Song Flies One Millionth Customer...

[Heavy Set]

One million customers after only 5 months - not bad... And it serves all three NYC airports. Check out the entertainment system information below - sounds like an improved version of the Jetblue system.



Song Flies One Millionth Customer
Tuesday September 16, 10:48 am ET
Delta's Low-Fare Service Reaches One Million Mark after Only 5 Months in Service


NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 2003--Song(TM), Delta Air Lines' new low-fare service, announced today that it has flown its one-millionth customer, just five months after launching service on April 15th. Catherine Wertenberger, from Winter Park, FL, flew from Orlando International Airport to New York's LaGuardia Airport.
At a reception held today in the Song gate area at LaGuardia, Wertenberger was presented with a bag designed by Kate Spade, the exclusive designer for Song, in honor of being the one-millionth passenger, in addition to a waiting limo to whisk her to her final New York destination. Wertenberger will also receive free travel on Song in 2004.

"We are thrilled to reach today's milestone after only five short months," said Joanne Smith, Vice President of Marketing and Customers for Song. "Song is all about providing choices for our customers, and we couldn't be happier that one million customers have chosen to fly with us."

In October, Song plans to introduce the world's most sophisticated in-flight entertainment system. Song is partnering with Matsu**CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**a Avionics Systems and EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQISH - News) and its DISH Network(TM) satellite TV service to provide a complement of on-board amenities, which when fully implemented will include: personal video monitors at every seat; all-digital, satellite broadcast programming; digitally streamed MP3 programming; pay-per-view programming available on demand; multi-player interactive games that allow play between passengers; and interactive iXplor moving map program with zoom capabilities and points of interest information and connecting gate information broadcast directly to personal in-seat video monitors.

Song provides direct non-stop service between major cities in the Northeast United States and key Florida leisure destinations, plus Atlanta, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Juan. Utilizing a fleet of 36 199-seat, all-coach Boeing 757s, Song plans to offer 142 daily non-stop flights by October. Additionally, Song presently serves all three New York metro area airports - JFK, Newark and LaGuardia - the only low-fare service to do so.

All Song flights are operated by Delta Air Lines. Song tickets can be purchased by visiting flysong.com. A photo of the airport reception is available at www.wirepix/newsphotos.

 

[General Lee]

Heavyset,

I probably wasn't hard for them to get that many passengers that quick because Delta put the Song flights on the busy Florida routes from the NE. But, it does mean that Delta is getting the Song brand name out there, and when those TV systems are EVENTUALLY installed (I don't know when...), that will help retain passengers who enjoy the experience. We should have 37 757s flying under the Song banner by December, and the cold Winter should help the loads even more. (Flying out of all 3 major NYC airports should help too) We shall see how they do against the strong competition of Jetblue and Southwest---time will tell.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Heavy Set]

I agree. It's great news and shows that Song has great potential once the name-recognition factor is overcome - now it has a lot of customers who can provide referrals. And I kinda like the paint scheme - it has grown on me...

I am willing to bet that Delta will convert many more 757s than the 37 or so planned thusfar - probably up to 60-70 within the next few years as Song takes off even more...

 

[b747dogg]

Same old SONG, different airline.

 

[Heavy Set]

B747,

So, I guess you have flown on Song then? Have you flown on Jetblue yet? Do you know the difference between these airlines and Southwest? It's a huge difference in terms of passenger comfort - huge. Not the same "Song" and dance that you would expect on an LCC...

Don't be too quick to dismiss the progress Song has made and the impact it could have once its fully up and running with all of its new entertainment and low fares. Do yourself a favor, familiarize yourself with the Song website and you'll see...

 

[Slug]

expansion

other than the NY to FL routes, does Song have any plans to add routes?

 

[jetblue320]

One million customers after only 5 months - not bad... And it serves all three NYC airports. Check out the entertainment system information below - sounds like an improved version of the Jetblue system.

Congradulations, honestly. Now, what does this have to do with Aviation Interviews? Are they hiring?

 

[Heavy Set]

I have seen Song 757s in Los Angeles serving both Orlando and Tampa. I also believe they serve Las Vegas. My understanding is that they will fly nationwide eventually (primarily leisure routes is my guess but not sure). Song's growth is great news for the industry as well - more passengers are flying again. Of course, the Fall will likely be a bit slower due to seasonal flying, but Song's growth is encouraging...

 

[General Lee]

Jetblue320,

They will be eventually---give it three years to get the 1060 other furloughs back, and then maybe we will be hiring.(I hope Song doesn't do it's own pilot hiring evnetually!!)



As far as new routes, they are adding JFK--LAS October 1st, and if they get more than 37 757s (likely)---they will probably add PHX, OAK, SFO, etc--depending on the demand. We shall see.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Mugs]

Air rivals spar over stranded passengers

By RUSSELL GRANTHAM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


Your airplane can't fly? No problem, your competitor
will offer your stranded passengers seats on its
planes.

Such agreements are commonplace in the airline
industry, and even rivals such as Delta Air Lines and
AirTran Airways observe them to help minimize hassles
when flights are canceled.

But in the latest sign of hardball competition between
Atlanta's two largest carriers, Delta has told its
discount rival it wants to start charging a much
steeper price for carrying AirTran passengers when
problems develop.

Under the two carriers' old deal, the airline that
carries the passenger is reimbursed at a fare around
the industry average for the route. The change
proposed by Delta would boost the fee above the
highest coach fare -- raising it by hundreds of
dollars in many cases. Both AirTran and Delta would
have to pay it.

"It's going to cost us. We can't afford to pay full
Delta fare," said Tad Hutcheson, AirTran's marketing
director. "It took us by surprise, but we're actively
negotiating with Delta to develop a solution."

Delta spokesman John Kennedy also said negotiations
are still under way.

He said Delta, which is fighting a grueling financial
slump, wants higher charges because it has seen a
"significant increase" in the number of bumped
passengers from AirTran.

"It's straining us to accommodate them at the current
rates," Kennedy said. "We will continue to care for
AirTran customers ... but our focus is on Delta
customers."

AirTran said it sends thousands of passengers a month
to Delta under the current interline agreement, but
the smaller airline denies there has been any surge in
the number. AirTran also has similar deals with six
other airlines, including United and US Airways.

One industry consultant said airlines are increasingly
scrapping or raising the cost of such pacts to thwart
competitors at the expense of passengers.

"The congeniality that used to exist as far as the
passenger being the most important part of the
equation is going away," said Ron Kuhlmann, a former
Swiss Air executive who is vice president of
consulting firm Unisys R2A.

Delta's move "raises the uncertainty" for AirTran's
passengers, he said, adding that Delta is "trying to
give AirTran a bad reputation in difficult
situations."

Delta could also generate more revenue, he said, but
it's a dicey strategy.

"It could of course come back and bite them, because
it's not terribly good public relations," he said.

But he predicted a relatively small number of
passengers will be affected because AirTran, like most
carriers, completes about 99 percent of its flights.

The dispute is another spark in the long-smoldering
fight between the ailing big Atlanta airline and the
smaller discount carrier, which since Sept. 11, 2001,
has kept growing and opening new routes that compete
with Delta.

AirTran this year started service between Atlanta and
Los Angeles and Las Vegas, longtime Delta strongholds.
This fall it starts flights to San Francisco and
Washington's Reagan National Airport.

AirTran plans to quadruple its flights next year out
of Dallas-Fort Worth airport, a stronghold for
American Airlines that is also Delta's smallest hub.

Meanwhile, Delta last week announced new service from
Atlanta to Freeport, a Bahamas island city served by
AirTran. Monday, Delta said it's also offering Atlanta
travelers double miles in its frequent-flier program
for flights to Freeport.

Delta has been fighting the growing competition from
AirTran and other discounters with its own low-fare
start-up, Song, and by increasing flights, matching
fares and offering double or triple miles in its
frequent flier program on some routes.

 

[FLB717]

I understand the reason, Delta needs the money. Somebody help the brother up.

 

[General Lee]

FLB717,

Sure we do. And, this might make you watch your overbooking procedures. But hey, we'll take every extra cent we can get---thanks man!!

Bye BYe--General Lee

 

[Dizel8]

"AirTran said it sends thousands of passengers a month
to Delta under the current interline agreement."

That quite an amount of customers.

 

[General Lee]

Dizel8,

Right now, I don't care who pays for the seats. We are trying to make it through the roughest time in this industry's history. If it helps our bottom line, then great.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[FLB717]

Lets be fair about this. If Delta charges AirTran 1,200 for the ATL-DFW flight thats ok. As long as we match the fair in return. So we pay 1,200...so do they. Everybody wins

 

[NYRANGERS]

Lets be fair about this. If Delta charges AirTran 1,200 for the ATL-DFW flight thats ok. As long as we match the fair in return. So we pay 1,200...so do they. Everybody wins

Not quite......here is a quote from one of your guys......




"It's going to cost us. We can't afford to pay full
Delta fare," said Tad Hutcheson, AirTran's marketing
director. "It took us by surprise, but we're actively
negotiating with Delta to develop a solution."

 

[tbkane]

The problem is Delta can reschedule on our self most of the time so we don't send much revenue away. Airtran with limited service to most areas can't use alternate hubs and cities to get people there. It would be my guess Airtran sends us many more then we send them.

That is why we are trying to punish Airtran. Right or wrong I am not going to argue, but maybe trying to irritate Airtran customers to win them back. That could be a double edged sword if done correctly by Airtran. "Maam we tried to rebook you on Delta, but they are charing ten times your ticket price. In order to retain you how about we put you up, pay for dinner, and give you a free flight." This could be a lot cheaper than Delta's price, which could blow up in our face.

Only time will tell.

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

will Song serve as a stepping stone to Delta cockpits (once the situation improves)?

 

[General Lee]

Vladamir,

Would you call flying 757s a "stepping stone?" I don't think Dalpa will give it up---but the flying might be seperate eventually--like Delta Express and mainline----but not a different group of pilots---no way. Management may want to try, but I doubt we would go for that.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[FLB717]

General,
Man you bite that hook like a 16 lbs Bass.

Our limited service is not as limited as it was just two years ago. If we charge you what you charge us I bet for us it would be a break even, even if we send more your way. Oh well time will tell. I think we would be more inclined to give free trip and a hotel than spend money helping DAL and that would retain costomer loyalty.