Delta Air Lines Reports December Traffic


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
 --------------------------------------------------------------

 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
 -------------------------------------------------------------
 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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