Airline Sector Faces Turbulence

Major airline stocks traded lower on Wednesday after Delta Airlines (NYSE: DAL) released results and guidance for the month of June.

In a press release Wednesday, Delta reported a three percent change in aircraft fuel and related taxes, stating volatile fuel prices impacts the comparability of non-fuel financial performance year-over-year. Unit revenues increased by six percent in June, coming in line with guidance given in late April; unit revenues for the month of June increased 4.5 percent year-over-year.

Guidance given by Delta included average fuel price per gallon, including taxes, settled hedges and refinery impact between $2.93 to $2.98, a $0.07 to $0.12 improvement from the $3.05 reported in December for the company's Q1. June operating margins expected to be 14 to 16 percent, with operating cash flows projected to be $2 billion, $3 billion lower than the $5 billion reported in 2014 Q1.

Delta is trading lower 5.06 percent.

United Continental (NYSE: UAL) is down 5.99 percent.

American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL) is down 4.01 percent

Spirit Airlines (NASDAQ: SAVE) is down 1.23 percent.

Cowen analyst Helane Becker mentioned in a note Delta reports lower than anticipated international yields and a decrease in business demand in Latin America (especially in Brazil) for June because of the World Cup.

Despite Becker's concern, the Cowen note reiterated a Buy rating on Delta based on the firms positive outlook for Delta's long-term growth.