Delta flies free from bankruptcy

Josh Roberts believes the best trips involve long hikes and muddy boots. His life goals haven't changed much since he was a kid: He still wants to be Indiana Jones when he grows up.

Follow him on Twitter (@joshwhowrites) and Instagram (@joshwhowrites), and visit his website (joshrobertsbooks.com) or Goodreads page to learn more about his forthcoming novel.

Josh joined SmarterTravel in 2001, and is an active member in both the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

In addition to SmarterTravel, he has written for USA Today, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Travel, The Huffington Post, Airfarewatchdog, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, ABC News, Oyster, and Business Insider. His travel photography can be seen in Britain and Ireland's Best Wild Places, published by Penguin UK.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A lacrosse ball. It's small, lightweight, and works wonders on loosening up tight muscles."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Being the first to discover an ancient lost city. Failing that, visiting as many of the already-discovered ancient ruins as possible."

Travel Motto: "Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle."

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Say what you will about Delta’s bumpy road to financial recovery, there’s at least one thing you can’t say about the nation’s third-largest airline anymore: It’s bankrupt. That’s because as of this morning, Delta is officially standing on its own two feet again.

“Through our restructuring we have successfully repaired our balance sheet, improved the customer experience, expanded our international route system and built a platform for future success,” says Chief Executive Gerald Grinstein in a statement announcing Delta’s exit from bankruptcy protection.

All things considered, Delta is looking pretty good this morning, particularly when compared to its thwarted suitor, US Airways. As Delta basks in the glow of its newfound financial independence, US Airways is once again scrambling to iron out the kinks in its two-year-old merger with America West.

While it’s too early to say what the years ahead hold for Delta, one thing’s certain: The future looks a lot brighter for travelers today than it would have had US Airways actually won its hostile takeover bid.

Then again, some of us were saying that all along.

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