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Delta Air LinesLesson 1 of 4

Part 1 of 3, 0 done
FUELFLIGHTS

2025 report · 9 min

How airlines make money

Airlines sell seats on planes. But as we'll see at one airline, Delta, some of the best money comes from people who aren't flying at all.

Ticket 01 · The guess

How much does a credit card pay an airline?

Delta Air Lines flies 1,314 planessec.gov ·2025 and is the one airline this lesson follows. In 2025 it made $5.8Bsec.gov ·2025 in operating profit: what was left after paying for the planes, fuel, crews and everything else.

American Express, the credit card company, also paid Delta that year, mostly to buy Delta's SkyMiles for people who carry a Delta card. How much do you think it paid?

$3B
$0$15B
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Sources and every number (1)

Sources

  • Delta Air Lines, Inc. Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 · Delta Air Lines, Inc. (filed with the U.S. SEC), 2025

Every number

  • $5.8Bsec.gov ·2025 · Operating income, 2025 (income statement).
  • $8.2Bsec.gov ·2025 · Remuneration from American Express, 2025 (Item 1, SkyMiles Program).
  • $10Bsec.gov ·2025 · What Delta expects American Express's yearly payments to grow to over the next few years (Item 1, SkyMiles Program).
  • $4.2Bsec.gov ·2025 · Loyalty travel awards: flights paid for with miles, 2025 (MD&A).
  • $3.4Bsec.gov ·2025 · Loyalty program revenue, 2025 (MD&A, other revenue).
  • 12%sec.gov ·2025 · Share of revenue miles flown on Delta that were award travel, 2025 (Item 1).
  • 35 millionsec.gov ·2025 · Award tickets members redeemed miles for in 2025, approximately (Item 1).
  • 1,314 planessec.gov ·2025 · Aircraft in Delta's fleet at the end of 2025 (Item 1).
  1. Lessons›
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  • ·Next: How Delta is organized
  • ·Free guide: How airlines make money
Skip to the lesson

Delta Air LinesLesson 1 of 4

Part 1 of 3, 0 done
FUELFLIGHTS

2025 report · 9 min

How airlines make money

Airlines sell seats on planes. But as we'll see at one airline, Delta, some of the best money comes from people who aren't flying at all.

Ticket 01 · The guess

How much does a credit card pay an airline?

Delta Air Lines flies 1,314 planessec.gov ·2025 and is the one airline this lesson follows. In 2025 it made $5.8Bsec.gov ·2025 in operating profit: what was left after paying for the planes, fuel, crews and everything else.

American Express, the credit card company, also paid Delta that year, mostly to buy Delta's SkyMiles for people who carry a Delta card. How much do you think it paid?

$3B
$0$15B
Words to know

Spot something wrong?

Tell us what looks off. No name or email needed.

What kind of problem?

0 / 1000

We'll also send this page, the lesson, ticket 1, so we can find it. Nothing else. Privacy

·
Sources and every number (1)

Sources

  • Delta Air Lines, Inc. Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 · Delta Air Lines, Inc. (filed with the U.S. SEC), 2025

Every number

  • $5.8Bsec.gov ·2025 · Operating income, 2025 (income statement).
  • $8.2Bsec.gov ·2025 · Remuneration from American Express, 2025 (Item 1, SkyMiles Program).
  • $10Bsec.gov ·2025 · What Delta expects American Express's yearly payments to grow to over the next few years (Item 1, SkyMiles Program).
  • $4.2Bsec.gov ·2025 · Loyalty travel awards: flights paid for with miles, 2025 (MD&A).
  • $3.4Bsec.gov ·2025 · Loyalty program revenue, 2025 (MD&A, other revenue).
  • 12%sec.gov ·2025 · Share of revenue miles flown on Delta that were award travel, 2025 (Item 1).
  • 35 millionsec.gov ·2025 · Award tickets members redeemed miles for in 2025, approximately (Item 1).
  • 1,314 planessec.gov ·2025 · Aircraft in Delta's fleet at the end of 2025 (Item 1).
  1. Lessons›
  2. Big companies›
  3. Airlines
  • ·Next: How Delta is organized
  • ·Free guide: How airlines make money