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Delta Air Lines reported a USD 695 million third-quarter profit Thursday as higher average fares this summer and a lucrative credit-card business more than offset higher fuel prices. The airline forecast that revenue during the final three months of the year will top pre-pandemic levels. Delta's CEO said he sees no indication that anxiety over inflation and the economy will discourage people from travelling over the holidays. It's going to be a very strong holiday season Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, said CEO Ed Bastian. Consumers are still relatively healthy. They have deferred spending, but where they have deferred it is the acquisition of things. Delta's third-quarter numbers support that view. The airline's operating revenue rose 11 per cent above 2019 levels even with an 18 per cent drop in passenger traffic. That was possible because the average passenger paid 23 per cent more per mile than during the same months of 2019. Revenue from premium customers rose, while m
Delta Air Lines says it has invested $60 million in a startup that hopes to build electric helicopter-like air taxis to ferry passengers to the airport. Delta announced Tuesday that it has taken a 2% stake in Joby Aviation, and could invest up to another $140 million as the manufacturer hits key milestones. Joby is among several companies working on electric-powered aircraft that take off and land vertically, like helicopters. The company has said that it expects to begin flying in 2024. Current designs for electric air taxis are too small to use for airline flights the weight of batteries is among the huge obstacles facing manufacturers. But airlines believe the machines could be attractive as a time-saving ride to and from airports in big, traffic-clogged cities. Delta hopes to use the Joby aircraft first in New York and Los Angeles. Delta CEO Ed Bastian called the deal a groundbreaking opportunity to help customers in key markets that Delta has been building for many ...