Delta Air Lines (DAL) has reported strong financial results for this year’s second quarter as travel demand in the U.S. remains strong.
The Atlanta-based company announced earnings per share (EPS) of $1.56 U.S., which topped the $1.48 U.S. expected among analysts.
Revenue in the April through June period totaled $17.67 billion U.S., which was ahead of the $17.53 billion U.S. forecast on Wall Street.
Management at Delta said travel demand remains strong across the board, helping to lift the company’s financial results.
Delta, the most profitable airline in the U.S., caters to higher-income travelers with premium seat options. The airline also owns its own oil refinery, which helped it this year as crude prices rose.
The airline noted that its premium seat sales outpaced coach tickets. Premium seats in first class brought in $6.92 billion U.S. of revenue during the quarter.
That surpassed the $6.85 billion U.S. in revenue generated from sales of coach seats. Executives added that Delta got a boost from World Cup travel to the U.S. in June.
Looking ahead, Delta forecast earnings in the current third quarter of $2 U.S. to $2.50 U.S. per share. That compares with Wall Street estimates of $2.02 U.S. a share.
The company also projected that its third-quarter revenue would rise in the mid-teens year-over-year.
Delta reaffirmed its previous full-year earnings forecast of $6.50 U.S. to $7.50 U.S. per share in profits.
Prior to today (July 10), DAL stock had risen 57% over the last 12 months to trade at $89 U.S. per share.
