What happened
Delta Air Lines reported strong Q2 2026 earnings, with revenue growing 14% year-over-year despite only a 1% capacity increase. Premium revenue rose 17% and economy revenue grew 8%. During the earnings call, CEO Ed Bastian stated that increased fuel costs have acted as a catalyst for permanent fare hikes, noting that "structural change has accelerated." He believes current revenue momentum will remain sustainable even if fuel prices moderate, indicating that airfares may not decrease significantly even if oil prices drop. This aligns with similar narratives from United executives