ATLANTA, March 2, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The latest government statistics show Delta Air Lines has delivered better on-time performance than its largest competitor for the past 13 consecutive months at the world's largest hub in Atlanta. The release of January 2006 data by the Department of Transportation confirms Delta topped AirTran in on-time service at the start of the new year in Atlanta, continuing a trend that includes all of 2005.
"We know customers have a choice when they fly, and we know they value an on-time schedule. Everyone on the Delta team is doing everything we can to meet that expectation," said Lee Macenczak, executive vice president and chief of customer service.
On a broader scale, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report, Delta's overall on-time performance system-wide was 77.3 percent, a strong showing for the month of January -- with a nearly 5 percentage point improvement over December 2005 -- as well as a year-over-year improvement of 4 percentage points. Delta also secured the top slot in its Cincinnati hub with on-time performance at 87.8 percent.
Also on a system-wide scale, Delta's baggage performance is on the rise -- moving to 10th place in January 2006 from 14th place in January 2005. Delta has also seen month-over-month improvements, boosting baggage performance from 13th to 10th place from December 2005 to January 2006. "Although we're making progress, we've clearly got more work ahead of us to improve baggage performance for our customers," said Macenczak. "We are committed to moving into the top-tier of this category in 2006."
Delta Air Lines (Other OTC:DALRQ) is one of the world's fastest growing international carriers with more than 50 new international routes added or announced in the last year. Delta offers daily flights to 503 destinations in 94 countries on Delta, Song, Delta Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers and its worldwide partners. In summer 2006, Delta plans to offer customers more destinations and departures between the U.S., Europe, India and Israel than any global airline, including service on 11 new transatlantic routes from its Atlanta and New York-JFK hubs. Delta also is a major carrier to Mexico, South and Central America and the Caribbean, with more than 35 routes announced, added or applied to serve since Jan. 1, 2005. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on more than 14,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
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