Delta Air Lines joined other airlines in posting a significant drop in passenger traffic in February, as vacationers and business travelers alike cut back on trips.
Atlanta-based Delta’s passenger traffic declined 11 percent in February compared with the same month of 2008, including both Delta and merger partner Northwest Airlines’ operations. The decline came as the combined carrier decreased flight capacity 7.8 percent in February compared with the year-ago month. Passenger traffic levels are measured in revenue passenger miles, while capacity is measured in available seat miles.
Delta’s planes averaged 74.3 percent full in the month, down from 77 percent a year ago.
Delta has focused on expanding its international network, but its international traffic declined 10.1 percent in February as it cut international capacity by just 1.9 percent. Domestic traffic declined 11.5 percent on an 11 percent cut in domestic capacity.
When splitting up Delta and Northwest operations, Northwest had a larger 13.6 percent drop in February traffic compared with Delta’s 9.2 percent decline. Northwest also had a larger 10.2 percent cut in capacity compared with Delta’s 6.2 percent capacity reduction. Delta completed its acquisition of Northwest last October.
