Source: Delta Air Lines
- Delta Air Lines reported financial results for the June quarter and provided its outlook for the September quarter.
- Delivered industry-leading operational performance, underpinning trusted brand and customer loyalty
- Record June quarter revenue with mid-teens operating margin and strong cash generation
- Continued debt repayment, progressing balance sheet toward investment grade metrics
- Announced a 50 percent increase to dividend payment beginning in September quarter
- Reiterating full year guide for EPS of $6 to $7 and free cash flow of $3 to $4 billion
Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today reported financial results for the June quarter and provided its outlook for the September quarter. Highlights of the June quarter, including both GAAP and adjusted metrics, are on page five of the full release and incorporated here.
“Thanks to the incredible work of our 100,000 people, Delta is delivering industry-leading operational performance and best-in-class service for our customers. We delivered record June quarter revenue and pre-tax income of $2 billion with a 15 percent operating margin. Our people are the best in the industry, and we are pleased to recognize their efforts with more than $640 million accrued in the first half toward next year’s profit sharing,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive officer.
“For the September quarter, we expect a double-digit operating margin and a pre-tax profit of approximately $1.5 billion. With strong first half results and visibility into the second half, we remain confident in our full-year guidance.”
June Quarter 2024 GAAP Financial Results
- Operating revenue of $16.7 billion
- Operating income of $2.3 billion with an operating margin of 13.6 percent
- Pre-tax income of $1.8 billion with a pre-tax margin of 10.6 percent
- Earnings per share of $2.01
- Operating cash flow of $2.5 billion
- Payments on debt and finance lease obligations of $1.4 billion
- Total debt and finance lease obligations of $18.0 billion at quarter end
June Quarter 2024 Adjusted Financial Results
- Operating revenue of $15.4 billion, 5.4 percent higher than the June quarter 2023
- Operating income of $2.3 billion with an operating margin of 14.7 percent
- Pre-tax income of $2.0 billion with a pre-tax margin of 13.0 percent
- Earnings per share of $2.36
- Operating cash flow of $2.5 billion
- Free cash flow of $1.3 billion
- Adjusted debt to EBITDAR of 2.8x, down from 3.0x at the end of 2023
- Return on invested capital of 13.1 percent
Forward Looking Statements
Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements regarding our estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections, goals, aspirations, commitments or strategies for the future, should be considered “forward-looking statements” under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not guarantees or promised outcomes and should not be construed as such. All forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections, goals, aspirations, commitments and strategies reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the possible effects of serious accidents involving our aircraft or aircraft of our airline partners; breaches or lapses in the security of technology systems we use and rely on, which could compromise the data stored within them, as well as failure to comply with evolving global privacy and security regulatory obligations or adequately address increasing customer focus on privacy issues and data security; disruptions in our information technology infrastructure; our dependence on technology in our operations; increases in the cost of aircraft fuel; extended disruptions in the supply of aircraft fuel, including from Monroe Energy, LLC (“Monroe”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta that operates the Trainer refinery; failure to receive the expected results or returns from our commercial relationships with airlines in other parts of the world and the investments we have in certain of those airlines; the effects of a significant disruption in the operations or performance of third parties on which we rely; failure to comply with the financial and other covenants in our financing agreements; labor issues; the effects on our business of seasonality and other factors beyond our control, such as changes in value in our equity investments, severe weather conditions, natural disasters or other environmental events, including from the impact of climate change; failure or inability of insurance to cover a significant liability at Monroe’s refinery; failure to comply with existing and future environmental regulations to which Monroe’s refinery operations are subject, including costs related to compliance with renewable fuel standard regulations; significant damage to our reputation and brand, including from exposure to significant adverse publicity or inability to achieve certain sustainability goals; our ability to retain senior management and other key employees, and to maintain our company culture; disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or similar public health threats, and measures implemented to combat them; the effects of terrorist attacks, geopolitical conflict or security events; competitive conditions in the airline industry; extended interruptions or disruptions in service at major airports at which we operate or significant problems associated with types of aircraft or engines we operate; the effects of extensive government regulation we are subject to; the impact of environmental regulation, including but not limited to regulation of hazardous substances, increased regulation to reduce emissions and other risks associated with climate change, and the cost of compliance with more stringent environmental regulations; and unfavorable economic or political conditions in the markets in which we operate or volatility in currency exchange rates.
Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties that could cause differences between actual results and forward-looking statements is contained in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which represent our views only as of the date of this press release, and which we undertake no obligation to update except to the extent required by law.