ATLANTA, Jan. 5, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delta Air Lines today reported traffic results for December 2005(1),(2). System traffic for December 2005 decreased 2.7 percent from December 2004 with a capacity decrease of 5.1 percent. Delta's system load factor was 75.3 percent in December 2005, up 1.8 points from the same period last year.
Domestic traffic in December 2005 decreased 5.4 percent year over year, and capacity decreased 8.6 percent. Domestic load factor in December 2005 was 75.2 percent, up 2.5 points from the same period a year ago. International traffic in December 2005 increased 6.4 percent year over year on a 7.6 percent increase in capacity. International load factor was 75.7 percent, down 0.8 points from December 2004.
During December 2005, Delta operated its schedule at a 98.4 percent completion rate compared to 98.1 percent in December 2004. Delta boarded 8.7 million passengers during the month of December 2005, a decrease of 10.0 percent from December 2004. Detailed traffic and capacity are attached.
Delta Air Lines (Other OTC:DALRQ) is the world's second-largest airline in terms of passengers carried, offering daily flights to 503 destinations in 94 countries on Delta, Song, Delta Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers and its worldwide partners. In summer 2006, Delta will be the world's leading carrier across the Atlantic as it launches flights to 11 new European destinations from its Atlanta and New York-JFK hubs. Delta also is a major carrier to Mexico, South and Central America and the Caribbean, with more than 35 routes announced, added or applied to serve since Jan. 1, 2005. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on more than 14,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
(1) Results reflect operations under our contract carrier arrangements with the following airlines: (1) Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. and SkyWest Airlines Inc. for all periods presented; (2) Flyi, Inc. (formerly Atlantic Coast Airlines) from January 2004 through December 1, 2004; (3) Shuttle America Corporation beginning September 2005; and (4) Freedom Airlines, Inc. beginning October 2005.
(2) On September 7, 2005 Delta completed the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Inc. (ASA) to SkyWest Airlines, Inc. Operating performance after that date is reflected in our contract carrier arrangements.
Delta Air Lines
Monthly Traffic Results
December 2005 December 2004 Change
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RPMs (000):
Domestic 6,867,140 7,258,750 (5.4%)
Delta Mainline 5,578,385 6,110,801 (8.7%)
ASA 0 416,014 NM
Comair 422,757 419,131 0.9%
Contract Carriers 865,998 312,804 NM
International 2,250,498 2,115,186 6.4%
Latin America 698,170 548,577 27.3%
Delta Mainline 679,245 533,000 27.4%
ASA 0 10,567 NM
Comair 7,141 3,729 91.5%
Contract Carriers 11,784 1,281 NM
Atlantic 1,460,051 1,478,244 (1.2%)
Pacific 92,277 88,365 4.4%
Total System 9,117,638 9,373,936 (2.7%)
ASMs (000):
Domestic 9,126,369 9,984,303 (8.6%)
Delta Mainline 7,396,592 8,286,162 (10.7%)
ASA 0 594,867 NM
Comair 600,100 665,061 (9.8%)
Contract Carriers 1,129,677 438,213 NM
International 2,974,806 2,764,631 7.6%
Latin America 983,547 758,231 29.7%
Delta Mainline 954,301 732,863 30.2%
ASA 0 17,608 NM
Comair 11,441 5,945 92.4%
Contract Carriers 17,805 1,815 NM
Atlantic 1,877,542 1,892,580 (0.8%)
Pacific 113,717 113,820 (0.1%)
Total System 12,101,175 12,748,934 (5.1%)
Load Factor
Domestic 75.2% 72.7% 2.5pts
Delta Mainline 75.4% 73.7% 1.7pts
ASA 0.0% 69.9% NMpts
Comair 70.4% 63.0% 7.4pts
Contract Carriers 76.7% 71.4% 5.3pts
International 75.7% 76.5% (0.8)pts
Latin America 71.0% 72.3% (1.3)pts
Delta Mainline 71.2% 72.7% (1.5)pts
ASA 0.0% 60.0% NMpts
Comair 62.4% 62.7% (0.3)pts
Contract Carriers 66.2% 70.6% (4.4)pts
Atlantic 77.8% 78.1% (0.3)pts
Pacific 81.1% 77.6% 3.5pts
Total System 75.3% 73.5% 1.8pts
Passengers Boarded 8,743,101 9,717,293 (10.0%)
Delta Air Lines
Year to Date Traffic Results
December 2005 December 2004 Change
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RPMs (000):
Domestic 91,853,280 88,313,566 4.0%
Delta Mainline 75,840,949 73,448,888 3.3%
ASA 3,960,272 4,668,383 (15.2%)
Comair 6,099,230 6,220,683 (2.0%)
Contract Carriers 5,952,829 3,975,612 49.7%
International 28,100,812 24,997,357 12.4%
Latin America 6,578,475 4,934,931 33.3%
Delta Mainline 6,378,564 4,768,262 33.8%
ASA 85,996 100,505 (14.4%)
Comair 47,618 50,382 (5.5%)
Contract Carriers 66,297 15,782 NM
Atlantic 20,411,902 18,930,448 7.8%
Pacific 1,110,435 1,131,978 (1.9%)
Total System 119,954,092 113,310,923 5.9%
ASMs (000):
Domestic 121,156,631 119,976,474 1.0%
Delta Mainline 98,583,866 98,526,586 0.1%
ASA 5,423,696 6,749,656 (19.6%)
Comair 8,958,117 9,185,863 (2.5%)
Contract Carriers 8,190,952 5,514,369 48.5%
International 35,635,981 31,702,044 12.4%
Latin America 9,270,221 6,892,970 34.5%
Delta Mainline 8,985,453 6,638,616 35.4%
ASA 117,195 160,584 (27.0%)
Comair 71,405 73,512 (2.9%)
Contract Carriers 96,168 20,258 NM
Atlantic 25,025,885 23,467,110 6.6%
Pacific 1,339,875 1,341,964 (0.2%)
Total System 156,792,612 151,678,518 3.4%
Load Factor
Domestic 75.8% 73.6% 2.2pts
Delta Mainline 76.9% 74.5% 2.4pts
ASA 73.0% 69.2% 3.8pts
Comair 68.1% 67.7% 0.4pts
Contract Carriers 72.7% 72.1% 0.6pts
International 78.9% 78.9% 0.0pts
Latin America 71.0% 71.6% (0.6)pts
Delta Mainline 71.0% 71.8% (0.8)pts
ASA 73.4% 62.6% 10.8pts
Comair 66.7% 68.5% (1.8)pts
Contract Carriers 68.9% 77.9% (9.0)pts
Atlantic 81.6% 80.7% 0.9pts
Pacific 82.9% 84.4% (1.5)pts
Total System 76.5% 74.7% 1.8pts
Passengers Boarded 118,853,189 118,579,161 0.2%
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