/update or
any successor site or publication. "H.15 (519)" means the weekly statistical
release entitled "Statistical Release H.15 (519), Selected Interest Rates", or
any successor publication, published by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System.


                                       D-7

<PAGE>   8



         3.3 Determination of Prime Rate. If the Interest Rate Basis specified
on the face hereof is the Prime Rate, the interest rate with respect to this
Note for any Interest Reset Date shall be the Prime Rate plus or minus the
Spread, if any, or multiplied by the Spread Multiplier, if any, as specified on
the face hereof, as determined on the applicable Interest Determination Date.

         Unless otherwise specified on the face hereof, "Prime Rate" means, with
respect to any Prime Rate Interest Determination Date, the rate on such date as
is published in H.15 (519) under the heading "Bank Prime Loan." If the rate is
not published prior to 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the related Calculation
Date, then the Prime Rate will be the rate on such Prime Rate Interest
Determination Date as published in the H.15 Daily Update opposite the caption
"Bank Prime Loan." If such rate is not published prior to 3:00 P.M., New York
City time, on the related Calculation Date, in either H.15 (519) or the H.15
Daily Update, then the Prime Rate shall be the arithmetic mean of the rates of
interest publicly announced by each bank that appears on the Reuters Screen
USPRIME1 Page (as defined below) as such bank's prime rate or base lending rate
as in effect for such Prime Rate Interest Determination Date. If fewer than four
such rates appear on the Reuters Screen USPRIME1 Page for such Prime Rate
Interest Determination Date, then the Prime Rate shall be the arithmetic mean of
the prime rates quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in the year
divided by a 360-day year as of the close of business on such Prime Rate
Interest Determination Date by four major money center banks in the City of New
York selected by the Calculation Agent. If fewer than four such quotations are
so provided, then the Prime Rate shall be the arithmetic mean of four prime
rates quoted on the basis of the actual number of days in the year divided by a
360-day year as of the close of business on such Prime Rate Interest
Determination Date as furnished in the City of New York by the major money
center banks, if any, that have provided such quotations and by a reasonable
number of substitute banks or trust companies to obtain four such prime rate
quotations, provided such substitute banks or trust companies are organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof, each
having total equity capital of at least $500,000,000 and being subject to
supervision or examination by Federal or State authority, selected by the
Calculation Agent to provide such rate or rates; provided, however, that if the
banks or trust companies so selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as
mentioned in this sentence, the Prime Rate determined as of such Prime Rate
Interest Determination Date will be the Prime Rate in effect on such Prime Rate
Interest Determination Date or, if such Interest Determination Date is the first
Interest Determination Date, the Initial Interest Rate.

         "Reuters Screen USPRIME1 Page" means the display designated as page
"USPRIME1" on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service (or any successor service)
or such other page as may replace the USPRIME1 Page on the Reuters Monitor Money
Rates Service (or any successor service) for the purpose of displaying prime
rates or base lending rates of major United States banks.

         3.4 Determination of LIBOR. If the Interest Rate Basis specified on the
face hereof is LIBOR, the interest rate with respect to this Note for any
Interest Reset Date shall be LIBOR


                                       D-8

<PAGE>   9



plus or minus the Spread, if any, or multiplied by the Spread Multiplier, if
any, as specified on the face hereof, as determined on the applicable Interest
Determination Date.

         Unless otherwise specified on the face hereof, "LIBOR" means the rate
determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following provisions:

                  (i) With respect to any LIBOR Interest Determination Date,
         LIBOR will be either: (a) if "LIBOR Reuters" is specified on the face
         hereof, the arithmetic mean of the offered rates (unless the Designated
         LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, in which case
         such single rate shall be used) for deposits in the Index Currency
         having the Index Maturity specified on the face hereof, commencing on
         the applicable Interest Reset Date, that appear (or, if only a single
         rate is provided as aforesaid, appears) on the Designated LIBOR Page as
         of 11:00 A.M., London time, on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date,
         or (b) if "LIBOR Telerate" is specified on the face hereof or if
         neither "LIBOR Reuters" nor "LIBOR Telerate" is specified on the face
         hereof as the method for calculating LIBOR, the rate for deposits in
         the Index Currency having the Index Maturity specified on the face
         hereof, commencing on such Interest Reset Date, that appears on the
         Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 A.M., London time, on such LIBOR
         Interest Determination Date. If fewer than two such offered rates
         appear, or if no such rate appears, as applicable, LIBOR on such LIBOR
         Interest Determination Date will be determined in accordance with the
         provisions described in clause (ii) below.

                  (ii) With respect to a LIBOR Interest Determination Date on
         which fewer than two offered rates appear, or no rate appears, as the
         case may be, on the Designated LIBOR Page as specified in clause (i)
         above, the Calculation Agent will request the principal London offices
         of each of four major reference banks in the London interbank market,
         as selected by the Calculation Agent, to provide the Calculation Agent
         with its offered quotation for deposits in the Index Currency for the
         period of the Index Maturity specified on the face hereof, commencing
         on the applicable Interest Reset Date, to prime banks in the London
         interbank market at approximately 11:00 A.M., London time, on such
         LIBOR Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount that is
         representative for a single transaction in such Index Currency in such
         market at such time. If at least two quotations are so provided, then
         LIBOR on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the arithmetic
         mean of such quotations. If fewer than two such quotations are so
         provided, then LIBOR on such LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be
         the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 A.M., in
         the applicable Principal Financial Center (as defined below), on such
         LIBOR Interest Determination Date by three major banks in such
         Principal Financial Center selected by the Calculation Agent for loans
         in the Index Currency to leading European banks, having the Index
         Maturity specified on the face hereof and commencing on the applicable
         Interest Reset Date and in a principal amount that is representative
         for a single transaction in such Index Currency in such market at such
         time; provided, however, that if the banks so selected by the
         Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence, LIBOR
         determined as of such LIBOR Interest


                                       D-9

<PAGE>   10



         Determination Date will be LIBOR in effect on such LIBOR Interest
         Determination Date or, if such Interest Determination Date is the first
         Interest Determination Date, the Initial Interest Rate.

         "Index Currency" means the currency or composite currency specified on
the face hereof as to which LIBOR shall be calculated. If no such currency or
composite currency is specified on the face hereof, the Index Currency shall be
United States dollars.

         "Designated LIBOR Page" means (a) if "LIBOR Reuters" is specified on
the face hereof, the display on the Reuters Monitor Money Rates Service (or any
successor service) on the page specified on the face hereof (or any other page
as may replace such page or such service (or any successor service)) for the
purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of major banks for the
applicable Index Currency, or (b) if "LIBOR Telerate" is specified on the face
hereof or neither "LIBOR Reuters" nor "LIBOR Telerate" is specified on the face
hereof as the method for calculating LIBOR, the display on the Bridge Telerate,
Inc. (or any successor service) on page 3750 if the U.S. dollar is the Index
Currency or with respect to any other Index Currency, on the page specified on
the face hereof (or any other page as may replace such page or such service (or
any successor service)) for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates
of major banks for the applicable Index Currency.

         "Principal Financial Center" means the capital city of the country to
which the Index Currency relates except that with respect to U.S. dollars,
Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, Deutsche marks, Dutch guilders, Portuguese
escudos, South African rand and Swiss francs, the "Principal Financial Center"
shall be the City of New York, Sydney, Toronto, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London,
Johannesburg, and Zurich, respectively.

         3.5 Determination of Treasury Rate. If the Interest Rate Basis
specified on the face hereof is the Treasury Rate, the interest rate with
respect to this Note for any Interest Reset Date shall be the Treasury Rate plus
or minus the Spread, if any, or multiplied by the Spread Multiplier, if any, as
specified on the face hereof, as determined on the applicable Interest
Determination Date.

         Unless otherwise specified on the face hereof, "Treasury Rate" means,
with respect to any Treasury Interest Determination Date, the rate from the most
recent auction of direct obligations of the United States ("Treasury Bills")
having the Index Maturity specified on the face hereof as such rate appears on
either the Telerate Page 56 or the Telerate Page 57 under the heading "AVGE
INVEST YIELD" or, if not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the
related Calculation Date, the auction average rate of such Treasury Bills
(expressed as a bond equivalent, on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as
applicable, and applied on a daily basis) as otherwise announced by the United
States Department of the Treasury. If the results of the auction of Treasury
Bills having the Index Maturity specified on the face hereof are not reported as
provided above by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Calculation Date, or if
no such auction is held, then the Treasury Rate will be calculated by the
Calculation Agent and will be a


                                      D-10

<PAGE>   11



yield to maturity (expressed as a bond equivalent, on the basis of a year of 365
or 366 days, as applicable, and applied on a daily basis) of the arithmetic mean
of the secondary market bid rates as of approximately 3:30 P.M., New York City
time, on such Treasury Interest Determination Date, of three leading primary
United States government securities dealers (each, a "Reference Dealer")
selected by the Calculation Agent, for the issue of Treasury Bills with a
remaining maturity closest to the specified Index Maturity; provided, however,
that if the Reference Dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not
quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the Treasury Rate will be the Treasury
Rate in effect on such Treasury Interest Determination Date or, if such Interest
Determination Date is the first Interest Determination Date, the Initial
Interest Rate.

         3.6 Determination of CD Rate. If the Interest Rate Basis specified on
the face hereof is the CD Rate, the interest rate with respect to this Note for
any Interest Reset Date shall be the CD Rate plus or minus the Spread, if any,
or multiplied by the Spread Multiplier, if any, as specified on the face hereof,
as determined on the applicable Interest Determination Date.

         Unless otherwise specified on the face hereof, "CD Rate" means, with
respect to any CD Interest Determination Date, the rate on such date for
negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit having the Index Maturity
specified on the face hereof as published in H.15 (519) under the heading "CDs
(Secondary market)." If such rate is not so published by 3:00 P.M., New York
City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the CD Rate will be the rate on
such CD Interest Determination Date for negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of
deposit having the Index Maturity specified on the face hereof as published in
the H.15 Daily Update. If such rate is neither published in H.15 (519) nor in
the H.15 Daily Update by 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the related
Calculation Date, the CD Rate on such CD Interest Determination Date will be
calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be the arithmetic mean of the
secondary market offered rates as of 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on such CD
Interest Determination Date, of three leading nonbank dealers in negotiable U.S.
dollar certificates of deposit in the City of New York selected by the
Calculation Agent for negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit of major
United States money center banks of the highest credit standing (in the market
for negotiable U.S. dollar certificates of deposit) with a remaining maturity
closest to the Index Maturity specified on the face hereof in an amount that is
representative for a single transaction in that market at that time; provided,
however, that if the dealers so selected by the Calculation Agent are not
quoting as mentioned in this sentence, the CD Rate will be the CD Rate in effect
on such CD Interest Determination Date or, if such Interest Determination Date
is the first Interest Determination Date, the Initial Interest Rate.

         3.7 Determination of Federal Funds Effective Rate. If the Interest Rate
Basis specified on the face hereof is the Federal Funds Effective Rate, the
interest rate with respect to this Note for any Interest Reset Date shall be the
Federal Funds Effective Rate plus or minus the Spread, if any, or multiplied by
the Spread Multiplier, if any, as specified on the face hereof, as determined on
the applicable Interest Determination Date.



                                      D-11

<PAGE>   12



         Unless otherwise specified on the face hereof, "Federal Funds Effective
Rate" means, with respect to any Federal Funds Interest Determination Date, the
rate on that date for Federal Funds having the Index Maturity specified on the
face hereof as published in H.15(519) under the heading "Federal Funds
(Effective)." If such rate is not so published by 9:00 A.M., New York City time,
on the related Calculation Date, then the Federal Funds Effective Rate will be
the rate on such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date as published in the
H.15 Daily Update under the heading "Federal Funds (Effective)." If such rate is
neither published in H.15 (519) or in the H.15 Daily Update by 3:00 P.M. New
York City time, on the related Calculation Date, then the Federal Funds
Effective Rate on such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date will be
calculated by the Calculation Agent and will be the arithmetic mean of the rates
as of 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on such Federal Funds Interest
Determination Date for the last transaction in overnight Federal Funds arranged
by three leading brokers of Federal Funds transactions in the City of New York
selected by the Calculation Agent; provided, however, that if the brokers so
selected by the Calculation Agent are not quoting as mentioned in this sentence,
the Federal Funds Effective Rate will be the Federal Funds Effective Rate in
effect on such Federal Funds Interest Determination Date or, if such Interest
Determination Date is the first Interest Determination Date, the Initial
Interest Rate.

         3.8 Interest Determination Date; Calculation Date; Market Day; Business
Day. The Interest Determination Date pertaining to an Interest Reset Date, if
the rate of interest on this Note is determined in accordance with the
provisions of the headings "Determination of Commercial Paper Rate,"
"Determination of Prime Rate," "Determination of LIBOR," "Determination of CD
Rate," or "Determination of Federal Funds Effective Rate, shall be the second
Market Day preceding such Interest Reset Date. The Interest Determination Date
pertaining to an Interest Reset Date, if the rate of interest on this Note is
determined in accordance with the provisions of the heading "Determination of
Treasury Rate," shall be the day of the week in which such Interest Reset Date
falls on which Treasury bills would normally be auctioned. If as the result of a
legal holiday an auction is held on a Friday, such Friday shall be the Interest
Determination Date pertaining to the Interest Reset Date occurring in the next
succeeding week. If an auction date falls on any Interest Reset Date, then such
Interest Reset Date shall instead be the first Market Day immediately following
such auction date.

         All percentages resulting from any calculations referred to in this
Note will be rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher one
hundred-thousandth of a percentage point (e.g., 9.876541% (or .09876541) being
rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting
from such calculations will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one half cent
being rounded upwards).

         Unless otherwise indicated on the face hereof, the "Calculation Date"
means the date by which the Calculation Agent is to calculate the interest rate
for this Note which shall be the earlier of (i) the tenth calendar day after the
related Interest Determination Date, or if any such day is not a Market Day, the
next succeeding Market Day and (ii) the Market Day preceding the applicable
Interest Payment Date or maturity, as the case may be.


                                      D-12

<PAGE>   13



         The term "Market Day" means any Business Day in the City of New York,
except that if the rate of interest on this Note is determined in accordance
with the provisions under the heading "Determination of LIBOR," "Market Day"
means any such Business Day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are
transacted in the London interbank market.

         The term "Business Day" means, with respect to any particular location,
each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which
banking institutions in such location are authorized or obligated by law or
executive order to close.

         3.9 Limitations on Interest Rates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
interest rate hereon shall not be greater than the Maximum Interest Rate, if
any, or less than the Minimum Interest Rate, if any, specified on the face
hereof. The Calculation Agent shall calculate the interest rate hereon in
accordance with the foregoing on or before such Calculation Date. The interest
rate on this Note shall in no event be higher than the maximum rate permitted by
New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general
application.

         SECTION 4. Payments. Unless otherwise specified on the face hereof,
interest on this Note will be payable (each an "Interest Payment Date"), in the
case of a daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly Interest Reset Period, the third
Wednesday of March, June, September and December; in the case of a semi-annual
Interest Reset Period, the third Wednesday of each of the two months specified
on the face hereof; and in the case of an annual Interest Payment Period, the
third Wednesday of the month specified on the face hereof. Any payment on this
Note due on any day which is not a Market Day need not be made on such day but
may be made on the next succeeding Market Day with the same force and effect as
it made on the due date, and no interest shall accrue for the period from and
after such date.

         Payments of interest on this Note with respect to any Interest Payment
Date shall include interest accrued to but excluding such Interest Payment Date.

         Accrued interest hereon from the Original Issue Date or from the last
date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for shall be calculated by
multiplying the principal amount hereof by an accrued interest factor. Such
accrued interest factor is computed by adding the interest factors calculated
for each day from the Original Issue Date or from the last date to which
interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be, to but
excluding the date for which accrued interest is being calculated. The interest
factor (expressed as a decimal) for each such day is computed by dividing the
interest rate (expressed as a decimal) applicable to such date by 360 if the
Interest Rate Basis is the Commercial Paper Rate, Prime Rate, LIBOR, CD Rate or
Federal Funds Effective Rate, or by the actual number of days in the year if the
Interest Rate Basis is the Treasury Rate.

         SECTION 5. Events of Default. If an Event of Default with respect to
Notes of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes
of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect
provided in the Indenture.


                                      D-13

<PAGE>   14



         SECTION 6. Modifications and Waivers; Obligations of Company Absolute.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Notes at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also
contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal
amount of the Notes of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the
Holders of all Notes of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with
certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the
Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of
this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future
Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer
hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such
consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

         No reference herein to the Indenture, and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture, shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on this Note at the times, places and rate and in the coin or currency
herein prescribed.

         SECTION 7. Institution of Proceedings by Holders. As set forth in and
subject to the provisions of the Indenture, no Holder of any Note of this series
will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or
for any remedy thereunder unless such Holder shall have previously given to the
Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to this
series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding
Notes of this series shall have made written request, and offered reasonable
indemnity to, the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee, and the
Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Outstanding Notes of this series a direction inconsistent with
such request and shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days;
provided, however, that such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by
the Holder hereof for the enforcement of payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on this Note.

         SECTION 8. Registration of Transfer. As provided in the Indenture, and
subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is
registerable in the Security Register upon surrender of this Note for
registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in the City of
New York, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer
in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by,
the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one
or more new Notes of this series and of the tenor, of authorized denominations
and for the same aggregate principal amount will be issued to the designated
transferee or transferees.

         No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer
or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.


                                      D-14

<PAGE>   15


         SECTION 9. Authorized Denominations. The Notes of this series are
issuable only in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000
and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the
Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes of this
series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of this
series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination as requested by
the Holder surrendering the same.

         No service charge shall be made for any such exchange, but the Company
may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge payable in connection therewith.

         SECTION 10. Owners. Prior to due presentment of this Note for
registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company
or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the
owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note is overdue, and none of
the Company, the Trustee or any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.

         SECTION 11. Defeasance. Unless otherwise specified on the face hereof,
legal defeasance and covenant defeasance do not apply to this Note.

         SECTION 12. Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

         SECTION 13. Defined Terms. All capitalized terms used in this Note
without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.



                                      D-15

<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 8

                                                                 January 8, 1999



Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport
Atlanta, GA  30320

Dear Sirs:

         As special United States tax counsel to Delta Air Lines, Inc. (the
"Company") in connection with the registration by the Company of up to
$300,000,000 principal amount of Medium-Term Notes, Series C, we hereby confirm
to you our advice as set forth under the heading "United States Taxation" in the
Prospectus Supplement dated January 8, 1999




<PAGE>   2


                                                                             -2-

(the "Prospectus Supplement"), to the Prospectus, dated July 20, 1998, included
in the related Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Registration Statement").

         We hereby consent to the filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the
reference to us in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption "United States
Taxation." In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities
Act of 1933.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           /s/ Sullivan & Cromwell



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