Atlanta-based carrier Delta Airlines recorded a $549 million second-quarter profit (excluding special items) due to higher fares, fuller planes, and more travel demand from consumers and businesses, the world’s largest airline said on Monday. The 65 cents in earnings per share was just off the 66 cents expected by analysts polled by Bloomberg.
“We are seeing strong improvements in these early stages of the economic recovery and believe there is room for more revenue growth as the economy continues to stabilize,” Delta President Ed Bastian said in a company statement. Delta, which bought Northwest Airlines in 2008, will slide to world’s No. 2 once United Airlines and Continental Airlines complete their merger.
