Delta to Reduce System Capacity; Suspend Routes

Delta has confirmed that is it to reduce system capacity by 10% compared to 2008. The capacity reductions will begin in September 2009.

The airline plans to reduce its international capacity by an additional 5% from what was announced in March, for a 15% total reduction in international capacity.

The airline said that this fall's capacity reductions will target routes that have experienced losses in the current economic climate including:

- Suspending nonstop service from Atlanta to Seoul and Shanghai. Instead Delta will route customers for these flights over Detroit or Tokyo, or on nonstop SkyTeam partner flights.

- Suspending nonstop flights from Cincinnati to Frankfurt and London-Gatwick. Cincinnati customers will still be able to reach these and many other international destinations via Delta's other European gateways.

- Suspending nonstop service between New York-JFK and Edinburgh.

- Reducing weekly frequencies connecting Atlanta and Detroit to Mexico City and postponing some previously planned seasonal service between non-hub cities and Mexican beach destinations due to the impact of the Swine Flu (H1N1 virus) on customers' travel plans.

The additional capacity reductions and difficult operating environment mean the airline is again in the process of reassessing its staffing needs.

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