Delta packs planes, key revenue figure rises

ATLANTA (AP) — Delta Air Lines Inc. said Wednesday that a key revenue figure rose 2 percent in August, slightly below the carrier’s record in July and its previous forecast for the whole third quarter. The shares fell in morning trading.

Delta had predicted a month ago that the figure — revenue for each seat flown one mile — would rise by between 2 percent and 4 percent for the key July-through-September quarter, but on Wednesday it lowered the outlook to between 2 percent and 3 percent. The statistic typically rises when an airline fills more seats, charges higher average fares, or both.