Delta q1 2019 earnings

Michael S. Williamson | The Washington Post | Getty Images

As an airliner prepares to land, a bird takes off at the Gravelly Point park that’s just off the end of the runway near Reagan National Airport.

Delta Air Lines posted first-quarter earnings Wednesday that beat Wall Street’s expectations for both profit and revenue.

“Demand for Delta’s product has never been stronger,” President Glen Hauenstein said in a statement announcing the earnings. “With our customer-focused commercial initiatives delivering strong customer loyalty and top-line momentum, we now expect full-year revenue growth of five to seven percent, an increase from our prior guidance.”

The Atlanta-based carrier earned 96 cents a share, on an adjusted basis, compared with an average of 90 cents expected by analysts polled by Refinitiv.

It generated $10.47 billion in revenue, compared with $10.42 billion forecast by analysts.

The company generated

Investors were expecting a strong quarter from Delta, especially after it raised its earnings and revenue guidance last week, citing healthy demand that helped drive record performance.

The airline has also escaped the fallout from Boeing’s 737 Max prolonged grounding following two fatal crashes over five months that killed a total of 346 people. Wall Street analysts recently downgraded Boeing and Southwest Airlines, and American Airlines cut its revenue guidance for the first quarter and canceled 1,200 flights.

Southwest executives are holding a call with analysts at 10 a.m. ET.