Delta’s 2013 profit an industry record

Delta Air Lines’ $2.7 billion profit for 2013 was not just a record for the company, but also a record for all airlines, according to a key industry publication.

The Atlanta-based carrier’s results announced Tuesday were the highest net profit in airline history, according to Airline Weekly, which confirmed the fact in its financial archives. The publication’s records cover the world’s publicly-traded airlines and other carriers that publish audited financial statements.

According to Airline Weekly, the previous record was German carrier Lufthansa’s 2007 profit of $2.6 billion, or $1.8 billion excluding special items. By either measure, Delta’s annual profit of $2.7 billion excluding special items beat the previous industry record — reinforcing Delta’s recovery since it emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection nearly seven years ago.