MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Higher fares and growing traffic helped Delta Air Lines Inc. post a bigger-than-expected profit on Tuesday.

Delta’s yield — a key measure of what each passenger pays to fly one mile — rose 4 percent for the quarter. Airlines tried about a dozen fare increases last year. While most failed after competitors didn’t match them, airlines still boosted yields by an average 2 percent last year, according to the Airlines for America trade group.

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