Delta Air Lines Dominates Rivals in 2026 Amid Divergent Revenue Streams
The airline industry's performance in 2026 is being driven by more than just ticket sales. Delta Air Lines has seen its stock price increase by 16% year-to-date, while American Airlines Group has declined by 12%. This disparity can be attributed to the different revenue streams of each airline.
Delta's refinery subsidiary, Monroe Energy, and co-branded credit card partnership with American Express through its SkyMiles program have reduced its dependence on ticket sales. Additionally, Delta's cargo operation and third-party aircraft maintenance business in Delta TechOps provide further diversification. In contrast, American Airlines Group relies heavily on ticket revenue and is exposed to rising crude prices.
The U.S. Global Jets ETF, which tracks the performance of the airline industry, has seen a 4% gain year-to-date. However, this masks the significant difference in performance between Delta and American. United Airlines' stock price remains flat, while JetBlue Airways has also seen a 4% gain.