Delta Reports Financial and Operating Performance for September 2012

ATLANTA, Oct, 2012 / -- Delta Air Lines (DAL)  reported financial and operating performance for September 2012.

Delta continued to have solid revenue performance, with September month unit revenues up 0.5% year-over-year against a very strong performance in September 2011.  This result is lower than previous guidance due to slightly lower walk-up traffic as well as incremental capacity due to strong completion factors and charter flying.  Forward bookings remain solid for the fourth quarter; based on current demand trends, Delta expects a year over year improvement for October 2012 unit revenues in the low single digits.

For September, Delta's system traffic fell 1.1 percent on 0.6 percent lower capacity, which resulted in a 0.4 point decline in load factor.

Delta's adjusted fuel price per gallon was $3.09 for the month, bringing the September quarter fuel price per gallon to $3.15.

Delta continued to have exceptional operational performance in September, with a 99.8 percent completion factor and an on-time performance rate of 89.4 percent.

The company's financial and operational performance is detailed below.  Additional guidance on Delta's September quarter 2012 financial performance can be found on the company's investor update, furnished as an exhibit to a Form 8-K filed today.