Delta Is No. 1 as Profitable Air Cargo Beats U.S. Peers

Delta Air Lines Inc., bucking an industry slump in cargo shipments, is packing more auto parts, mail and salmon into the bellies of its passenger jets to beat its largest U.S. competitors.

Delta is on a five-month streak of gains in cargo traffic, bolstering the bottom line ahead of tomorrow’s quarterly earnings report. The cargo operations produce $1 billion in annual sales and profit margins that have topped 50 percent because goods are flown on jets with fare-paying passengers.