International airline Delta has reported $63.4bn in operating revenue in 2025, a strong close to its centennial year.

This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday announcing its performance for last year.

For the full year, Delta generated $63.4bn in operating revenue, with an operating income of $5.8bn and a pre-tax income of $6.2bn, translating to a 9.8 per cent pre-tax margin. Full-year earnings per share reached $7.66, while operating cash flow stood at $8.3bn.

For the last quarter of 2025, the airline delivered $16.0bn in operating revenue, an operating income of $1.5bn and an operating margin of 9.2 per cent. Earnings per share for the quarter came in at $1.86, on the back of healthy demand across premium, international, and corporate travel segments. Operating cash flow for the quarter totalled $2.3bn, reflecting continued strength in Delta’s core business.

On the company’s performance, the Chief Executive Officer of Delta, Ed Bastian, said, “The Delta team delivered a strong close to our centennial year, demonstrating the differentiation and durability we’ve built. Our industry-leading performance is delivered for our customers and our employees, while creating value for our owners, consistent with our long-term financial framework.

“We generated $5bn of pre-tax profit with a double-digit operating margin and record free cash flow of $4.6bn, all while navigating a challenging environment. These results would not be possible without the exceptional efforts of our people, and I look forward to celebrating our team next month with $1.3bn of well-earned profit sharing.”

Speaking on the New Year, Bastian said, “2026 is off to a strong start with top-line growth accelerating on consumer and corporate demand. For the full year, we expect to deliver margin expansion and earnings growth of 20 per cent year-over-year.”

Excluding special items, Delta delivered $4.6bn in free cash flow for the year and achieved a return on invested capital of 12 per cent, reinforcing its long-term financial framework focused on profitability, cash generation, and balance-sheet strength. The airline ended the year with total debt and finance lease obligations of $14.1bn, continuing its progress toward investment-grade balance sheet metrics.

Bastian also highlighted Delta’s commitment to its workforce, announcing $1.3bn in profit-sharing payouts to employees, one of the largest in the company’s history.

Operationally, Delta continued to differentiate itself through reliability and customer experience, maintaining its position as one of the most on-time carriers in the United States while expanding premium offerings and investing in fleet modernisation and digital innovation.

Looking ahead, Delta expressed confidence in its 2026 outlook, citing accelerating demand from both leisure and corporate travellers. The airline expects full-year earnings growth of approximately 20 per cent year-over-year, supported by margin expansion and sustained revenue momentum.