AirTran/Delta Performance

[Delta7203]

Thought you guys would get a kick out of this. If I love it...you guys have to love it! Enjoy...


AirTran Airways Comments on Delta Performance Report
Thursday March 2, 4:03 pm ET
- Using All DOT Metrics, AirTran Airways Beats Delta Convincingly -


ORLANDO, Fla., March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (Other OTC: DALRQ.PK - News) today reported that its on-time performance was better than AirTran Airways as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for January 2006. AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI - News), will stipulate that Delta did in fact have a 2.7 percent better on-time performance in January 2006 than AirTran Airways in Atlanta (75.7 percent flights arriving within 14 minutes of schedule for Delta versus 73.7 percent for AirTran Airways), but in typical fashion they fail to include all relevant consumer statistics.
"AirTran Airways would like to congratulate Delta on this accomplishment, but why stop there? Let's look at all consumer metrics reported by the DOT, including cancelled flights, lost bags, oversales and complaints," said Kevin Healy, AirTran Airways' vice president of planning. "Based on the most recent DOT report, Delta was 21 percent more likely to cancel your flight, 64 percent more likely to lose your bag, an astounding 1,440 percent more likely to bump you against your will and, I suppose, not surprisingly, Delta customers complain 93 percent more about their Delta flights and service than AirTran customers."


January 2006 Consumer Metrics

Delta AirTran %
Air Lines Airways Difference


On-time Arrival All Airports 77.3 % 75.3 % 2.7 %
Atlanta 75.7 % 73.7 % 2.7 %
Common Airports (All DAL) 74.0 % 75.2 % -1.7 %

Cancelled Flights (percent of schedule) 1.7 % 1.4 % 21.4 %

Lost Bags (per 1,000 passengers) 6.71 4.09 64.1 %

Involuntary (per 10,000 passengers) 1.54 0.1 1,440.0 %
Denied
Boardings

Complaints (per 100,000 passengers) 1.43 0.74 93.2 %


Source: U.S. Department of Transportation Air Travel Consumer Report, issued March 2006

On-time performance for all flights sold under the Delta brand at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (including ASA and Comair) was 73.8 percent, essentially the same as AirTran Airways. In fact, on-time performance for all Delta brands in airports both carriers serve was 74.0 percent versus AirTran Airways 75.2 percent - 1.6 percent better on AirTran. Delta-branded flights overall were 70 percent more likely to cancel and 115 percent more likely to lose your bag.

"So if you don't need to get there and don't really like your luggage, fly Delta; but when the trip matters and you really want to get to your final destination with your bags and a smile on your face, fly AirTran Airways," said Healy. "I would have thought Delta would have more important things to focus on with their bankruptcy, record losses and pending pilots' strike than this, but I appreciate them giving us the opportunity to set the record straight."


Media Contact: Tad Hutcheson
tad.hutcheson@airtran.com
678.254.7442

Judy Graham-Weaver
judy.graham-weaver@airtran.com
678.254.7448