Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines has announced a major long haul expansion of its network from its JFK hub for 2008. In addition, the airline has been granted rights to fly to Shanghai, China nonstop from its Atlanta hub effective April 2008 on a daily basis using a Boeing 777-200ER. The main highlights of its JFK based expansion worldwide is as follows :

AMM - new 4 times a week service flown nonstop using a B 763ER effective June 5th 2008.

CAI - new 5 times a week service flown nonstop using a B 763ER effective June 4th 2008.

NBO - new 4 weekly service to be flown via DKR using a B 763ER effective 2nd June 2008.

CPT - new 3 weekly service to be flown via DKR using a B 763ER effective 3rd June 2008.

LOS - new daily service from JFK to be flown daily using a B 763ER effective 9nd June 2008. DL already flies daily ATL-LOS with the B 763ER.

BOM - to be served with a B 777-200LR instead of -200ER to avoid pay load restrictions.

EDI - new daily service to be flown using a B 752ER effective 1st May 08.

MAN/BRU/AMS/FRA - all 3 cities to be downgraded from a B 763ER to a B 752ER.

TLV - new daily flights to begin with a B 763ER effective 10th March 08.

NCE/DUB/BCN - all to be increased to daily flights for Summer 2008.

Analysis :

Not since the days of PAN AM, have we seen such a major expansion undertaken by an American carrier in Africa which is very pleasing to see. The only thing that one cannot comprehend here is why would DL send a B 757-200ER from JFK to FRA when LH flies triple daily on the route using more luxurious wide bodied aircraft with a superior premium cabin especially. This move is bound to back fire for DL on the JFK-FRA sector. It should just stick to its double daily ATL-FRA flights rather than fly another one from JFK just for prestige purposes.