Cargo down at Delta in June

   Delta saw a 5.3 percent decline in cargo tonnage in June, with year-over-year activity dropping from 206,586 tons to 195,566 tons.
   For the first six months of the year, tonnage has declined 3.1 percent when compared to the same period in 2012.
   Cargo wasn’t the only hiccup for Delta in June. Passenger revenue miles fell 0.8 percent, year-over-year, and have fallen 0.7 percent so far in 2013.
   Delta is currently concentrating on mingling its offerings with Virgin Atlantic. The U.S. Justice Department and European Union last week said they wouldn’t stand in the way of a deal that would give Delta a 49-percent stake in Virgin Atlantic for $360 million. The carriers are now seeking antitrust immunity for a joint-venture on flights between the United States and United Kingdom.
   Late last month, Delta also announced its cargo arm will provide ground-handling services for Virgin Atlantic Cargo at New York’s JFK airport and Logan International Airport in Boston on a multi-year agreement.
   “This cargo handling agreement with Virgin Atlantic at New York-JFK and Boston represents another facet of the expanding relationship between our two airlines,” Delta’s Chief Cargo Officer Tony Charaf said at the time. “We anticipate more growth potential from this innovative partnership.” – Jon Ross