Delta Air Lines has posted record revenues for the second quarter of the year, on the back of strong passenger demand.
| Total revenue for the three months to the end of June was 1% up, year-on-year, at $15.5bn, while operating profit hit $2bn. |
“In the June quarter, Delta delivered record revenue on a 13 percent operating margin, generating $1.8 billion in pre-tax profit and leading network peers across key operational metrics. This strong performance is a direct reflection of the outstanding contributions of our people, who continue to set the bar for industry performance,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive officer.
“As we look to the second half of our centennial year, we remain focused on executing our strategic priorities and managing the levers within our control to deliver strong earnings and cash flow. Reflecting our confidence in the business, we are restoring financial guidance with an expectation for earnings per share of $5.25 to $6.25 and free cash flow of $3 to $4 billion, consistent with our long-term free cash flow targets.”
“Delta generated record June quarter revenue of $15.5 billion, approximately 1 percent higher than prior year. Through the quarter, demand trends stabilized at levels that are flat to last year and we continued to see resilience in our diverse, high-margin revenue streams. The team did a great job leveraging Delta’s structural advantages to optimise performance in this environment,” said Glen Hauenstein, Delta’s president.
“For the September quarter, we expect total revenue to be flat to up 4 percent compared to the prior year, with unit revenue trends expected to improve through the second half of the year as we continue to adjust capacity and the industry further rationalises supply.”
