Delta Air Lines is expecting US$2 billion in additional costs this year due to the swelling expense of jet fuel, Chief Executive Officer Ed Bastian said on Twitter on Wednesday.

Delta Air Lines is expecting US$2 billion in additional costs this year due to the swelling expense of jet fuel, Chief Executive Officer Ed Bastian said on Twitter on Wednesday.

The rising cost of jet fuel already weighed on U.S. airlines' earnings in the first quarter and prompted rival American Airlines to cut its full-year profit forecast in April.

Atlanta-based Delta and its competitors are hoping strong demand, higher ticket prices and benefits from reductions in the U.S. corporate tax rate will eventually offset the impact of higher fuel prices.

Delta's shares were down about 2 percent at US$50.04 in afternoon trading, slightly underperforming a 1.5 percent decline on the Dow Jones U.S. Airlines Index .DJUSAR.