Delta Air Lines posts record quarterly profits, shares at 52-week high
Delta Airlines Inc.
$62.56
11:04 24/12/24
Delta Airlines reported record quarterly sales and profits on the back of booming travel demand following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The carrier's bottom line was further boosted by a nearly one quarter drop in its fuel costs.
For the three months ending on 30 June, operating revenues were ahead by 19% to reach $14.6bn and pre-tax income came in at $2.2bn for earnings per share of $2.68.
And according to the company's President, Glen Hauenstein, "robust" demand had continued into the September quarter.
Delta chief executive officer, Ed Bastian, was even more upbeat, telling broadcaster CNBC that desire for travel would fuel reservations for years.
Demand growth was in the "mid-innings", he reportedly added.
Indeed, the company hiked its full-year guidance for earnings per share to between $6-7.0 with sales seen rising by 17-20%.
That compared to the $5-6.0 that it had anticipated just a month before.
Guidance for full-year free cash flow of $3bn meanwhile was reiterated.
As of 1551 BST, shares in the company were dipping 0.33% to $47.79, having hit a fresh 52-week high of $49.81 at the very start of Thursday's session.