Delta Air Lines Inc. said Thursday that a key revenue figure rose 2 percent in September as corporate flying and demand for travel within the U.S. offset “pressure” on international revenue.

The figure — revenue for every seat flown one mile — rises when airlines fill more seats, charge higher average fares, or both. Airlines have kept prices up by limiting the addition of flights.

Traffic rose 5.4 percent, as passengers flew 16.95 billion miles last month. Both U.S. and international flying increased.

Delta added 4.9 percent passenger-carrying capacity, compared with August 2013. With traffic rising faster than capacity, the average flight was a bit more full — 83.7 percent, up from 83.3 percent.

The figures include Delta Connection regional flights.

Shares of Atlanta-based Delta rose 72 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $35.62 in morning trading. That wiped out most of a 3.5 percent decline on Wednesday, when airline shares fell after disclosure that a man later diagnosed with Ebola flew to the U.S. on commercial flights two weeks ago.

About the Author

Keep Reading

More metro Atlanta sellers are deciding to take their homes off the market, according to a new report. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Featured

Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)