What Delta Had to Say About the State of the Airline Business in Its Q3 Results

Core Insights - Delta Air Lines raised its full-year outlook following record third-quarter revenue, driven by strong demand for premium and corporate travel [2][4][7] Financial Performance - Delta reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.71, with revenue increasing 6% year-over-year to $16.67 billion, surpassing analysts' estimates [3][7] - Corporate sales rose 8% year-over-year, while premium revenue increased by 9% [3] Future Outlook - For the fourth quarter, Delta anticipates adjusted EPS between $1.60 and $1.90, with the midpoint exceeding analysts' consensus of $1.65 [4] - The full-year EPS projection improved to approximately $6, up from a previous range of $5.25 to $6.25 [4] Industry Implications - Delta's strong results and outlook are positive indicators for the airline sector, particularly for United Airlines, which also has a robust premium offering [5] - The results highlight the success of premium carriers that focus on international and first-class tickets [5]