DELTA AIRLINES EARNS $2.4B, PRE-TAX PROFIT OF $1.7B

“Adjusted net income was $1.1 billion or $1.47 per diluted share”, the airline said in a press statement, adding that Delta generated $2.6 billion of adjusted operating cash flow and $1.6 billion of free cash flow during the quarter.

“The company used this strong cash generation to invest $1.0 billion into the business, including roughly $880 million in fleet investments.Delta made a $135 million contribution to its pension plan during the quarter, completing its planned $1.3 billion in pension contributions for the year.For the June quarter, the company returned $1.1 billion to shareholders, comprised of $103 million of dividends and $1 billion of share repurchases’’, it said.

At its May analyst meeting, the company announced its third consecutive 50 percent increase to its dividend, which will increase to $0.81 per share annually beginning in the September quarter. In addition, the company announced its plan to complete its existing $5 billion share repurchase authorization by May 2017, ahead of schedule.

Delta Air Lines and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to nearly 370 destinations on six continents.

“The Delta people again delivered another quarter of solid profitability, superior operational performance and great customer service, continuing to strengthen our brand and our foundation for the future,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive officer. As we look to the remainder of the year, the large year-on-year savings driven by lower fuel are largely behind us and it is important to achieving our long-term financial targets that we get unit revenues back to a positive trajectory,” he added.

Delta’s operating revenue for the June quarter however decreased by 2 percent, or $260 million, of which $65 million was due to foreign currency pressures.

“Passenger unit revenues declined 4.9 percent, including 1 point of impact from foreign currency, on a 3.2 percent increase in capacity’’, the airline said.

It explained that additional foreign currency pressure from the steep drop in the British pound and the economic uncertainty from Brexit, Delta has decided to reduce 6 points of U.S.-U.K. capacity from its winter schedule.

These changes, the airline noted in combination with other network actions, will reduce system capacity by approximately one point in the December 2016 quarter and that the company now expects to grow its system capacity by 1 percent year over year during this period.

“While the revenue environment remains challenging, with persistent headwinds from close-in domestic yields and geopolitical uncertainty, we remain focused on achieving our goal of positive unit revenues by year end. We’ll continue to move quickly and aggressively with all our commercial levers, including an incremental 1 point reduction in our December quarter capacity levels, to make sure we create the momentum we need to achieve this goal,” said Glen Hauenstein, Delta’s president.

Adjusted fuel expense2 declined $408 million compared to the same period in 2015, on 28 percent lower market fuel prices. Hedge losses for the quarter totalled $614 million, including $455 million of early settlements. Delta has no hedge book remaining for 2016, the airline said adding that CASM-Ex3 including profit sharing, was flat for the June 2016 quarter compared to the prior year period driven by strong operational performance and productivity savings realized during the quarter.

Non-operating expense declined by $35 million driven by $34 million of lower interest expense.

“Our commitment to cost productivity is a key part of achieving our long-term financial goals while continuing to make investments in our people, product and service,” said Paul Jacobson, Delta’s chief financial officer. “Our solid cost performance, combined with our industry-leading revenue premium, helped to produce $2.6 billion of operating cash flow this quarter. We invested a portion of this cash in the business, resulting in the $1.6 billion in free cash flow used to further reduce our debt levels and also return $1.1 billion to our owners through dividends and share repurchases.”

Adjusted net debt4 at the end of the quarter stood at $6.8 billion. In recognition of its improved financial strength, Delta’s corporate credit rating was upgraded during the quarter by FitchRatings to BBB-, an investment grade rating. This is the second ratings agency to recognize the company with investment grade status. Special items, net of taxes, in the June 2016 quarter totaled $422 million, including $390 million in mark-to-market adjustments and settlements on fuel hedges.

Special items, net of taxes, in the June 2015 quarter totalled $458 million, including $454 million for mark-to-market adjustments and settlements on fuel hedges.