Delta flight cutbacks in error--report says

[General Lee]

UPDATE 1-Delta Air says error caused flight cutback reports
Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:37 PM ET
(Adds JetBlue comment, share reaction)
NEW YORK, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc. (DALRQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research) said "a schedule distribution error" led to reports Friday by a Wall Street analyst and others that it was sharply reducing flights where it competes with JetBlue Airways Corp. JP Morgan on Friday cited planned capacity cuts by bankrupt Delta, the No. 3 U.S. airline, of about 13 flights a day, or 25 percent. The point was made in a research note upgrading JetBlue (JBLU.O: Quote, Profile, Research) to "neutral" from "underweight."
"Due to a schedule distribution error last week in which (regional airline unit) Comair data were omitted, various sources received incorrect data about Delta's plans to continue competing vigorously in the New York market," Delta said in a statement issued on Monday.
JP Morgan on Tuesday declined to comment on Delta's statement about the schedule distribution error.
David Ulmer, JetBlue's vice president of route and schedule planning, told Reuters the disclosure of the error did not change his view that Delta is reducing flights on competitive routes between New York and Florida.
"We think we've seen their real schedule," he said.
Delta said that available seats on New York-Florida routes served by its low cost Song unit, slated to be folded into Delta in May, would fall about 10 percent from a year ago.
Delta's capacity at New York's JFK International Airport will fall by more than 10 percent as it stops flying to Charlotte, North Carolina and Jacksonville, Mississippi from that airport and makes other changes.
But it will not cancel any flights from the city's LaGuardia Airport, where regional carrier Comair's flights were left out of the schedules distributed last week, the airline said.
JetBlue shares edged down 3 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $11.38 in early afternoon trading on Nasdaq.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[JBFlyer]

Your point General.....or is this a "see, I told you so"??? There is still some reduction of capacity. Maybe not because of competition with JetBlue, but it's still there.

 

[General Lee]

Your point General.....or is this a "see, I told you so"??? There is still some reduction of capacity. Maybe not because of competition with JetBlue, but it's still there.

Can I post something I see on Yahoo here? Can I? Yeah, there is some reduction in capacity, and that is good for us because in the Summer some of the 757 flights probably wouldn't be full to hot Florida. We are actually moving airplanes around to "right size" our planes to potential capacity during that Season. The 767s that used to fly ATL to FLA will now be flying to more lucrative Europe. Some of the 757s that used to fly from the NE to FLA will now cover that old 767 flying and more West Coast stuff. Sounds good to me. Again, if you look at the original post, I had no commentary to it---I just posted what was on Yahoo. Look at it again. (my editing was only to erase all of the ad computer language)


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[JBFlyer]

Can I post something I see on Yahoo here? Can I? Yeah, there is some reduction in capacity, and that is good for us because in the Summer some of the 757 flights probably wouldn't be full to hot Florida. We are actually moving airplanes around to "right size" our planes to potential capacity during that Season. The 767s that used to fly ATL to FLA will now be flying to more lucrative Europe. Some of the 757s that used to fly from the NE to FLA will now cover that old 767 flying and more West Coast stuff. Sounds good to me. Again, if you look at the original post, I had no commentary to it---I just posted what was on Yahoo. Look at it again. (my editing was only to erase all of the ad computer language)



You're getting touchy in your "Flight Info old age" General. No one said you could'nt post stuff here, but you obviously are trying to make a point with it. That's all I indicated. If you don't want us to question your motives, don't put stuff like that out there.

 

[xjlifer]

6251 posts!!!

 

[FDJ2]

Overall DAL capacity will come down in the domestic market as more wide bodied aircraft start flying international.

Here's a news flash for you guys:

-DAL will have 100 B757s configured for in seat IFE.

-Expect to see DAL put in-seat IFE on its 737-800s and 767-300s in the near future.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

Overall DAL capacity will come down in the domestic market as more wide bodied aircraft start flying international.

Here's a news flash for you guys:

-DAL will have 100 B757s configured for in seat IFE.

-Expect to see DAL put in-seat IFE on its 737-800s and 767-300s in the near future.

How will they fund this? Or is that a perk of bankruptcy?

Since jb owns LiveTV, a question: does jb have any competition in the ife market?

 

[JBFlyer]

There are other companies that do IFE for aircraft. I know Delta does not use LiveTV. Not sure who does it for them, but from what I hear it is a pretty good system also.

 

[Deacon]

How will they fund this? Or is that a perk of bankruptcy?

Since jb owns LiveTV, a question: does jb have any competition in the ife market?

Who cares about live tv, really? DAL will throw out their pensions,get more cuts and undercut those that are doing better while in bankruptcy. Thus giving them an advantage(see UAL 2002-2006) Myabe even getting judge Eugene to help out along with GE.

Expanding internationaly and making a profit will be a challenge, but that remains to be seen. Its better than putting a 767 to BHM and 757 to CHS and SAV.

Lets face it DAL's management is about 4 years behind the program, just look at their record losses while others were slowly stopping the bleeding they were gushing at a record pace.

As for JB they got to charge more for their tickets just so they can cover the price of fuel or they will be the next Indy.

 

[FDJ2]

How will they fund this? Or is that a perk of bankruptcy?

Since jb owns LiveTV, a question: does jb have any competition in the ife market?

Delta has $2B in unrestricted cash plus over $2B in DIP financing. So the money is there to maintain and upgrade the fleet.

JBLU has an ownership interest in Direct TV, but DAL has been using DishNetwork on Song.

 

[Occam's Razor]

Since jb owns LiveTV, a question: does jb have any competition in the ife market?

Me!

A little song...a little dance...a little seltzer down your pants!

I do impressions, make balloon animals for the kids, and pour the wine.

I've even (cringe!) helped clean the cabin! (That's how I got my iPod!!)

Actually, I was a Sarcasm major in college...Minor in Condescending. Cum loudly, of course!

Back on topic: I believe the STC for airborne TV reception antenna systems is held by Racotek...not JetBlue. The transmitted product may be their's...but I don't see that as an issue.

I also do puppet shows for the kiddies.

 

[General Lee]

How will they fund this? Or is that a perk of bankruptcy?

Since jb owns LiveTV, a question: does jb have any competition in the ife market?

We use some Japanese company called "Matsushista" I believe.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[GogglesPisano]

Occam, you are definitely the most talented poster on Flightinfo of late.

 

[General Lee]

Who cares about live tv, really? DAL will throw out their pensions,get more cuts and undercut those that are doing better while in bankruptcy. Thus giving them an advantage(see UAL 2002-2006) Myabe even getting judge Eugene to help out along with GE.

Expanding internationaly and making a profit will be a challenge, but that remains to be seen. Its better than putting a 767 to BHM and 757 to CHS and SAV.

Lets face it DAL's management is about 4 years behind the program, just look at their record losses while others were slowly stopping the bleeding they were gushing at a record pace.

As for JB they got to charge more for their tickets just so they can cover the price of fuel or they will be the next Indy.

The great thing about this country is that you too can go bankrupt and get the same advantages. (well, the laws have changed a little since then, but you get my point, right?) Go for it. And, didn't United just post a $12 billion loss for the quarter? The key here is that you need to look at cash on hand. Profit is an OPINION. There are plenty of things you can do to make the numbers look any way you want, like "one time charges."

Expanding INTL flights will be a challenge, primarily because you have to find competent people to work the stations, and follow those INTL laws of each country. But, when you are the only American airline serving certain INTL cities, you can add a price premium. We are the only american carrier serving Moscow, Kiev, Budapest (this Summer), Istanbul, Athens, Nice, Chennai (in India) and upcoming in December--Dakar, Senegal and Jo-berg, South Africa. Just the cargo alone from some of those cities pays for the flight, and passengers are a bonus.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Bavarian Chef]

Delta has $2B in unrestricted cash plus over $2B in DIP financing. So the money is there to maintain and upgrade the fleet.

JBLU has an ownership interest in Direct TV, but DAL has been using DishNetwork on Song.

LiveTV is owned by jb. Just wasn't sure what else was out there.

http://www.livetvifs.com/

 

[ReverseSensing]

...make balloon animals for the kids...

"Kids, you have your choice of a snake, an eel, or a worm."









.

 

[fareview]

FD & Gen,

Am I correct in saying, that through your posts, you are endorsing the direction and decisions being made by DAL mgt on route decisions.? i.e. international, seasonal routes etc.

Respectfully,

FV

 

[FDJ2]

FD & Gen,

Am I correct in saying, that through your posts, you are endorsing the direction and decisions being made by DAL mgt on route decisions.? i.e. international, seasonal routes etc.

Respectfully,

FV

I didn't think I'm endorsing it or not, I was just passing some info along. But since you brought it up, I do think DAL is in the right track by expanding their international route structure and it does make sense to pull some flying off of some routes during periods of time that historically have little to no demand.

Without question DAL will in the short term draw down domestic capacity as the wide bodied domestic aircraft start flying international routes. DAL will most likely backfill those routes with narrow bodied aircraft, including 34 B737-800s scheduled for delivery between March2007 and January2009.

 

[elag777]

We use some Japanese company called "Matsushista" I believe.

Bye Bye--General Lee

"Matsu-What-sta!" Mitsubishi's "Crappy" parent company!

 

[Deacon]

The great thing about this country is that you too can go bankrupt and get the same advantages. (well, the laws have changed a little since then, but you get my point, right?) Go for it. And, didn't United just post a $12 billion loss for the quarter? The key here is that you need to look at cash on hand. Profit is an OPINION. There are plenty of things you can do to make the numbers look any way you want, like "one time charges."

Expanding INTL flights will be a challenge, primarily because you have to find competent people to work the stations, and follow those INTL laws of each country. But, when you are the only American airline serving certain INTL cities, you can add a price premium. We are the only american carrier serving Moscow, Kiev, Budapest (this Summer), Istanbul, Athens, Nice, Chennai (in India) and upcoming in December--Dakar, Senegal and Jo-berg, South Africa. Just the cargo alone from some of those cities pays for the flight, and passengers are a bonus.


Bye Bye--General Lee

Good points.I beleive the books are cooked somewhat everywhere.

DALs "monopoly" on those iternational markets maybe just what they need, again only time will tell. Just have to wonder if marketing and planning can get the most out of those routes. There will have to be alot of demand to keep up with the huge costs.

At least your management has something of a plan and isn't asking the Judge to throw out everything(yet) and coming up with "a leaner meaner better airline" with $3 billion in hand outs.

 

[General Lee]

FD & Gen,

Am I correct in saying, that through your posts, you are endorsing the direction and decisions being made by DAL mgt on route decisions.? i.e. international, seasonal routes etc.

Respectfully,

FV

I think placing the correct airplane on certain routes is vital towards getting back to profitability. That could be placing RJs on new routes (like Ponce and Aguadilla, PR) to see if they are viable for mainline birds, or replacing 757s for MD88s for FLA routes in the Summer. What I don't like is when they place RJs on routes covered by LCCs---which turns into a disaster with business travelers, our bread and butter. One good example I recently looked at was DEN to SLC. We had 6 daily RJs with no mainline flights, and United and Frontier had 737s and A319s. Well, Southwest now enters the market with 4 daily 737s, and Delta finally does the right thing and adds 3 MD90s to 3 RJs that are flying in off peak times, and has a fighting chance. There are other markets that need that change also, and hopefully our route planners are aware of this.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Deacon]

I think placing the correct airplane on certain routes is vital towards getting back to profitability. That could be placing RJs on new routes (like Ponce and Aguadilla, PR) to see if they are viable for mainline birds, or replacing 757s for MD88s for FLA routes in the Summer. What I don't like is when they place RJs on routes covered by LCCs---which turns into a disaster with business travelers, our bread and butter. One good example I recently looked at was DEN to SLC. We had 6 daily RJs with no mainline flights, and United and Frontier had 737s and A319s. Well, Southwest now enters the market with 4 daily 737s, and Delta finally does the right thing and adds 3 MD90s to 3 RJs that are flying in off peak times, and has a fighting chance. There are other markets that need that change also, and hopefully our route planners are aware of this.


Bye Bye--General Lee

A lot also has to do with how marketing sets up the connections at the huba and times as well as the O&d traffic

Again I never understood why DAL ran 767s from JFK to BDL and other places where those planes could be used more efficently.......maybe now they get it......hope it ain't to late and they are smart about it