Delta records 14.5% consolidated PRASM gain in January, 2012

[FWAAA]

Very impressive year over year unit revenue increase reported this morning by DL for the month of January:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Delta-Reports-January-prnews-3768091992.html?x=0

First time DL has reported monthly unit revenue figures with its traffic release. With fuel at $3.17/gal, airlines must find a way to increase unit revenues, and DL appears to have found the secret.

 

[WorldTraveler]

Just for perspective US is the only other carrier that has announced its Jan traffic which was up about 4% on 3% more capacity compared to DL's traffic which was down 2% on 4% less capacity with the biggest cuts on transatlantic routes, where it identified weakness over a year ago and are now seeing some of the best RASM results.
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This goes to show how the DL and UA megamergers and their JVs created the mass necessary to be able to pull capacity out of problem areas when they are identified.
DL also benefitted from being able to pull costs out of their system via their voluntary early out packages in the fall; airlines are typically reluctant to reduce capacity because they can't get labor costs out very easily.
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As of this hour, most of the US industry stocks are down about 3% while US is down about 5%.

 

[WorldTraveler]

With the exception of B6, all of the large jet US operators who report RASM have done so and it appears that DL outperformed the industry... by more than double compared to WN (who is apparently trying to get yields up to cover fuel prices) while still putting butts in seats while other carriers were closer to the 8.5 - 10% improvement range.
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Even fewer carriers report their fuel price paid but DL had a 15 cent per gallon advantage over UA, savings that very easily can translate into a couple hundred million dollars.
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Just as when CO started the trend of reporting monthly RASM years ago, DL likes the opportunity to tell analysts 8 more times per year that it is doing as good as or better job than its peers - and while the industry remains in transition, that advantage should not be underestimated.