ATLANTA, April 4, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delta Air Lines today reported traffic results for March 2006 (see Notes 1, 2). Delta's system load factor was 80.5 percent in March 2006, up 0.5 points from the same period last year. System traffic for March 2006 decreased 6.1 percent from March 2005 with a capacity decrease of 6.7 percent.
Domestic traffic in March 2006 decreased 10.7 percent year over year, and capacity decreased 12.4 percent. Domestic load factor in March 2006 was 81.1 percent, up 1.5 points from the same period a year ago. International traffic in March 2006 increased 10.9 percent year over year on a 14.8 percent increase in capacity. International load factor was 78.7 percent, down 2.7 points from March 2005.
During March 2006, Delta operated its schedule at a 98.9 percent completion rate compared to 97.7 percent in March 2005. Delta boarded 9.6 million passengers during the month of March 2006, a decrease of 13.2 percent from March 2005. Detailed traffic and capacity are attached.
Delta Air Lines (Other OTC:DALRQ) is one of the world's fastest growing international carriers with more than 50 new international routes added or announced in the last year. Delta offers 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 plans to offer customers more destinations and departures between the U.S., Europe, India and Israel than any global airline, including service on 11 new trans-Atlantic routes 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.
Delta Air Lines
Monthly Traffic Results
March 2006 March 2005 Change
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RPMs (000):
Domestic 7,524,851 8,429,596 (10.7%)
Delta Mainline 6,068,455 7,015,882 (13.5%)
ASA 0 507,935 NM
Comair 434,211 543,135 (20.1%)
Contract Carriers 1,022,185 362,644 NM
International 2,543,045 2,292,920 10.9%
Latin America 763,150 586,297 30.2%
Delta Mainline 739,346 573,400 28.9%
ASA 0 9,711 NM
Comair 8,050 1,751 NM
Contract Carriers 15,754 1,435 NM
Atlantic 1,679,508 1,613,167 4.1%
Pacific 100,387 93,456 7.4%
Total System 10,067,896 10,722,516 (6.1%)
ASMs (000):
Domestic 9,275,046 10,590,280 (12.4%)
Delta Mainline 7,449,055 8,669,008 (14.1%)
ASA 0 674,023 NM
Comair 581,782 770,791 (24.5%)
Contract Carriers 1,244,209 476,458 NM
International 3,231,198 2,815,568 14.8%
Latin America 1,002,266 764,909 31.0%
Delta Mainline 970,479 748,406 29.7%
ASA 0 12,482 NM
Comair 10,941 2,212 NM
Contract Carriers 20,846 1,809 NM
Atlantic 2,115,250 1,937,397 9.2%
Pacific 113,682 113,262 0.4%
Total System 12,506,244 13,405,848 (6.7%)
Load Factor
Domestic 81.1% 79.6% 1.5 pts
Delta Mainline 81.5% 80.9% 0.6 pts
ASA 0.0% 75.4% NM pts
Comair 74.6% 70.5% 4.1 pts
Contract Carriers 82.2% 76.1% 6.1 pts
International 78.7% 81.4% (2.7) pts
Latin America 76.1% 76.6% (0.5) pts
Delta Mainline 76.2% 76.6% (0.4) pts
ASA 0.0% 77.8% NM pts
Comair 73.6% 79.2% (5.6) pts
Contract Carriers 75.6% 79.3% (3.7) pts
Atlantic 79.4% 83.3% (3.9) pts
Pacific 88.3% 82.5% 5.8 pts
Total System 80.5% 80.0% 0.5 pts
Passengers Boarded 9,610,654 11,075,564 (13.2%)
Delta Air Lines
Year to Date Traffic Results
March 2006 March 2005 Change
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RPMs (000):
Domestic 19,901,107 22,127,969 (10.1%)
Delta Mainline 16,052,710 18,477,391 (13.1%)
ASA 0 1,291,296 NM
Comair 1,173,568 1,410,359 (16.8%)
Contract Carriers 2,674,829 948,923 NM
International 6,483,067 6,048,043 7.2%
Latin America 2,077,625 1,663,422 24.9%
Delta Mainline 2,023,251 1,623,170 24.6%
ASA 0 28,539 NM
Comair 20,098 7,741 NM
Contract Carriers 34,276 3,972 NM
Atlantic 4,119,215 4,117,109 0.1%
Pacific 286,227 267,512 7.0%
Total System 26,384,174 28,176,012 (6.4%)
ASMs (000):
Domestic 25,889,873 29,943,597 (13.5%)
Delta Mainline 20,790,075 24,584,488 (15.4%)
ASA 0 1,835,852 NM
Comair 1,674,179 2,197,419 (23.8%)
Contract Carriers 3,425,619 1,325,838 NM
International 8,712,574 7,933,457 9.8%
Latin America 2,816,249 2,210,885 27.4%
Delta Mainline 2,741,305 2,154,349 27.2%
ASA 0 40,448 NM
Comair 27,781 10,824 NM
Contract Carriers 47,163 5,264 NM
Atlantic 5,566,197 5,390,755 3.3%
Pacific 330,128 331,817 (0.5%)
Total System 34,602,447 37,877,054 (8.6%)
Load Factor
Domestic 76.9% 73.9% 3.0 pts
Delta Mainline 77.2% 75.2% 2.0 pts
ASA 0.0% 70.3% NM pts
Comair 70.1% 64.2% 5.9 pts
Contract Carriers 78.1% 71.6% 6.5 pts
International 74.4% 76.2% (1.8) pts
Latin America 73.8% 75.2% (1.5) pts
Delta Mainline 73.8% 75.3% (1.4) pts
ASA 0.0% 70.6% NM pts
Comair 72.3% 71.5% 0.8 pts
Contract Carriers 72.7% 75.5% (2.8) pts
Atlantic 74.0% 76.4% (2.4) pts
Pacific 86.7% 80.6% 6.1 pts
Total System 76.2% 74.4% 1.8 pts
Passengers Boarded 25,531,410 29,230,002 (12.7%)
(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, and (2) Shuttle America Corp. and Freedom Airlines,
Inc. for 2006 periods only (Shuttle America began September 2005,
Freedom Airlines began 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.
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