Delta profits leap due to rising traffic and fares
Virgin Atlantic partner Delta Air Lines saw its quarterly income leap by 31% to $1.37 billion due to a rise in both passenger numbers and air fares and a fall in fuel costs.
Earnings for the three months to September topped Wall Street expectations, said USA Today.
Traffic during the quarter was up 2% and the average fare paid rose by 5%.
Delta said it "significantly" improved its operational performance during the last quarter, resulting in an on-time arrival rate of 83%.
The airline also claimed to have flown 99.8% of its flights this year without cancellation.
During the last quarter Delta received anti-trust immunity from regulators for its joint venture with Virgin, which has increased its presence on transatlantic routes.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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