Is Delta going to Furlough?

[General Lee]

Will this help?

Delta Strengthens Winter Schedule with More Flight Choices from Hubs, Expanded Point-to-Point Service in Northeast and New International Destinations
Wednesday September 21, 6:00 am ET
Changes Continue Momentum of Network Redesign

ATLANTA, Sept. 21, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delta Air Lines' (NYSE:DAL - News) customers will enjoy increased non-stop access to regional business destinations, new point-to-point flying in key Northeast business markets, and expanded international service to Mexico as part of the airline's ongoing transformation to be more efficient and customer-focused. The changes, which begin as early as Dec. 1, support previously announced plans to strengthen Delta's domestic hubs and grow international schedules this winter.

The ongoing transformation of our network responds to customers' preferences for increased non-stop access to growing business destinations and expands Delta's presence on popular international routes,'' said Glen Hauenstein, executive vice president and chief of network and revenue management. ``This winter's changes, coupled with previous moves like right-sizing capacity at Cincinnati and de-hubbing service at Dallas/Fort Worth, represent the aggressive steps Delta is taking to increase the productivity and efficiency of our airline while at the same time improving service for customers.''

Increased non-stop service to regional business destinations

By December, Delta will expand service between its Atlanta and Salt Lake City hubs and key regional business destinations with new non-stop flights to 20 markets. In addition to previously announced service to destinations such as Bloomington and Moline, Ill., new non-stop routes from Atlanta will include Madison and Green Bay, Wis., Burlington, Vt., and Springfield, Mo. These new flights will be effective Dec. 1 and operated by Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines.

Meanwhile, from Salt Lake City, Delta and Delta Connection carrier Shuttle America will add non-stop service to another five destinations in addition to four destinations previously announced. The new destinations include Cleveland, Ohio and Memphis, Tenn. (effective Nov. 1); Nashville, Tenn. and Hartford, Conn. (effective Dec. 1) and new Saturday-only service to New York's LaGuardia Airport (effective Dec. 3).

New point-to-point choices in the Northeast

Also in December, Delta customers in the Northeastern United States will gain non-stop access between two of the region's most popular business destinations -- Boston and Baltimore -- with six daily round-trip flights operated by Delta Connection carrier Comair. The new flights, effective Dec. 1, add to the already-extensive non-stop service Delta offers between Boston and cities across the Northeast, including Delta's popular Shuttle service to New York-LaGuardia and non-stop service to 15 destinations operated by Delta Connection carriers Comair and Chautauqua, including the only non-stop service to Fredericton and Halifax, Canada.

Expanded international service

As previously announced, Delta's winter schedule will add to customers' choices for travel around the globe with new or expanded service to 41 international destinations.

In Mexico, Delta will continue its expansion with new or expanded non-stop flights between Cozumel and Atlanta, Cozumel and Los Angeles, and Cozumel and Salt Lake City -- all effective March 5, 2006; and will expand service between Atlanta and Mexico City, and Atlanta and Cancun, beginning Dec. 1. With this expansion, Delta will offer customers 20 daily flights to seven destinations in Mexico. In addition, Delta has applied to the Department of Transportation for authority to operate service from Atlanta to Merida, from Orlando and Los Angeles to Cancun, and from New York-JFK to Cozumel, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta, and from Cincinnati to Cabo San Lucas.

Delta's ongoing international expansion adds to the dozens of new international routes introduced or announced since Jan. 1, 2005, including New York (JFK) to Chennai, India (via Paris); New York (JFK) to Berlin, Germany; Atlanta to Moscow; New York (JFK) and Atlanta to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Atlanta to Barbados; Salt Lake City to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Atlanta to Dusseldorf, Germany. This growth supports Delta's overall network strategy to expand international service in response to increased customer demand and maintains Delta's position as the No.1 U.S. carrier across the Atlantic and as a leading carrier to Latin America and the Caribbean.



Hey, what's with the new Comair 5 daily CRJ flights from BOS to BWI? AA Eagle and Airtran both already fly that route. I guess they need to use more gates at our Boston gateway... what a waste IMO. Who knows?



Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[79%N1]

Well, I agree with Michael707767 that we ditch the pensions. $10.6 billion in obligations on our backs is quite heavy. We allowed most of the pilots who could qualify the opportunity to take half of it and be done. As far as the pensions for the rest of the workforce, well, I believe all were offered early out retirement--even the stews. A lot of the management people left early.

Then, I would try to get rid of the older, more expensive workforce. We shed 2500 of our senior pilots, and that means younger (longevity wise---years of service) pilots are now flying larger airplanes, for lower rates (a recently recalled pilot just got the 767-400 in LA)--saving Delta money. The Stews are a problem, though. They are our front line for customers, and they aren't really leaving. If they need to furlough (which they probably will--since we are parking 15% of the planes and they didn't have a mass exodus like the pilots) the younger ones with less seniority will be gone. That leaves the older, more jaded stews to be miserable. We need them to leave, but there is no age 60 rule, so either make the schedules tougher or offer more retirement programs. We have 14,000 stews, all making more than any LCC stew because they have 30 years plus. We need the cheaper, younger, more enthusiastic stew.

Then, I would invest more in advertising that isn't corny. I would add more Song flights, and bring that cost down to LCC costs. IF that means make it a seperate pilot category, then that should happen. Give them 30-40 minute turns, and more productive trips. You could make up the pay difference by making the trips 26 hours in 4 days, and making the lines worth 89 hours--but with the same number of days off.

I would try to lease from GE (our major creditor) some new 100 seaters, and put them on medium sized city pairings from ATL and JFK. The rates would likely mirror Jetblues lower rates, but that is the new benchmark, so there you go. Give them qicker turn times (30 minutes) and make the trips productive too.

As for the feed, they are really a vendor, and should be treated like one. They will either perform, or be gone. We don't pay for extra fuel prices (a la Ron Reber at SkyWest)--nope. Everyone pays for increases. That is too bad if you have to cut elsewhere. No more--"We are regionals and we are doing so well when the majors aren't".....I wonder why?

We need to fly to places that LCCs don't go to. We are adding JFK to Kiev, and will announce ATL--CPH here soon I believe. That is how you add revenue. But, we still need good feed domestically to fill those seats. You can't abandon everything domestically.


Those are some of the basic ideas. Get rid of some debt, cut costs a la pay cuts, renegotiate the leases, add some new 100 seaters, expand Song, add some advertising that isn't corny, treat the feed like vendors, and fly to cities not covered by LCCs. Those are some ideas that probably a lot of people have. I hope some of it comes to fruition.


Bye Bye--General Lee

Holy Crap GL.......

That was pretty well thought out, intelligent, and made a lot of sense!!! I often think even I could do a better job running an airline ---- but, I nominate you instead!!

 

[General Lee]

Holy Crap GL.......

That was pretty well thought out, intelligent, and made a lot of sense!!! I often think even I could do a better job running an airline ---- but, I nominate you instead!!

I can't tell if you were being sarcastic or not. I don't have all of the answers, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night (no more Westin's thanks to Chap 11).

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[TexaSWA]

Maybe they'd even paint one in the original paintjobs that Delta used on the 9's (with the sideways Widget). That would be sexy.

Would everyone please refrain from describing airplanes as "sexy".

-Thank you