Delta Air Lines said yesterday that it lost $27 million in April, a significant improvement over a net loss of $163 million in the year-ago month.Net income excluding reorganization items was $22 million compared to a $163 million deficit in April 2005. The carrier has $3.4 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, $2.5 billion of which is unrestricted.

Mainline unit costs increased just 1.6% to 10.29 cents in April, and fell 3.8% to 7.26 cents excluding fuel. Consolidated passenger RASM climbed 17.1% to 10.97 cents.

"April's results are an encouraging indicator that our plan is working. They serve as a great motivator to continue to act quickly to achieve our remaining restructuring objectives," Executive VP and CFO Edward Bastian said.

Separately, DL yesterday launched service from Atlanta to Aguadilla (four-times-weekly aboard CRJ700s operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines) and Kingston (daily aboard a 737-800). The new routes are part of a previously announced expansion into Latin America and the Caribbean this month comprising nine new routes to seven destinations