Jul. 8--Fewer people are traveling by airplane this summer as airlines reported declines in June traffic this week.

But as most major carriers, including Fort Worth-based American Airlines, are operating fewer flights this summer compared with last year, planes at some airlines were fuller in June.

On Tuesday, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines said June traffic dropped 2.1 percent as it flew 6.7 billion revenue passenger miles last month. With a 3.8 percent reduction in capacity to 8.5 billion available seat miles, Southwest's load factor -- the percentage of seats filled -- rose to 79.5 percent from 78.2 percent from the same period last year.

American and Delta Air Lines reported declines in load factors.

Despite flying 7.8 percent fewer miles in June, AMR Corp.'s American said revenue passenger miles dropped 8.1 percent for the month. The carrier reported Monday that its load factor decreased to 85.1 percent, compared with 85.5 percent last year.

Delta's traffic, which includes Northwest Airlines, showed a load factor of 85.5 percent, down from 86.0 percent in June 2008.

The Atlanta-based carrier had a 5.8 percent decline in available seat miles and a 6.3 percent decrease in revenue passenger miles.

American Eagle, the regional carrier owned by AMR, also reported a 5 percent decline in June traffic after a capacity cut of 8.4 percent. However, its load factor increased to 77.9 percent compared with 75.1 percent in the same month in 2008.

The June traffic numbers could have been worse if the airlines had not posted numerous fare sales this spring to jump-start summer travel.

ANDREA AHLES, 817-390-7631

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