Delta reports profit jump but lowers earnings forecast

Delta reports profit jump but lowers earnings forecast

Delta Air Lines reported higher profits in the final quarter last year, but trimmed earnings expectations going forward
Delta Air Lines reported higher profits in the final quarter last year, but trimmed earnings expectations going forward. Photo: Brandon Bell / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP/File
Source: AFP

Delta Air Lines saw its profits more than double in the fourth quarter last year, helped by strong travel demand, even as it trimmed its earnings expectations for 2024, the US carrier said Friday.

The company reported net income of over $2 billion for the October to December period, up from $828 million for the same period in 2022.

Its revenue jumped to $14.2 billion for the quarter, helped by "the highest holiday travel volumes in its history."

"In 2024, demand for air travel remains strong and our customer base is in a healthy financial position with travel a top priority," said Delta chief executive Ed Bastian in a statement.

But in its earnings report, Delta lowered its full-year earnings forecast for 2024 slightly -- from over $7 per share projected in 2022, to $6 to $7 per share now.

Read also

Airbus says record 2,094 planes ordered in 2023, 735 delivered

Delta shares slumped 5.2 percent in premarket trading on Friday.

PAY ATTENTION: Share your outstanding story with our editors! Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng!

For the first quarter this year, Delta expects its revenue to rise by three percent to six percent, and anticipates earnings per share of between 25 cents and 50 cents.

This should come on the back of strong international travel demand and "a positive inflection in the domestic environment," said Delta president Glen Hauenstein.

For all of 2023, Hauenstein added that the company delivered a record $54.7 billion in revenue, 20 percent above 2022.

On Friday, the company also announced a deal with Airbus to buy 20 A350-1000 widebody aircraft, with deliveries set to begin in 2026.

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.