Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) today reported traffic results for the month of September 2001. System traffic decreased 32.4 percent on a capacity decrease of 17.6 percent from September 2000. The decrease in system traffic and capacity was largely attributed to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Delta’s system load factor was 56.2 percent, a decrease of 12.3 points from the same period last year. If Delta had operated at pre-September 11 capacity for the entire month, Delta estimates that system load factor would have been 46.4 percent. Domestic traffic in September decreased 33.4 percent on a capacity decrease of 17.4 percent. International traffic decreased 29.7 percent on an 18.1 percent decrease in capacity.

On September 11, 2001, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) suspended all commercial airline flight operations as a result of the terrorist attacks. Delta resumed partial service on September 13, 2001 and is currently operating at approximately 80 percent of its pre-September 11, 2001 schedule. For the period of September 1 through September 10, system load factor was 67.3 percent. For the period of September 11 through September 30, system load factor was 48.8 percent. Due to the sharp decline in demand for air travel, Delta announced it would reduce its capacity by 15 percent from its pre-September 11, 2001 schedule. This capacity reduction will be implemented on November 1, 2001 and will be in effect indefinitely due to the uncertainty of future demand for air travel.

Delta boarded 5,867,295 passengers during the month of September.
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