Delta (DAL) to Boost Travel Experience on Some Flights Shortly

Delta Air Lines DAL announced that from this fall, it would start selling Premium Select seats on New York-Los Angeles flights, in a bid to meet the increasing demand for  premium travel experience.

To this end, DAL, currently carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), will initially start offering this international-style premium economy service from Sep 10 on four of its 11 peak-day flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. It will use Boeing 767 widebody planes to operate on this route. The planes are equipped with four product experiences: Delta One, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin. The airline will expand this premium economy service to additional daily JFK-LAX frequencies later this year.

Delta Premium Select offers passengers more space to stretch out and relax with a wider seat and additional recline apart from offering an adjustable footrest and leg rest. The offering made its debut in 2017 and currently operates on most of Delta’s trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic flights, apart from some flights to Latin America.

Owing to upbeat air-travel demand, shares of DAL have gained 25.5% year to date compared with its industry’s 13.6% growth.

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We believe that management’s decision to offer this premium product to passengers on domestic U.S. trans-continental flights is a prudent move in the current scenario of rosy air-travel demand. This may attract additional traffic on flights between the two cities, in turn, boosting its top line further.

Airline Stocks to Consider

Investors interested in the airline industry may consider SkyWest SKYW and Copa Holdings CPA. Each stock presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

SkyWest’s fleet modernization efforts are commendable. Upbeat air travel demand also supports the company. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SKYW’s 2024 earnings has improved 6.9% over the past 60 days. The stock has risen 46% year to date.

SKYW has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for 2024. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 128.09%, on average.

Latin American carrier Copa Holdings is being aided by upbeat air-travel demand. We are also encouraged by Copa Holdings’ initiatives to modernize its fleet.

Over the past 60 days, the stock has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 earnings being revised 3.2% upward. CPA surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in each of the last four quarters by an average of 20.2%.

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