Delta profit drops 20.8%

[BENGALURU] Delta Air Lines Inc reported a 20.8 per cent fall in quarterly profit as operating expenses swelled, and the airline said it expected passenger unit revenue to rise between 2.5 per cent and 4.5 per cent in the current quarter.

The company's net income fell to US$1.22 billion, or US$1.68 per share, in the second quarter ended June 30, from US$1.55 billion, or US$2.03 per share, a year earlier.

On an adjusted basis, the No 2 US airline by passenger traffic earned US$1.64 per share.

Total operating revenue rose 3.3 per cent to US$10.79 billion.

The carrier said passenger unit revenue - which compares sales with flight capacity - increased 2.5 per cent in the quarter.

REUTERS