Airline stocks jumped Tuesday after Delta Air Lines said record performance and healthy demand drove the carrier to raise its earnings and revenue guidance for the first quarter.Delta told investors it expects to earn between 85 cents and 95 cents per share during the first quarter, up from its previous estimate of 70 cents to 90 cents per share, on an adjusted basis.
Fuel costs are less expensive than originally projected, the company said, adding that they will be about the same or about half a percentage point higher than last year. It previously estimated fuel costs would be up 1 to 2 percent.