Low fuel prices help Delta post nearly $1B in 4Q profit

Lower jet fuel costs due to falling oil prices helped Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) earn $980 million in the fourth quarter, despite the fact the airline generated less revenue than a year ago.

The company expects to pay even less for fuel in the first quarter – about $1.20 to $1.25 per gallon – which is down from the $1.85 per gallon it paid in the previous quarter. Compared with late 2014, the company saved nearly $2.8 billion on fuel costs, or 65 percent.

A year ago, Delta lost $712 million in the fourth quarter. Revenue during the fourth quarter dipped 2 percent to $9.5 billion.

Read more from The Dallas Morning News.