Delta Air Lines today reported December traffic results, including record load factors for its Delta and Northwest operating units.
Atlanta – Load factors for Delta system (80.1 percent), Delta domestic (82.3 percent), and Northwest system (81.9 percent) were higher than any previous December on record.
Delta
Delta’s system traffic in December 2008 increased 0.7 percent versus December 2007 on a capacity decrease of 2.4 percent. Delta’s system load factor increased 2.4 points to 80.1 percent.
International traffic increased 9.2 percent year over year on a 13.7 percent increase in capacity, and load factor declined 3.2 points. Domestic traffic decreased 3.7 percent year over year on 10.4 percent lower capacity. Domestic load factor increased 5.7 points to 82.3 percent.
Northwest
Northwest’s system traffic in December 2008 decreased 3.6 percent on a capacity decrease of 4.5 percent. Northwest’s system load factor increased 0.7 points to 81.9 percent.
International traffic decreased 2.0 percent year over year on a 0.3 percent decrease in capacity, and load factor declined 1.4 points. Domestic traffic decreased 4.7 percent year over year on a 7.2 percent decrease in capacity, and load factor increased 2.2 points.
Detailed traffic and capacity are attached.
Delta Air Lines is the world’s largest airline. From its hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita, Delta, its Northwest subsidiary and Delta Connection carriers offer service to more than 377 destinations worldwide in 66 countries and serves more than 170 million passengers each year. Delta’s marketing alliances allow customers to earn and redeem either SkyMiles or WorldPerks on more than 16,000 daily flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta and its 75,000 worldwide employees are reshaping the aviation industry as the only U.S. airline to offer a full global network. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.