Originally Posted by
Razor
Delta, the world's largest carrier, reported Thursday that traffic levels were down 7.5% amid an 8% drop in capacity. The percentage of seats filled at Delta rose 0.4 percentage point in December to 81.2%.
In the U.S., traffic fell 6.3%, as capacity contracted 4% and as so-called load factor fell 2 percentage points to 80.2%. International traffic fell 9.3% amid a deeper 14% drop in capacity, allowing load factor to increase 4.2 points to 82.9%.
Delta shares were up 5% at $12.72 in recent trading amid a rally for airline stocks, which were reacting in part to a pause to crude oil's recent gains.
And we see the master plan. Load factor is up and traffic is down (7.5) less than or almost equal to what we pulled out of the system (8%). Overall our drop (7.5%) greater than the national (6.3%) so still some fat to cut? Maybe where they are getting the RJ cuts?
If we really are undermanned for the summer, this may be the cutting in preparation? It will be interesting to see what revenue was for the holiday seasons.
Ferd