Delta offers rosy outlook as flyers keep on splurging

Delta Air Lines said Tuesday that demand for flights remains strong, particularly for expensive seats.

- NIRAJ CHOKSHI

Partly as a result, the airline is expecting its profit to increase by about 20% this year.The airline issued that forecast with its financial results for the final three months of 2025. All told, Delta reported a $5 billion profit last year on more than $63 billion in revenue. The company said it expected revenue would rise at least 5% in the first three months of 2026 from the same period last year.

“Our consumer is healthy and investing in travel,’ Ed Bastian, Delta's CEO, said ina call with reporters. “Last week, in fact, we seta newrecord for bookings with sales up double digits on a year-over-year basis”

The airline posted strong financial results despite some setbacks, including US President Donald Trump's tariffs. The federal government shutdown last year cost Delta about $200 million.