Delta Air Lines reported a third-quarter net profit of just more than $1 billion, aided by $279 million in one-time items.

The result compared to a $549 million profit a year earlier. Total passenger revenue edged upward 1 percent to nearly $8.7 billion and passenger unit revenue rose 3 percent thanks to a 3 percent increase in passenger yield. "We expect our revenue performance to benefit from our continued capacity discipline and further corporate travel gains," according to president Ed Bastian.