Delta Air beats second-quarter profit estimates, expects unit rev drop

[July 15, 2015]  (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc <DAL.N> on Wednesday reported second-quarter profit that topped analysts' expectations but forecast a drop in unit revenue for the third quarter as the carrier continued to see weaker demand abroad due to the strong U.S. dollar.

The Atlanta-based airline earned $1.49 billion in the last quarter. On an adjusted basis, profit was $1.03 billion, or $1.27 per diluted share, compared with the average analyst estimate of $1.21, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Delta forecast that passenger revenue per available seat mile would decline between 4.5 percent and 6.5 percent in the third quarter. (Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)   [© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.] Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.