Delta CEO calls government shutdown 'inexcusable', assures flights will resume 'very, very soon'

Core Insights - The recent government shutdown has significantly disrupted US airports just before the holiday travel season, but it has officially ended [1] - Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed that the airline industry has a role in urging the government to resolve issues and anticipates a return to normal operations soon [2][3] Company Performance - Delta's third quarter operating profits increased by 23%, leading to a 14% rise in earnings per share, with revenue reaching a record $15.2 billion, up 4.1% year-over-year [5] - The company expects sales of premium seats to surpass traditional main cabin offerings by 2026, a year earlier than previously anticipated [5] Analyst Ratings - JPMorgan analyst Jamie Baker views Delta as the industry leader among full-service airlines and rates the stock as Overweight or Buy equivalent [6][7] - A significant majority, 95%, of the 22 sell-side analysts covering Delta rate the stock a Buy [8]