Congratulations!

I can hear those Delta employees now: "We're #1! We're #1!"

ATLANTA (AP) - Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL), which is transforming its business to reduce costs and attract more fliers, blamed high fuel prices, low fares and hefty charges as it reported a $2.2 billion fourth quarter loss, capping the worst annual financial performance in the industry's history.

The results, announced before the market opened Thursday, missed Wall Street's reduced expectations and pushed the total losses at the Atlanta-based carrier in 2004 to $5.2 billion. That dwarfs the $3.5 billion loss American Airlines' parent reported for 2002.

Shares of Delta fell 26 cents, or 4.4 percent, to $5.69 in early trade on the New York Stock Exchange.