US Airlines Report Strong $4B After-Tax Earnings in Q2 2025

US scheduled passenger airlines have reported a net after-tax income of $4 billion in Q2 2025.

This is an increase compared to $3.8 billion in the same period last year.

The pre-tax operating profit for Q2 2025 was $5.0 billion, slightly lower than the $6.3 billion recorded in Q2 2024, but still showing strong profitability.

Domestic US airline operations generated $2.2 billion in net profit after tax, less than the $2.6 billion from Q2 2024. Domestic operating revenue was $48.1 billion, primarily from passenger fares.

International operations made $1.8 billion in net profit after tax, higher than the $1.2 billion gain in Q2 2024. International revenue was $17.6 billion, mostly from ticket sales.

Total operating revenue for the quarter was about $65.7 billion, while total operating expenses were $60.7 billion, which included labor costs of $22.9 billion and fuel costs of $10 billion.

The growth in net profits reflects the recovery of passenger demand, improved fuel management, and stable pricing across both domestic and international markets. Passengers are continuing to return to air travel, including demand for premium services.

For example, Delta Air Lines recently highlighted the growing preference for premium seats as a key driver of its strong performance in Q3 2025, reporting record revenue of $15.2 billion and a profit of $1.4 billion.

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