Delta Air June traffic rises in line with capacity growth

Delta Air Lines Inc. reported Tuesday June load factor that was in line with a year ago, as capacity growth matched the rise in traffic. The air carrier also affirmed its second-quarter earnings-per-share guidance range of $1.65 to $1.75, and its pre-tax margin outlook of 13% to 14%. Capacity for June rose 3.0% to 24.2 billion available seat miles, as domestic capacity grew 5.3% to offset a 0.5% decline in international capacity. Traffic rose 3.0% to 21.4 billion revenue passenger miles, as a 5.1% rise in domestic traffic offset a 0.1% slip in international. Load factor for the month was unchanged at 88.5%. The stock fell 1% in premarket trade, after reports of a downgrade at Deutsche Bank. It has shed 11% year to date through Monday, while the NYSE Arca Airline Index has dropped 15% and the S&P 500 has gained 2%.