Delta has affirmed the low end of its share guidance in its typical preliminary quarterly update, and will offer a final disclosure four weeks from today. Earlier operating margin guidance of 15-17% was tightened to 15-16%, RASM of 2-4% to 2-3%, while ex-fuel/profit sharing CASM of 0-2% improved to 0-1%.
Delta reported August’s consolidated RASM at 2% compared to July’s 3%, with Delta citing weakness associated with ongoing events in Russia, the Middle East and Africa.
Analysts have stated that for the past nine quarters, Delta has affirmed the high end of expectations on four occasions, retained guidance on three, and diminished guidance just twice. The most recent downward guide was in April 2013, when the company diminished its prevailing 1Q13 margin from 2.5-4.5% to 2.5-3.5%, leading shares to fall 8 % that day vs. SPX +1%.
Delta issues Q3 guidance
