10:08 AM EDT, 03/17/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Delta Air Lines ( DAL ) and American Airlines ( AAL ) raised their first-quarter revenue expectations on Tuesday, citing strong demand trends even as the airline industry grapples with high jet fuel prices amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Delta now expects adjusted revenue to rise by 7% to 9%, totaling $13.9 billion to $14.2 billion, compared with its initial guidance for 5% to 7% growth, it said in a presentation prepared for a JPMorgan conference held earlier in the day. The current consensus on FactSet is for first-quarter sales of $13.82 billion.

Consumer and corporate demand trends have accelerated into March, according to the slide deck. Domestic and international unit revenue is seen growing by a mid-single-digit on a yearly basis.

Separately, American Airlines ( AAL ) said it expects first-quarter revenue to rise more than 10% year over year, up from its prior outlook of 7% to 10%. The company attributed the upgraded outlook to stronger-than-expected demand, as well as execution of commercial initiatives.

Shares of Delta Air advanced 5% in Tuesday trade, while those of American Airlines ( AAL ) rose 4%.

Crude prices have increased meaningfully since the Iran war broke out at the end of last month, when the US and Israel launched joint airstrikes on Tehran. The conflict has spread across the Middle East, effectively shutting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route.

For the week ended March 13, jet fuel prices reached $175 a barrel, up from $99.40 for the week ended Feb. 27, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Delta anticipates its first-quarter adjusted earnings within the original guidance range it provided in January. At the time, the company forecast EPS between $0.50 and $0.90 per share, while the Street is looking for non-GAAP EPS of $0.62.

American Airlines ( AAL ) expects adjusted loss at the lower end of its prior guidance that called for a loss of $0.10 to $0.50 per share, assuming a fuel price of about $2.75 per gallon in the first quarter.

Delta said it's "well positioned" to navigate the current environment and is maintaining capacity flexibility if fuel prices remain elevated.

Delta's cost per available seat mile, excluding fuel, which is used in the airline industry to measure operational efficiency, is pegged to increase by 4% to 6% annually in the first quarter. That metric is expected to rise about 4% to 5% at American Airlines ( AAL ), compared with the prior guidance for an increase of about 3% to 5%.

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