Delta Air Lines posted a fourth-quarter net loss of $1.4 billion

, including about $1 billion in one-time items, notably those related to the closing of its merger with Northwest Airlines. The full-year loss of $8.9 billion similarly was affected by billions in special items. Citing lower fuel costs, capacity cuts and "merger synergies," the company expects to be "solidly profitable in 2009," according to Delta CEO Richard Anderson.