FILE PHOTO: A Delta Airlines flight takes off from Logan International Airport, as airlines cancelled flights at 40 major airports after the government imposed an unprecedented cut to air travel, citing air traffic control safety concerns because of a record-setting government shutdown, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., November 7, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/ File Photo

Dec 3 (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines said on Wednesday it expects a $200 million impact to its fourth quarter pre-tax profit from the government shutdown in the United States which ended last month.

The hit to profitability translates to about 25 cents per share, the carrier said, adding that growth in travel bookings had returned to initial expectations following an end to the shutdown.

The 43-day long government shutdown affected flights and left thousands of air traffic controllers and other staff to work without pay.

Earlier this week, JetBlue flagged an impact on operational performance for the quarter by one point, owing to Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and shutdown-related cancellations.

Delta said that demand for the December quarter remained "healthy" and that trends were strong for early 2026.

The company is scheduled to present at the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference later in the day.

(Reporting by Anshuman Tripathy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)