Delta’s Amex Numbers Show Its Growing Bet on Wealthy Travelers

In a standout quarter, Delta reported record revenues. And those record revenues were fueled by Delta’s loyalty program and its lucrative partnership with American Express.

During the third quarter, Delta received about $2 billion from American Express, a 12% increase from the same time last year, which the carrier said was driven by a double-digit increase in credit card spending.

Last year, Delta received a total of $7.4 billion in proceeds from American Express. Long-term, executives at the airline are forecasting that Delta could make as much as $10 billion from the partnership.

It’s a direct bet on high-income travelers, a group that has continued to spend while lower-income households have largely pulled back. �