Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) today reported traffic results for the month of December 2002. Traffic comparisons are provided for year-over-year activity for 2001 and 2000 because the events of Sep. 11, 2001, distort comparisons to 2001.

System traffic for December 2002 increased 14.2 percent from December 2001 on a capacity increase of 1.7 percent. Delta’s system load factor was 74.3 percent in December 2002, up 8.1 points from the same period last year. Compared to December 2000, December 2002 system traffic is up 3.0 percent, capacity is down 5.7 percent and load factor is up 6.2 points.

Domestic traffic in December 2002 increased 17.0 percent year over year on a capacity increase of 1.5 percent. Domestic load factor in December 2002 was 75.1 percent, up 10.0 points from the same period a year ago. Compared to December 2000, December 2002 domestic traffic is up 5.3 percent, capacity is down 4.2 percent and load factor is up 6.8 points. International traffic in December 2002 increased 4.4 percent year over year on a 2.6 percent increase in capacity. International load factor was 71.6 percent, up 1.3 points from December 2001. Compared to December 2000, December 2002 international traffic is down 5.2 percent, capacity is down 10.6 percent and load factor is up 4.1 points.

During December 2002, Delta operated its schedule at a 98.2 percent completion rate, compared to 99.3 percent in December 2001 and 90.5 percent in December 2000. Delta boarded 9,370,159 passengers during the month of December 2002.
——-