Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) today reported traffic results for the month of December 2001. System traffic decreased 9.8 percent on a capacity decrease of 7.3 percent from December 2000. Delta’s system load factor was 66.2 percent.

Capacity comparisons are affected by the December 2000 flight schedule reductions from December 1999 of approximately 2.5 percent due to the combination of severe winter weather and a job action by some Delta pilots.

Domestic traffic in December decreased 10.0 percent on a capacity decrease of 5.7 percent. Domestic load factor was 65.1 percent. International traffic decreased 9.2 percent on a 12.9 percent decrease in capacity. International load factor was 70.3 percent.

The impact of last year’s challenges is also noted in the change of Delta’s system completion factor for the month of December of 99.3 percent compared to 90.5 percent in December 2000. Delta’s on-time arrival rate in December was 81.3 percent compared to 58.0 percent in December 2000. Delta boarded 7,961,464 passengers during the month of December.

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