Delta Air Lines Inc. predicted continued strong demand into next year after reporting better-than-expected earnings for the third quarter, helped by leisure travelers splurging on premium seats and a rebound in corporate travel.
The carrier had third-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.71, higher than the $1.56 average of analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Full-year EPS will be about $6, also ahead of the analyst consensus, with Delta saying it’s “well positioned to deliver top-line growth, margin expansion and earnings improvement” next year.