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Delta Air Lines, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record revenue, up 14 percent: Adjusted total revenue rose 14 percent to $17.7 billion on about 1 percent capacity growth. Adjusted TRASM rose 12.4 percent. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $1.56 against $2.12: Adjusted EPS was $1.56 against $2.12 a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $2.44 against $3.27, and GAAP pre-tax income was $2.0 billion. Source
  • Fuel expense up 77 percent: Adjusted fuel expense reached $4.4 billion, which management described as the highest quarterly fuel expense in the company's history. Source
  • September revenue guided up mid-teens: Revenue is expected to grow mid-teens year over year on modest capacity growth, with unit revenue growth improving sequentially. Source
  • Operating margin guided 11 to 13 percent: September quarter adjusted EPS is guided to $2.00 to $2.50 on an operating margin of 11 to 13 percent, with all-in fuel assumed near $3.15 per gallon. Source
  • June quarter free cash flow $209 million: Adjusted operating cash flow of $1.7 billion and gross capex of $1.4 billion left free cash flow at $209 million, against $733 million a year earlier. Source
  • On-time lead and baggage record: The company led all carriers in on-time arrival and departure and set a domestic mishandled baggage record. Atlanta baggage AI improved year-to-date MBR. Source

“We delivered $1.4 billion in pre-tax profit while absorbing the highest quarterly fuel expense in our history, reflecting broad demand strength, growing brand preference and momentum across our diversified revenue base.”

Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS SourceFY 2026$6.50 - $7.50Kept
Free cash flow SourceFY 2026$3 - $4 billionKept
Earnings growth SourceFY 202620 percentKept
Gross leverage SourceBy year-end 2026Approx. 2x
Operating margin Source3Q26 (September quarter)11% - 13%New
Adjusted earnings per share Source3Q26 (September quarter)$2.00 - $2.50New
Fuel price, all-in Source3Q26 (September quarter)approximately $3.15 per gallonNew
Dividend payment SourceFrom September quarter 202615 percent increaseRaised
Operating margin SourceSecond half 2026double-digit
Non-fuel unit cost growth SourceLong termlow-single-digit

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Guidance given for the September quarter on revenue growth and double-digit margin. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 adjusted EPS and free cash flow guidance affirmed, not revised. Source
  • New: Erik Snell is identified as chief financial officer; the March release says Dan Janki held that role through March 31, 2026. Source
  • New: Proprietary Baggage AI technology implemented in Atlanta. Source
  • New: Airbnb partnership relaunched and expanded, with SkyMiles members earning miles on stays and experiences. Source
  • New: MRO presence and partnership portfolio grown with IndiGo and LATAM. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Record revenue, up 14 percent: Adjusted total revenue rose 14 percent to $17.7 billion on about 1 percent capacity growth. Adjusted TRASM rose 12.4 percent. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $1.56 against $2.12: Adjusted EPS was $1.56 against $2.12 a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $2.44 against $3.27, and GAAP pre-tax income was $2.0 billion. Source
  • Cargo and MRO revenue rose: Cargo revenue rose 39 percent, driven largely by volume. MRO revenue rose 32 percent, primarily on legacy engine platforms. Source
  • Diverse revenue share reached 61 percent: Diverse revenue streams were 61 percent of total revenue, up 2 points from the same period last year. Source

Segments and regions

  • Domestic revenue up 15 percent: Domestic revenue of $10.7 billion rose 15 percent, on 12 percent unit revenue growth and 2 percent capacity growth. Atlantic revenue rose 8 percent. Source
  • Latin America unit revenue up 12 percent: Latin America revenue rose 4 percent to $990 million, with unit revenue up 12 percent on capacity down 7 percent. Pacific revenue rose 15 percent. Source
  • New Europe and Mediterranean service: Service launched to Porto, Malta and Sardinia, and added to Madrid, Nice, Rome and Barcelona during the quarter. Source

“With continued momentum across customer segments and diverse revenue streams, we are confident in the sustainability of yield and revenue strength.”

Joe Esposito, Delta’s chief commercial officer

Products and customers

  • Premium corporate sales up over 25 percent: Premium corporate sales rose more than 25 percent, which management tied to recent investments in Delta Comfort and Delta Premium Select. Source
  • Corporate sales grew in all sectors: Corporate sales grew double digits in every sector, led by Aerospace & Defense, Banking and Automotive. Source
  • Card remuneration up 16 percent: Loyalty and related revenue rose 19 percent. American Express remuneration of $2.4 billion grew 16 percent, with cardholder spend growing double digits for a seventh quarter. Source
  • Travel and partner revenue grew: Travel products and non-air partnership revenue rose nearly 20 percent over the prior year. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Adjusted margin 8.8 percent: Adjusted operating income was $1.6 billion, with an adjusted operating margin of 8.8 percent against 13.3 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Fuel expense up 77 percent: Adjusted fuel expense reached $4.4 billion, which management described as the highest quarterly fuel expense in the company's history. Source
  • Refinery benefit lowered fuel price: The adjusted fuel price of $3.93 per gallon included a refinery benefit of 11 cents per gallon. Source
  • Non-fuel unit cost up 6.8 percent: Non-fuel CASM was 14.09 cents, up 6.8 percent. Management expects non-fuel unit cost performance to improve modestly from the June quarter. Source

“Debt reduction remains a top priority, and we expect to reach gross leverage of approximately 2x by year-end”

Erik Snell, Delta’s chief financial officer

Demand and the September quarter

  • September revenue guided up mid-teens: Revenue is expected to grow mid-teens year over year on modest capacity growth, with unit revenue growth improving sequentially. Source
  • Operating margin guided 11 to 13 percent: September quarter adjusted EPS is guided to $2.00 to $2.50 on an operating margin of 11 to 13 percent, with all-in fuel assumed near $3.15 per gallon. Source
  • Trends point into December quarter: Management said early trends provide a constructive setup for revenue strength to extend into the December quarter. Source

Cash, debt and liquidity

  • June quarter free cash flow $209 million: Adjusted operating cash flow of $1.7 billion and gross capex of $1.4 billion left free cash flow at $209 million, against $733 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted net debt down $709 million: Adjusted net debt was $13.6 billion at June quarter end, down $709 million from the end of 2025. Debt payments in the quarter were $536 million. Source
  • Liquidity of $7.7 billion: Liquidity at quarter end was $7.7 billion, including $3.1 billion of undrawn revolver capacity. Source
  • First-half cash generation: First-half operating cash flow was $4.1 billion and free cash flow was $1.4 billion, which management said supports reinvestment and shareholder returns. Source

Operations, fleet and network

  • On-time lead and baggage record: The company led all carriers in on-time arrival and departure and set a domestic mishandled baggage record. Atlanta baggage AI improved year-to-date MBR. Source
  • Eleven aircraft delivered: Eleven aircraft were delivered in the quarter, including A350-900, A321neo and A220-300 types. Finlet devices began installing on the 737 fleet. Source
  • New Los Angeles long-haul routes: Daily non-stop service from Los Angeles to Hong Kong and Chicago O'Hare launched, adding connectivity from Los Angeles. Source

Strategy, people and partnerships

  • Four percent pay raise for employees: Eligible employees worldwide received a 4 percent pay raise. Nearly $500 million in profit sharing was accrued year to date toward next February's payout. Source
  • Next-generation Delta One suite: A next-generation Delta One suite was unveiled for the A350-1000 fleet, and an expanded suite offering was announced for the A330ceo fleet. Source
  • T-Mobile partnership enhanced: T-Mobile customers who link their SkyMiles membership receive a complimentary premium beverage on board. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 July 2026

  • Satellite upgrades coming online: New satellite upgrades are coming online soon, to bring faster speeds and broader global coverage to the fleet. Source
  • Wi-Fi on all aircraft by year-end: Wi-Fi is now on over 95 percent of aircraft for SkyMiles members, and management expects 100 percent by year-end. Source
  • December quarter unit cost progression: Further progression in non-fuel unit cost is expected in the December quarter as capacity growth normalizes. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
TRASM, adjusted (cents) Source22.45 (up 12.4%)
Adjusted fuel expense (USD millions) Source$4,410 (up 77%)
Average fuel price per gallon, adjusted Source$3.93 (up 75%)
Passenger load factor Source84.8% (down 1 point)
Aircraft delivered in the quarter Source11
Revenue passenger miles (millions) Source66,767 (up 1%)
Available seat miles (millions) Source78,694 (up 1%)
Passenger mile yield (cents) Source23.38 (up 12%)
Fuel gallons consumed (millions) Source1,122 (up 1%)

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited a multi-billion dollar fuel headwind that it is overcoming to reach full-year earnings growth. Source
  • Operational: A temporary refinery outage was a discrete 5-cent per gallon impact within the quarter's refinery benefit. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The March release expected June quarter pre-tax profit of around $1 billion; the June release reports $1.4 billion pre-tax.
  • Not stated: The March release guided to flat June quarter capacity; the June release reports approximately 1 percent capacity growth.
  • Not stated: The March release expected June quarter non-fuel unit cost growth similar to the March quarter; the June release reports 6.8 percent.
  • Ahead: Management said June quarter results were above guidance on operating margin and EPS. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.