February cargo numbers down at Delta

   Delta Air Lines flew 178,698 cargo ton miles in February, a year-over-year decrease of 3.5 percent.
   So far in 2013, the carrier has seen 353,822 tons of air freight activity, putting its two-month total 1.5-percent behind its results over the same period in 2012.
   Even with these numbers, Delta Cargo officials are hopeful for a turnaround. Last month, Delta Cargo head Tony Charaf expressed optimism about 2013’s cargo activity. Speaking at the Air Cargo Netherlands conference, he said a turnaround in the global economy and the developing BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries mean that global air freight could improve in 2013.
   “Despite the turbulent last several years and the uncertain outlook for this year,” he said at the time, “we are confident global trade will continue to grow, and air freight will play a critical role in the transport of goods between countries.”
   For the carrier as a whole, February brought a 5-percent, year-over-year increase in unit revenues, even though system-wide passenger revenue miles were down 2.2 percent when compared to February 2012. – Jon Ross