Delta cuts its 2026 profit outlook as fuel costs outrun revenue gains

Delta Air Lines lowered its full-year adjusted earnings forecast to $5.10 to $5.60 a share, from $6.50 to $7.50 three months earlier, even as third-quarter revenue reached a record. The gap explains the story: people are still flying and paying higher fares, but jet fuel has become expensive enough to consume much of that extra income. Delta said its fuel bill for the year is now expected to be about $6 billion higher than in 2025, showing how quickly an airline’s economics can change when energy costs rise. Its forecast is also an early signal for the wider U.S. airline industry, where carriers may have to keep lifting prices or accept thinner margins if fuel stays costly.