NEW YORK, Jan 13, 2026, 08:02 EST — Premarket
- Shares of Delta Air Lines slipped roughly 2% in premarket trading following the release of its earnings and the announcement of its profit forecast for 2026.
- The airline revealed an order for 30 Boeing 787-10 widebodies and holds options to acquire 30 additional aircraft.
- As airline earnings season kicks off, investors are zeroing in on premium demand, costs, and revenue from credit-card partnerships.
Delta Air Lines shares dropped 1.8% to $71.03 in Tuesday’s premarket, following the release of its quarterly results and an updated 2026 outlook. The airline also announced a new Boeing widebody agreement.
This is crucial now as airlines scramble to gauge demand after the holiday rush and corporate budgets get reevaluated. Delta’s tone usually hits the group sharply, with investors focusing heavily on premium seating and loyalty revenue as the reliable factors.
Delta reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.55 for the December quarter, based on $14.6 billion in adjusted operating revenue. It forecast 2026 earnings per share between $6.50 and $7.50, with free cash flow expected to land between $3 billion and $4 billion. The airline also revealed that American Express remuneration climbed 11% in 2025, reaching $8.2 billion. CFO Dan Janki noted capacity growth of about 3% for 2026.
Delta has filed paperwork confirming a deal to purchase 30 Boeing 787-10 jets, plus options for an additional 30. Deliveries are set to start in 2031. The aircraft will use GE’s GEnx engines, and Delta says it secured long-term financing for a significant part of each plane’s cost.
Shares slipped more steeply in early premarket trading as investors zeroed in on the cabin revenue split: premium ticket sales climbed 9% for the quarter, but main-cabin revenue dropped 7%, according to Reuters. Analysts polled by LSEG see 2026 earnings around $7.25 per share, which sits above Delta’s own midpoint forecast.
Delta’s co-branded credit card business is back in focus. Airline shares dropped Monday after President Donald Trump suggested a 10% cap on credit card interest rates. Jefferies analyst John Hecht dismissed the proposal as “dead on arrival,” Barron’s reported. Barron’s
Barclays bumped up its price target for Delta to $85 from $65 and kept an Overweight rating, a research note reported by The Fly shows.
Early trading saw most other airline stocks slip, with United falling 1.7% and Southwest dropping 1.5%. American Airlines, meanwhile, showed little movement.
Fuel remains a key swing factor as the week unfolds. Jet fuel prices are expected to drop to roughly $88 a barrel in 2026, down from $90 in 2025, according to Yahoo Finance. Traders will also eye American’s earnings report due Jan. 22 for fresh airline sector insights.
The downside risk hasn’t gone away. If premium bookings slow, Delta’s grip on pricing will weaken quickly. Changes that hurt credit-card rewards could squeeze those “diversified” income sources airlines like to highlight. On top of that, delays in aircraft deliveries or a sharp rise in fuel prices would throw a wrench in capacity and margin forecasts.
Next on deck: Delta will outline its outlook during a conference call and webcast at 10 a.m. ET Tuesday. Investors will be digging for details on early-year bookings, premium mix, and how the airline plans to keep costs in check.
