Delta Air Lines will trim planned growth for the second half of 2016 and delay delivery of 4 jets as the carrier attempts to reverse a revenue decline that has extended more than a year. The airline will hold expansion to less than 2% as it pares domestic capacity increases to 2.5% in Q4 from at least 4% during the first 9 months of the year. International capacity will be unchanged to down, Delta said in a US regulatory filing Monday, citing rising fuel prices and weak foreign economies. Delta and other US airlines have been hurt by the weak euro, which has fallen 17% against the dollar in the past 2 years, while a surge in seating capacity between the US and Europe kept fare increases in check. Revenue from trans-Atlantic flights accounts for as much as 20% of Delta’s total revenue. <br/>
sky
Delta Air Lines said it would boost its annual dividend and finish off a U$5b stock-buyback program in May of next year. The airline said it would increase the annual dividend to 81 cents from 54 cents beginning in the September quarter, marking the third consecutive 50% increase to the payment since 2013. Delta also said it would wrap up its latest stock-repurchase plan, launched last year, by making $3b in purchases in the coming year. The airline unveiled a $5b authorisation in May of 2015. Delta said it plans to make $375m in accelerated share repurchases during the quarter ending in June. The company has a market valuation of roughly $32b. Delta said it ended the year with 209.6b miles flown by paying passengers, up 3.3% from the prior year. <br/>