Delta says higher airfares expected to last despite drop in oil prices

Airlines across the board have had to pass on elevated fuel costs to customers or cut routes this year as the war in the Middle East drove oil prices up. Photograph: Kevin Carter/Getty Images

Delta Airlines saidelevated airfares are likely to last despite a recent drop in oil prices, reporting strong appetite for travel and record-high revenue in its quarterly results Friday.

Though the company had its highest quarterly fuel expense in its history, demand has been high enough to pass along 60% of its extra fuel costs to consumers, Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, told CNBC, with plans to eventually pass along all elevated costs.