Don’t Expect Cheaper Flights: Delta CEO Says Customers Are ‘Immune’ to Higher Prices

The airline’s premium customers are showing little resistance to travel industry upheaval.

BY MOSES JEANFRANCOIS, NEWS WRITER @MOSESJEANS

Illustration: Inc.; Photos: Adobe Stock

Despite oil prices surging, some airlines aren’t taking a hit. A recent earnings call from Delta Airlines showed that the company still expects revenue to rise next quarter thanks to strong demand from premium customers.

Delta executives are looking to tie ticket prices to rising oil and jet fuel prices in order to keep up profit margins. In other words, it’s not budging. Delta had revenue of $14.2B for Q1 of 2026, with a 9% year-over-year growth. The company is expecting to keep this growth up for 2026.

With the war in Iran spiking gas and oil prices across the U.S., many have worried about the impact on the cost of flights. According to Iata’s jet fuel monitor, as of April 8, the price of jet fuel is at $209/bbl, up 7.1% compared to the week before. The average price has doubled since January. Delta is still looking at a good profit margin for the end of June, with a predicted YoY growth in the low-teens. 

“Our results are powered by the Delta people, who will always be our greatest competitive advantage. In February, we celebrated $1.3 billion in profit‑sharing payouts, similar to last year and more than the rest of the industry combined,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive officer. 

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Delta’s CEO said its premium customer base has not shied away from booking travel despite fare increases and new fees.

“The premium consumer is candidly immune or becoming more immune to the headlines and not delaying their investment in the experience economy, waiting to see what the next headline’s going to be on the margin… I think as difficult it is to see what’s going on with the conflict in the Middle East, I’m not sure that our premium customers are feeling affected by that,” said Bastian in the call.

Customers who are more price-sensitive have been delaying buying tickets, but it hasn’t upset the airline’s profits. The company, Bastian said, is not looking to weaken prices in order to fill seats, “The best type of fuel recapture is not to purchase the fuel in the first place if it’s not going to be profitable,” said Bastian. 

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