Delta Air Lines aims to preserve flexibility in its capacity to address challenges stemming from persistently high fuel prices. The carrier has raised its revenue target for the first quarter of this year, reflecting an acceleration in consumer and corporate demand trends through March. The company stated it is well-prepared to navigate the current environment of elevated fuel costs. Revenue for the three months ending in March is now projected to be approximately $15 billion to $15.3 billion. This figure is lower than the previous quarter's $16 billion but represents growth of 6.8% to 9% compared to the $14.04 billion reported in the same period last year. The airline's previous guidance had anticipated revenue growth of 5% to 7% year-over-year. In a presentation at the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference, Delta Air Lines indicated that its domestic and international unit revenues achieved mid-single-digit growth compared to the prior year. This occurred despite first-quarter capacity growth being impacted by winter storms. The airline also expects its non-fuel unit costs to increase by a mid-single-digit percentage, driven by the capacity reduction and higher operational expenses. The company stated it anticipates its first-quarter profit will fall within its initial guidance range. In January, Delta Air Lines had projected adjusted earnings per share for the quarter to be between $0.50 and $0.90.
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