Airlines Cut Transatlantic Fares by 30% : Travel: Delta initiates the reduction, and several rivals rush to match it. The hope is to avoid an all-out price war, however.

In a move that was quickly matched by other carriers, Delta Air Lines Inc. on Tuesday lowered transatlantic fares this fall and winter by about 30%.

Delta spokesman Neil Monroe said the airline wanted to establish a fare structure on the transatlantic routes early in order to avoid a price war similar to the one that cut summer fares in half.

American Airlines, British Airways and Continental followed suit. United Airlines said it planned to meet Delta’s prices but was studying the details. Trans World Airlines spokesman Don Fleming said the airline will follow Delta’s lead, with a few possible exceptions.

American, the nation’s largest carrier, extended cuts of up to 30% initiated last week on flights to the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean. That sale is for flights between Sept. 14 and Dec. 14 when tickets are bought before Aug. 31.

Delta’s fare reductions of 10% to 40% apply to all of its 33 European destinations and Israel. The fares, if approved by government regulators, will be available today through Sept. 4 for trips between Oct. 1 and March 31. The non-refundable fares require a stay of seven to 30 days.

Delta lowered the price of a round trip between Los Angeles and Frankfurt to $698 from $878.

The discounts cannot be used for flights to Europe or Israel that depart in the week before Christmas Eve and return during the week following New Year’s Day.

Some travel experts said Delta’s fall and winter discounts are not as attractive as last year’s sale prices. Last year, prices were 10% to 20% lower, said Tom Parsons, editor of Best Fares magazine.

“Delta has set the figure hoping that no one will go lower,” Parsons said. “This is just the first wave. I think we will see continued fare wars and bargains to Europe.”

A 50% fare war this spring among major airlines contributed to one of the worst financial results in the industry’s history. Delta alone lost $180 million in the second quarter and plans to lay off temporary employees to cut costs.

Last week Delta launched a 30% discount for domestic flights between mid-September and mid-December. At the same time, it said it would raise fares 5% once it stops selling the discounted tickets on Aug. 31.