Shares of Delta Air Lines rose 11% in Friday Trading. Across the airline sector, United Airlines rose 6%; American Airlines rose 3%; JetBlue Airways rose 2%.

Delta Air Lines reported revenue of $15.56 billion to top the consensus estimate by $1.08 billion. Earnings per share came in at $1.85, vs. $1.74 consensus and $1.28 a year ago.

The airline company noted that demand accelerated through the quarter. During the months of November and December, Delta saw four of the top ten revenue days in the company's history and double-digit growth in cash bookings, driven by both leisure and corporate travelers. Notably, corporate sales were up by a double-digit rate during the quarter.

All three of Delta's international geographies improved sequentially and relative to initial expectations, with international passenger revenue growth of 6% year-over-year in the December quarter.

Delta reported an adjusted operating margin of 12.0% for the quarter, vs. 9.9% a year ago as lower fuel costs factored in. Total revenue per available seat mile was $0.2004 vs. $0.1995 a year ago, while adjusted cost per available seat mile was $0.1372 vs. $0.1329 a year ago.

"As we move into 2025, we expect strong demand for travel to continue, with consumers increasingly seeking the premium products and experiences that Delta provides," highlighted CEO Ed Bastian. "Our differentiated strategy and best-in-class operations, combined with demand strength and an increasingly constructive industry backdrop, position us to deliver the best financial year in Delta's 100-year history, with pre-tax income greater than $6 billion, earnings per share greater than $7.35 and free cash flow of more than $4 billion," he added.

On the guidance front, Delta Air Lines sees Q1 EPS of $0.70 to $1.00 (midpoint $0.85) vs. $0.76 consensus and 2025 adjusted EPS above $7.35 vs. $7.45 consensus.