Delta Air Lines reported a 14% year-on-year increase in cargo operating revenue for 2024.
The US passenger airline reported cargo operating revenue of $822m for the year ended December 31, up from $723 in 2023.
Cargo performed especially well in the last quarter of the year, with operating revenue increasing 32% year on year to $249m.
Delta president Glen William Hauenstein said in the airline’s fourth-quarter 2024 Earnings Call: “Cargo revenue grew 14% over 2023, with sequential improvement throughout the year.”
He further remarked: “For the full year, we delivered a [total airline] record revenue of $57bn, 4% above 2023’s prior record, with diversified streams, including premium, loyalty, and cargo leading and contributing 57% of total revenue.”
Beginning this quarter, Delta Cargo is taking steps to bolster its digital sales reach and capabilities by placing its capacity on digital airfreight procurement platform cargo.one.
The partnership involves cargo.one offering Delta Cargo capacity for general cargo bookings in select markets. Future plans include introducing additional Delta Cargo product types on the cargo.one platform.
Last year, Delta Cargo also expanded its offering on online booking platform WebCargo by Freightos to include more destinations and products.
Delta Cargo has a belly cargo network spanning over 250 destinations worldwide, including hubs in major freight markets.
Rival carriers United and American Airlines are yet to announce their fourth quarter and full-year results.