DELTA AIR LINES Q1 FY26 earnings call DAL

Delta produced record March-quarter revenue of $14.2B (+9.4% YoY, more than $1B higher) and adjusted EPS of $0.64, up ~40% YoY, landing within its January guidance range even as fuel averaged $2.62/gal — nearly $0.40 above the start-of-quarter assumption due to a sharp March run-up. Pretax profit was $530M, operating margin 4.6%, and return on invested capital 12%. Total unit revenue grew 8.2%, including a ~2-point contribution from the newly broken-out MRO business, with passenger unit revenue up across all four entities and improving through the quarter.

The Middle East conflict drove jet fuel to roughly double early-year levels. Delta's Q2 outlook assumes ~$4.30/gal (forward curve as of April 2, incl. a ~$300M refinery benefit), adding more than $2B of incremental fuel expense versus the start of the year. Management guides to low-teens revenue growth on flat capacity, recapturing 40%-50% of the fuel headwind, for a 6%-8% operating margin, ~$1B pretax profit and $1.00-$1.50 EPS. Ed stressed the priority is protecting margins and cash flow, noting 'the best type of fuel recapture is not to purchase the fuel in the first place.'

Delta is meaningfully cutting capacity with a downward bias until fuel improves, targeting off-peak, edge-of-day and red-eye flying that runs 15%-20% below peak unit-revenue value. Q2 capacity is guided flat YoY. While fuel recapture historically lags 60-90 days, management sees quicker real-time traction given the pace of the move; the stated goal is to eventually recapture all of the fuel, with a higher recapture percentage expected into summer if fuel stays elevated. Fleet-level strategic moves (accelerated retirements, exiting aircraft types) are 'on the table' but not yet announced.

Demand is broad-based and accelerating: cash sales — the clearest demand signal — grew mid-teens in March (double digits over the last month) with momentum into April across the booking curve. Corporate sales grew double digits to a quarterly record, with coastal hubs (NY, LA, Boston, Seattle) strongest as prior-year corporate weakness reversed. Diverse revenue was 62% of the total, premium and loyalty grew mid-teens, and main cabin posted its first full quarter of positive unit revenue growth since end-2024. Amex remuneration grew 10% to over $2B on 12% card-spend growth. Ed argued premium consumers have grown 'immune' to headlines versus a year ago's tariff-driven freeze.

Delta ended the quarter with adjusted net debt of $13.5B (down 20% YoY, below 2019 levels), gross leverage of 2.4x, and investment-grade ratings at all three agencies with a well-laddered maturity profile. Its owned refinery partially offsets elevated crack spreads (a $0.06/gal benefit in Q1, ~$300M estimated in Q2). Third-party MRO revenue more than doubled to $380M off heavy work scopes and a backlog built through 2025, supporting a full-year outlook of $1.2B (~50% improvement) with expanding margins.

Management acknowledged that recent reliability and recovery — particularly after severe weather — have not consistently met Delta's standards, driven in part by contractual changes to the pilot working agreement over the past year. Higher recovery and crew-related costs contributed to 6% nonfuel unit cost growth in Q1 and a similar Q2 expectation. Delta is partnering with pilots and union leadership on a broad set of changes, expecting progress through summer and into H2, even as a more intensive summer operation and weather will keep the issue visible.

Delta placed firm orders for 95 additional aircraft in the quarter, with new deliveries carrying ~50% premium seating versus ~30% on retiring aircraft, supporting international growth, lower unit costs and better fuel efficiency. It expanded its lounge network (new Denver Sky Club, three renovated Atlanta clubs) and announced a partnership with Amazon Leo for next-generation satellite connectivity, building Delta Sync (targeting 110M+ log-ins this year). Strategically, Ed argued higher-for-longer fuel will act as a catalyst for industry consolidation and rationalization — as it did in 2009-11 — benefiting a financially advantaged Delta.