Delta operating profit up 19% in 3Q2013, forecasts 7%-9% operating margin in 4Q2013

Delta Air Lines revenue up 6% - financial highlights for three months ended 30-Sep-2013:

• Total operating revenue: USD10,490 million, +6% year-on-year;
• • Passenger: USD9254 million, +7%;
  • Cargo: USD229 million, -6%;
• Total operating costs: USD8927 million, +4%;
• • Fuel: USD2291 million, +3%;
  • Labour: USD1976 million, +7%;
• Operating profit: USD1563 million, +19%;
• Net profit: USD1369 million, +31%;
• Passenger traffic (RPMs): +2%;
• Passenger load factor: 86.0%, -0.4 ppt;
• Passenger yield: USD 16.85 cents, +5%;
• Passenger revenue per ASM: USD 14.48 cents, +4%;
• Operating cost per ASM: USD 13.97 cents, +1%;
• Total assets: USD45,997 million;
• Cash and cash equivalents: USD3018 million;
• Total liabilities: USD45,860 million;
• 4Q2013 forecast:
• • Operating margin: 7% to 9%;
  • Fuel price including taxes, settled hedges and refinery impact: USD3.03 to USD3.08;
  • Unit costs*: +2%;
  • Capacity: +1% to +3%;
  • • Domestic: +1% to +3%;
    • International: +2% to +4%. [more - original PR - 8K] [more - original PR - 10Q]

*Excluding fuel and profit sharing

Delta Air Lines: "The momentum we have built by running an outstanding operation and investing in our product and people enabled a 7 percent revenue growth, with particularly strong performance in Atlanta, New York and London. The revenue environment appears solid through the end of the year, including strong holiday bookings, and we expect to continue to build on the revenue premium we deliver versus the industry," Ed Bastian, President. Source: Company statement, 22-Oct-2013.