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.