Issue Summary

Delta opened the third-quarter earnings season with confidence. After posting its first quarterly profit sans government aid since early 2020, the airline is looking to a year-end holiday bump and then a pick up in business travel in the new year. But CEO Ed Bastian also pointed out a new emerging trend: premium leisure travel. An increasing number of holidaygoers are willing to pay extra for the premium seats — whether it's premium economy or business class — made available by the dearth of corporate roadwarriors who normally buy up the inventory. Delta bets the trend will continue and is…