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Delta books second quarter profit with government aid; airline recovery choppy

A Delta Airlines aircraft makes its approach at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Grapevine, Texas, in this Monday, June 24, 2019, file photo. Delta Air Lines reported its first quarterly profit since the pandemic devastated the airline industry more than a year ago, as hordes of vacation travelers and money from U.S. taxpayers offset weak corporate and international travel. Delta said Wednesday, July 14, 2021, that it earned $652 million in the second quarter. However, Delta's report shows that airlines still face turbulence as they try to rebound from their worst year ever.(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
A Delta Airlines aircraft makes its approach at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Grapevine, Texas, in this Monday, June 24, 2019, file photo. Delta Air Lines reported its first quarterly profit since the pandemic devastated the airline industry more than a year ago, as hordes of vacation travelers and money from U.S. taxpayers offset weak corporate and international travel. Delta said Wednesday, July 14, 2021, that it earned $652 million in the second quarter. However, Delta's report shows that airlines still face turbulence as they try to rebound from their worst year ever.(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File) A Delta Airlines aircraft makes its approach at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Grapevine, Texas, in this Monday, June 24, 2019, file photo. Delta Air Lines reported its first quarterly profit since the pandemic devastated the airline industry more than a year ago, as hordes of vacation travelers and money from U.S. taxpayers offset weak corporate and international travel. Delta said Wednesday, July 14, 2021, that it earned $652 million in the second quarter. However, Delta's report shows that airlines still face turbulence as they try to rebound from their worst year ever.(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

By Kelly Yamanouchi / The Atlanta Journal-Constitution via Tribune News Service 3 min read

Growing crowds of vacationers filling U.S. airports are helping put Delta Air Lines on a route to recovery, but weak corporate and international travel means it’s still far from business as usual.

The Atlanta-based airline said Wednesday it is pointed back to profitability after the pandemic sent air travel plunging last year.

In another good sign, it reported domestic leisure travel has rebounded to 2019 levels, with momentum picking up in June as summer travel kicked in.

“We had a very strong month,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, adding the airline expects to post pre-tax profits in the final two quarters of the year.

But Delta’s net income of $652 million in the quarter ended June was boosted by roughly $1.5 billion in federal relief funding.