ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines Inc. and AirTran Airways posted contrasting financial results but had a similar message Wednesday about the state of the airline industry: A near-term revenue recovery is unlikely.

Discount carrier AirTran has been able to find ways to stay in the black. Its parent posted a $78.4 million profit for the April-June quarter, while Delta, the world’s biggest airline operator, continues to rack up the red ink, as it recorded a $257 million loss for the quarter.