Delta Air Lines Misses Earnings for First Time in Two Years as Fuel Costs Surge 62%

Key Facts

1Delta Air Lines reported its first earnings miss in two years, driven by a 62% surge in fuel costs.

2CEO Ed Bastian clarified that the decision not to use Starlink was a business move, not a personal dispute with Elon Musk.

Delta Air Lines reported its first earnings miss in two years, driven by a 62% surge in fuel costs. Fortune reported that the airline's adjusted fuel expenses reached $4.1 billion in the September quarter, leading the company to lower its full-year 2026 profit forecast to a range of $5.10 to $5.60 per share.

CEO Ed Bastian clarified that the decision not to use the Starlink service was a business move rather than a personal dispute with Elon Musk, as the carrier opted for Amazon Leo instead. In related market activity, TSLA was trading at $383.18 on October 9, 2026, reaching a session high of $388.56.