Delta Airlines Makes More Cuts

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (FOX13) – –
Delta airlines is making more cuts.

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The company says effective January 5, Delta will cut nonstop flights to Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and Dallas.

In April, it will end its flight to Washington, DC.

Delta also confirmed that seasonal nonstop flights to Las Vegas will start up in March and to Salt Lake City in June.

At least 84 of the company’s Memphis employees will be affected by these changes, though the airline said it will offer those employees positions elsewhere in the company.

FOX13 is following this developing story.  Stay with MyFoxMemphis.com.

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Delta to cut more flights in 2009

Jet-fuel prices soar 79%Jet-fuel prices soar 79%

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Delta Air Lines said it plans to cut overall flight capacity by 6% to 8% next year due to “the global economic recession and weaker demand for air travel.” As result, passengers can expect flights to be crowded and fare deals to be scarce.

Delta (DAL, Fortune 500), an Atlanta-based carrier that merged with Northwest Airlines in October, said it will eliminate its least fuel-efficient flights in order to meet that goal. Delta intends to trim domestic capacity by 8% to 10% while only paring international seats by 3% to 5%.

“I think the action taken by Delta is a clarion call for the others to reduce their capacity,” said Harlan Platt, a finance professor and airline expert at Northeastern University College of Business Administration.

This summer, the other leading U.S.-based carriers, including AMR Corp.’s (AMR, Fortune 500) American Airlines, UAL Corp.’s (UAUA, Fortune 500) United Airlines, Continental Airlines (CAL, Fortune 500) and US Airways (LCC, Fortune 500), all said they would reduce capacity in 2008. Since then, the airlines have all discussed extending those cuts into 2009, but Delta was the among the first to give specifics, according to Ray Neidl, airline analyst for Calyon Securities.

He anticipates industry-wide capacity cuts of 4% to 5% for 2009, compared to industry-wide cuts of 10% to 11% in 2008. His estimates include domestic and international flights for the major U.S.-based carriers.

Neidl expects American Airlines to be the next company to announce cuts resulting from the recession that has dogged the economy since December 2007.

Platt agreed: “I think that American, as a consequence of never going into bankruptcy, never cut quite as deep into the bone [as competing airlines].

American Airlines chief Gerard Arpey outlined some of the company’s 2009 plans in its most recent earnings teleconference. Arpey said that domestic capacity is expected to decline about 8.5% in 2009, compared to the prior year; international capacity is expected to slip less than 1% in 2009.

A spokesman for American called the 2009 cuts an extension of cuts that began in 2008.

For 2008, Delta has said it would cut 8% to 10% of domestic flight capacity, but it would add 14% to 16% capacity for international flights, which are considered more profitable. In fact, Delta said it was continuing to invest in the Pacific Ocean, Africa, India and the Middle East.

Platt estimated that industry-wide domestic capacity cuts for 2008 could reach 20%, while Neidl believes they will be capped at 12%.

The airlines blamed soaring fuel prices for the 2008 cuts. They also added a plethora of new fees for extra luggage, pet handling, over-the-phone ticket purchases, frequent flier mile redemptions, and other services that were once included in the ticket price. Fuel costs have since dropped, though the fees remain in place.

Airlines are also cutting jobs. Delta, which employs about 75,000 workers, previously announced it would eliminate 4,000 jobs through voluntary severance packages. American Airlines announced in July that it was cutting 7,000 jobs, or 8% of its total staff, through the end of 2008. To top of page

Boeing Loses Big As Delta Orders 50 Airbus Jets To Renew Long-Range Fleet

Delta Airlines, the second-biggest airline in the world by passengers carried, has ordered 50 widebody long-range jets from Airbus, dealing Boeing a blow in one of the most hotly contested commercial aircraft competitions in recent years. The order, worth about $13 billion at list prices, is for 25 Airbus A350-900 and 25 A330-900, aviation site Leeham News reported, citing two unidentified sources.

Both the planes are twinjets designed to reduce fuel consumption compared to the previous generation of large passenger aircraft.

The order adds to the sales success of the A350, the latest product from European consortium Airbus and the direct competitor of Chicago-based Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. The recently launched A330-900 is part of the A330neo family, a modified version of the A330, which has been in service with airlines for 20 years.    

Boeing was offering the 787-9, the midsize model of its newest aircraft family. The 787 has been in service for three years, while the A350 is entering service later this year or early in 2015, after delivery to launch customer Qatar Airways in December. The A330neo, which has not flown yet, is slated to enter service in 2017.

Delta already has some 787s on order, in fact. The purchase of 18 Dreamliners had been made by Northwest Airlines, which merged with Delta in 2010, but those airplanes will not be delivered until 2020 after Northwest deferred the order due to economic difficulties.  

The  A350-900 will join the Delta fleet before that date, since there are dozens of delivery slots available after Dubai-based Emirates Airline canceled an order for 70 earlier this year. The availability of early delivery slots — a plus in the market for large commercial jets,  which are booked many years in advance — may have helped tip the balance in favor of Boeing, analyst Michel Merluzeau told Bloomberg News.

According to sources cited by Leeham, the longer-range A350 will be used on routes across the Pacific Ocean while the A330 will fly over the Atlantic. Delta already employs several current-model A330s on Atlantic routes.

The A350 seats up to 314 in a three-class configuration and can fly a full load of passengers and cargo up to 7,750 nautical miles, or 14,350 kilometers, making it one of the longest-range aircraft in the world, well suited for the long overwater stretches of Pacific routes.

The A330-900, the larger of the two models making up the A330neo (for “new engine option”) family, seats up to 310 in a three-class layout and can fly nonstop for up to 6,200 nautical miles.

Rolls-Royce is the sole maker of engines for both the A350 and A330neo.  

The A350 has a total of 750 orders; the A330neo, launched earlier this year, around 125, according to Airbus figures that do not include the Delta order. Boeing has sold 1,054 Dreamliners to date.  

Airbus set to sign $14 bn deal with Delta for 50 planes

Paris (AFP) – European aerospace giant Airbus is poised to sign a contract to deliver 50 long-haul carriers to US Delta Airlines in a deal worth $14 billion (11 billion euros) at catalogue prices, sources told AFP on Thursday.

Under the terms of the deal, Airbus will deliver 25 A350-900s, the company’s new long-haul carrier that this month received certification from the US Federal Aviation Authority and is due to enter service by the end of the year, a source close to the negotiations said on condition of anonymity.

The other 25 planes will be A330-neos, an updated version of its wide-body medium-haul jet with fuel saving engines which is slated to enter into service at the end of 2017.

“The order should be finalised in the coming days,” said one of the sources. “The announcement could be made at the beginning of next week.”

Delta had asked Airbus and Boeing in April to submit offers as the airline considers replacing its ageing fleet of long-haul 747-400 and 767-300 jets, saying it expected to place an order by the end of the year.

The A350-900 is designed to compete with Boeing 777 and 787 jets in the lucrative long-haul segment and has already received 750 orders.

Equipped with Trent XWB engines from Rolls-Royce, the plane can transport 315 passengers up to 14,500 kilometres (9,000 miles).

Delta already has a sizable fleet of Airbus aircraft, with 126 single-aisle medium-haul A320s and 32 A330s. It has recently made orders for another 55 Airbus planes.

– Rush for fuel savings –

Aerospace analyst Christophe Menard said that Airbus likely benefitted from the fact that it could deliver A350s rather quickly after Emirates cancelled in June an order for 70 of the aircraft.

“Boeing, on the contrary, doesn’t have quick slots available for its 787,” he said.

Westhouse Securities said in a note to investors that the order indicates that the delivery date is becoming a crucial factor for airlines.

The likely order “demonstrates that scarcity of delivery positions for some aircraft is becoming a deal-losing issue – recall that Airbus and Boeing combined have 8.6 years of backlog…”, said Westhouse Securities.

Airlines are in a major push to modernise their fleets to reap the fuel savings that the latest generation of engines offer, especially as competition in the sector is fierce and fuel is one of biggest costs.

As Airbus and Rolls-Royce still have relatively low market share with the older, or so-called legacy US airlines, “this is an important win –- particularly as the US legacies have old fleets and thus big future replacement demand,” said Westhouse Securities.

Delta’s fleet is on average 17 years old.

Menard noted Delta was one of the airlines which had been encouraging Airbus to offer a version of the A330 with new engines.

“This order would therefore be logical,” he said.

The order, if confirmed, would be the second major deal this month for Airbus.

Earlier Airbus announced that it had signed a preliminary deal to supply the China Aircraft Leasing Company with 100 planes in a contract worth around $10.2 billion (8.1 billion euros) at catalogue prices.

The orders will help Airbus narrow Boeing’s lead in new orders for this year as the US manufacturer has not announced any major new contracts this month.

At the end of October Boeing had 1,046 net new aircraft orders for this year against 794 for Airbus.

Shares in Airbus Group initially rose on the news, but were later pulled down along with the wider French market as survey data showed business activity continues to contract.

In afternoon trading Airbus Group shares were down 0.73 percent to 46.65 euros while the CAC 40 index had given up 1.17 percent to 4,216.18 points.

Delta to offer non-stop flights to Seattle from Boise starting in 2015

Delta Airlines has announced that four non-stop flights from Boise to Seattle will be offered beginning May, 2015.

“We are thrilled to see Delta Airlines grow and expand its service out of the Boise Airport”, said Boise Airport Director Rebecca Hupp. “The new service will give our customers even more travel options from Boise to Seattle”.

“We are so pleased that Delta is bringing the residents and businesses of Boise more connections to Seattle, a key city in this region of the country,” said Boise Mayor Dave Bieter. “It’s more evidence that the Boise Airport is constantly adding value to its operations and is essential to our city’s development as we strive to be the most livable city in the country.”

The flights will be operated through Delta’s connection carrier SkyWest Airlines that is currently constructing a $19.5 million maintenance hangar at the Boise Airport slated to open in fall of 2015.

Delta’s inaugural flight from Boise to Seattle will be on May 4, 2015. Tickets for the new service will be available for purchase beginning November 22, 2014.
 

Man suing Delta claims 12-hour flight caused blood clot

A Kennesaw man is suing Delta airlines after he said a 12-hour flight on Delta Airlines caused a blood clot that almost killed him.

Channel 2’s Diana Davis spoke with the man about what he said led to his scary health emergency.

Jordan Pajares was on a non-stop flight from Peru to Atlanta a little over a year ago when he said a child passenger had a medical emergency. The plane landed in Ecuador and what was supposed to be just a 30-minute stop to get the child off the plane, turned into about three hours of sitting on the tarmac.

He said he was crammed in the middle of the seat unable to move and began to feel intense pain in his legs.

“Numbness first, then I realized that my feet were swelling,” Pajares said.

Pajares told the flight attendant about the unusual activity happening to his body, but the flight attendant would not let him get up and move except for one trip to the bathroom.

When Pajares finally landed in Atlanta, he says his condition got worse.

“My veins in both legs were popped out like varicose veins and I was like, ‘This is not normal, this is weird,’” he said.

He developed a cough a day or two later and began coughing up blood. He says hospital doctors said a blood clot in his leg probably formed during the long flight. The clot lodged in Pajares’ lungs, nearly killing him. The condition is called “deep vein thrombosis.” It can lead to clots moving to the brain, heart and lungs.

Pajares’ lawyer claims cases like his client’s are becoming more common as airline seats become more crammed.

“When someone is complaining about leg pain, the proper response is to get blood circulating and moving and the best way to do that is to have them walk, extend their legs, rough flex exercise,” Johnson said.

Davis called Delta for a response to the lawsuit. A spokesperson emailed her that they were looking into it, but were unable to comment on litigation.

Delta flight makes emergency landing

Passengers and crew of a Delta Airlines flight from Osaka, Japan, arrived on Guam several hours later than scheduled on Monday after it made an emergency landing on Iwo Jima, officials confirmed yesterday.

Delta Flight 294 made an emergency landing on Iwo Jima Sunday afternoon, and another plane was sent to pick up its passengers to continue the flight to Guam several hours later, said Tetsuo Kobayashi, with the Public Safety Department Aviation Safety Office o Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau.

Kobayashi said the flight was diverted to Iwo Jima and landed there at 1:58 p.m. Sunday Guam time. The replacement aircraft arrived on Iwo Jima around 8 p.m. and took off at 10:20 p.m. for Guam. That flight normally is scheduled to arrive at 2:45 p.m., according to the airline’s flight schedule on delta.com.

Guam’s airport agency received notice that a Delta flight was arriving several hours later than scheduled, said Rolenda Lujan Faasuamalie, the airport’s marketing manager.

Delta Airlines didn’t have a response to a request for comment as of press time yesterday.

Japan media reported that the flight had 171 passengers and crew aboard a Boeing 757-200.

The flight made an emergency landing on Iwo Jim after it experienced an engine problem, The Aviation Herald reported.

The aviation safety office stated there were no reports of injury or distressed passengers or crew.

The Delta plane that experienced the problem still was on Iwo Jima, the aviation office stated.

Japan’s Ministry of Transport reported the aircraft was about 270 miles south-southeast of Iwo Jima when the crew reported a problem with the left engine and decided to divert the flight, the Aviation Herald reported.

Iwo Jima, or sulfur island, was the site of a fierce battle between U.S. and Japanese forces during World War II.

Tampa man doesn't buy airline's explanation for lost dog

Delta Airlines said proper procedures were followed when a Tampa man’s dog went missing before a cross-country flight from Los Angeles.

But Frank Romano is skeptical of the airline’s explanation of how the 6-year-old pit terrier, Ty, disappeared from a travel carrier two weeks ago and hasn’t been seen since.

Romano was in his seat preparing for departure to Tampa on Oct. 31 when he was pulled aside by a Delta agent and told Ty had chewed through the cage and was gone.

“Then she changed her story to they couldn’t find my dog and the dog’s been lost for over an hour,” he told KCBS-TV in Los Angeles.

Romano told NBC’s “Today” that Delta sent him photos of Ty’s broken carrier. However, Romano said he believes the caged door was broken from the outside.

“The metal door was off the hinges and everything,” Romano told “Today.” “It doesn’t look like a dog bit through that.”

In a statement, Delta said, “Early indications show that procedures were followed and the dog may have compromised the kennel on its own. Delta regrets this occurred while this pet was in our care.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that about a half-dozen pets have chewed through kennels and died on flights for various carriers this year, KCBS-TV reported. It was the second time this year a dog reportedly chewed through a crate at the Los Angeles airport, according to “Today.”

Romano’s family moved from California to the Tampa area last month to find better work. He grew close to Ty more than a year ago while volunteering at a North Hollywood pet store as a dog walker, then adopted him.

“It’s been very depressing, very upsetting,” Romano told KCBS-TV. “I’ve been crying. I’ve been angry.”

The Los Angeles airport said a search for Ty was recently called off after no sightings of the dog were reported. Romano told “Today” that Delta gave him a $200 credit because of the incident.

The dog is microchipped so Romano remains hopeful Ty will still be found.

“I just want my dog back safe and sound,’’ Romano told “Today.” “He’s my best friend. I just want to see him again.”

Delta Airlines loses a man's best friend

LOSING A LOVED ONE: Frank Ramano with Ty.

It’s bad enough when an airline loses your luggage. But how would you feel if they lost your best furry friend?

Delta Airlines is being accused of losing a dog which has yet to be found after nearly two weeks on the loose.

Frank Romano was flying from Los Angeles International Airport to Tampa, Florida, on October 31 (local time) when he was told six-year-old pit bull Ty had gone missing.

A Delta agent first told him the dog had chewed through his kennel but had been found and just needed to be identified, Romano told Today.

 “And then two minutes later, she told me that he ran away an hour ago and they still can’t find him.” 

Romano and his family got off the plane and unsuccessfully searched all over the airport for the dog, which was micro-chipped, New York Daily News reported.

The next day they grudgingly boarded a second Tampa-bound flight, leaving the search to the airline.

Delta said “early indications show procedures were followed and the dog may have compromised the kennel on its own.” 

Romano said the airline had given him a US$200 (NZ$254) credit to cover the dog’s fare, but that did not cover the cost of losing his dog.

After seeing photographs of the kennel, he also had doubts about the claim his dog broke out of the crate.

“To me honestly, it looks like it was broken from the outside,” Romano said. “Like the metal door was off the hinges and everything. It doesn’t look like a dog bit through that.” 

The airport said staff had looked for the dog but had suspended the search after receiving no reports of dog sightings.

Romano got Ty more than a year ago at a pet store where he volunteered as a dog walker.

Store manager David Cervantes of Bird House/Dog House in North Hollywood, told CBS Los Angeles the two quickly formed a bond.

Originally he had not wanted to let Romano adopt Ty because Romano’s family was homeless and living in motels.

Romano said he had been moving with his family from LA to Tampa in the hope of finding steady work.

Losing Ty was “very depressing, very upsetting. I’ve been crying. I’ve been angry”.

“I just want my dog back. He’s my best friend.”

According to the US Department of Transportation’s website, more than a dozen pets have chewed through their kennels and died on flights this year.


 – © Fairfax NZ News

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Delta Airlines Deal at Hotel Caravelle in the US Virgin Islands Includes $10 Bar Credit and Complimentary 7th Night …

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Hotel Caravelle, St. Croix US Virgin Islands

A week is just barely enough time to explore all that St. Croix has to offer.

St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (PRWEB) November 12, 2014

To celebrate the return of Delta flights to St. Croix, which offers weekly service on Saturdays, Hotel Caravelle is offering guests who book the Delta Deal a $10 bar credit and the 7th night free. The Delta Deal is valid from December 20, 2014 to August 15, 2015. For questions or to make a reservation, call Hotel Caravelle at 340-773-0687.

“A week is just barely enough time to explore all that St. Croix has to offer,” commented Sid Kalmans, the owner of Hotel Caravelle, “From scuba diving to visiting local organic farms, the options are endless. The shops, the galleries, the restaurants are always favorites for visitors. With so much to do, we always remind or guests to plan time to relax and unwind as well.”

Delta Airlines offers weekly Saturday service from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix. The service will run from December 20, 2014 to August 15, 2015. Flights, which are just 3 hours 51 minutes, depart at 10:55 am and arrive paradise at 3:46 pm.

Sid Kalmans, the owner of Hotel Caravelle, suggests his favorite things to do while on St. Croix:

Arrival Day: Put luggage in the room, and head to Rumrunner’s – Hotel Caravelle’s waterfront bar and restaurant – enjoy the ocean view while sipping an ice cold beer or frozen drink. Having won People’s Choice award more than 9 times, this is also the perfect spot for a delicious dinner.

Sunday: Take a sailing trip to Buck Island, one of the nations few underwater parks. Sailboats depart right in front of Hotel Caravelle. Wave to friends back home at the GoToStCroix.com webcam at the corner of Hotel Caravelle facing the harbor.

Monday: Take a walking tour of historic Christiansted. Bring a camera. Once the tour is over, relax at Hotel Caravelle’s pool with a cold beverage.

Tuesday: Discover St. Croix with a guided tour of the island. Choices include an adventure tour like TanTan Tours, a more relaxed open-air bus tour with Sweeney or a self-guided tour with a rental car.

Wednesday: St. Croix is a fantastic culinary destination. Try lunch at Café Christine in Christiansted, dinner at Salud! Bistro and dessert at Tutto Bene. The island is full of great chefs and restaurants. One way to explore the dining scene is to see who won A Taste of St. Croix at http://www.facebook.com/STCROIXFoodandWineExperience

Thursday: Christiansted hosts ArtThursday– a special night where stores and galleries stay open late, offering wine and cheese, restaurants offer specials and there is live entertainment in the streets.

Friday: Head to the beach. You can take a ferry to the beach on Protestant Cay, take a taxi to Rainbow Beach in Frederiksted (which has a bar and restaurant), or head to Cane Bay which offers great snorkeling and a selection of beach restaurants.

Saturday: Say goodbye to all your new friends. Be sure to take some local rum back home with you. And book your return trip real soon.

Located on the waterfront in the historic town of Christiansted, Hotel Caravelle, known for its friendly staff, blends European elegance with Caribbean charm. The hotel’s 43 rooms offer with all the amenities including a/c, satellite TV, phone, iron and ironing board, hair dryer and radio. The Penthouse Suite features a living room, kitchen and an over-sized master bedroom. The award-winning Rumrunner’s waterfront restaurant and bar, located in Hotel Caravelle, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Restaurants, bars, historical landmarks, galleries and shops are all walking distance from the boutique hotel. For more information visit http://www.hotelcaravelle.com or call 800-524-0410.

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