Delta Air Lines posted a $2.7 billion net profit in 2013 on earnings of $37.77 billion for the full year 2013 – the airline’s best full-year profit and the top by a US airline in years. Nevertheless, CEO Richard Anderson expects the airline to “significantly improve financial results in 2014.” Including an $8 billion non-cash gain in the 2013 fourth quarter associated with tax valuation, Delta earned a 2013 net profit of $10.54 billion. Delta’s net profit in 2012 was $1.01 billion.
Expenses were flat at $34.37 billion with operating profit up 34% to $3.4 billion.
Traffic increased 1% year-over-year in 2013 to 194.99 billion RPMs with a 1% rise in capacity to 232.74 billion ASMs. Load factor was flat at 83.8%. Yields rose 3% to 14.15 cents.
Delta’s Trainer oil refinery incurred a loss of $46 million during the fourth quarter although only a modest loss is expected next year.