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Delta Air Lines on pace for $1 billion in cargo revenue in 2021

Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 09:17 PM ET

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Delta had a strong quarter, but is worried that fuel costs may stall its momentum. Delta Air Lines

Key Takeaways:

Delta Air Lines reported its first profit since the pandemic in Q3, largely driven by robust cargo revenue which surged 39% over 2019 levels and is on pace to exceed $1 billion for 2021.
Despite strong performance, the airline anticipates a modest loss in Q4 due to a significant increase in fuel costs.
Delta is strategically renewing its fleet by acquiring fuel-efficient Airbus A350 jets to enhance cargo capacity and manage rising costs, expecting a continued recovery in international and corporate travel demand.

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Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on FreightWaves.com.

Eric is the Air Cargo Market Editor at FreightWaves. An award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering the logistics sector, Eric spent nearly two years as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Automotive News, where he focused on regulatory and policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, mobility, fuel economy and safety. He has won two regional Gold Medals from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for government coverage and news analysis, and was voted best for feature writing and commentary in the Trade/Newsletter category by the D.C. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. Eric is based in Portland, Oregon. He can be reached for comments and tips at ekulisch@freightwaves.com