Delta trims summer flying

Delta Air Lines is cutting some summer flights after a jet-fuel spike scrambled airline cost forecasts. (usatoday.com) The airline has suspended five seasonal routes: New York Kennedy to Memphis and St. Louis from June 7 to Sept. 7, Detroit to Reykjavik from May 7 to July 6, Boston to Nassau from July 18 to Sept. 5, and Seattle to Cancun from June 2 to Nov. 8. (simpleflying.com) Chief Executive Ed Bastian said on April 8 that Delta would “meaningfully reduce” near-term growth plans, and the carrier said its June-quarter fuel bill would be about $2 billion higher because of the surge in costs. (cnbc.com) Delta is making the cuts after reporting strong results, not weak demand. The company said full-year 2025 operating revenue reached a record $63.4 billion, with $5.8 billion in operating income and $4.6 billion in record free cash flow. (ir.delta.com) The airline also kept its full-year 2026 adjusted earnings guidance at $6.50 to $7.50 a share in January, which Delta said would amount to about 20% year-over-year growth. On April 8, Bastian said Delta was not withdrawing that forecast but was not updating it because fuel prices were too volatile. (ir.delta.com) (cnbc.com) That leaves Delta trying to protect margins while keeping its broader network intact. In the second quarter, the airline said capacity would likely be flat from a year earlier even as revenue was still expected to rise by a low-teens percentage. (cnbc.com) Fuel has become the pressure point across the industry because airlines cannot quickly rework fleets, crews, and airport slots when costs jump. CNBC reported jet fuel prices in major U.S. cities were up nearly 88% from Feb. 27 through April 6, citing Airlines for America and Argus data. (cnbc.com) Delta has one hedge that most rivals do not: a refinery near Philadelphia that turns crude oil into jet fuel and other products. The airline said that operation should provide a $300 million benefit in the second quarter if fuel stays elevated. (cnbc.com) For travelers, the immediate effect is narrower choice on a handful of summer routes and rebooking for affected passengers. For Delta, the move shows an airline with record sales still pulling back where fuel prices make marginal flying harder to justify. (usatoday.com) (ir.delta.com)