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Delta Airlines Says It Is Reducing Its Domestic Flight Schedule to Conserve Fuel
ATLANTA (AP) -- Delta Air Lines Inc., buffeted by high fuel costs in the wake of Katrina and Rita, said it is reducing its domestic flight schedule.
The Atlanta-based carrier isn't experiencing a shortage of jet fuel, but is conserving energy, it said.
Delta spokeswoman Chris Kelly said it's impossible to say exactly how many flights will be reduced because it will depend on travel each day.
Wow, the response was darn near immediate.
Two of our clients (one a Fortune 100 Company) has just sent out e-mails cautioning against using Delta for travel on their accounts. It seems the arbitrary cancellation of Delta flights will not be tolerated by business travellers. LAX to ATL is getting at least one cancellation of a 767 per day - but no one can tell which flights are getting cancelled
This could not have come out at a better time for the manufacturer of Eclipse Jets and the other light business jets, or AirTran for that matter. Delta was called "unreliable" by one of the very largest purchasers of corporate travel in this Country.
I guess the choices out of Atlanta are AirTran and charter to where AirTran does not go. Jeesh, seems like Delta would stop trying to find ways to make enemies in the business world. If a huge customer like G.M., A.I.G., G.E., tells you to be at a meeting at 0900 to address their managers, you don't have the option of calling at 09:15 to tell them you are still in LA because Delta was not able to fill up their 767-300. Do that more than once in my business and your competitor will take your client away from you.
We have airplanes for our travel within 500 NM. Previously almost all of our longer distance travel was on Delta, usually on walk up fares. Several folks have been defecting to AirTran because they get upgraded to business class easier. This will only increase the momentum of business travellers away from "unreliable" Delta.
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