A plan by Delta Air Lines to buy a Pennsylvania refinery and save itself $300 million a year in jet fuel costs is an audacious move that may prompt its competitors to follow suit in a bid to control their biggest single expense, analysts said.
However, the airline may also face bigger bills than it expects for restarting the currently idle plant and more than doubling its previous output of jet fuel.
The Atlanta-based carrier said on Monday that its Monroe Energy unit will buy the currently shuttered Trainer, Pennsylvania refinery complex near Philadelphia from ConocoPhillips for $180 million, including a $30 million grant from the commonwealth.
