Delta Planning to Eliminate More Flights

Delta Air Lines said it will trim its flight schedule an average of 2.7% through the first quarter as it struggles to manage continuing pilot shortages. Most of the eliminated flights are between cities with frequent service and redeye flights from Las Vegas to the East Coast. Delta cut about 5% of its flights last month as the full effect of crew shortages became apparent. About 4% of Delta’s 2,700 daily flights will be cut in February and about 3.5% in March. Delta’s Ohio-based subsidiary, Comair, will begin flying some routes to replace Delta service. No cities will be removed from the carrier’s route network, a Delta spokesman said. The carrier has canceled thousands of flights since November as it struggles with pilot unavailability. Some pilots have refused to fly overtime to express their displeasure with the company’s contract offer. Delta and its 9,800 pilots have been negotiating a new contract since September 1999. The airline completes about 5% of its schedule with overtime flying. The Atlanta-based Delta’s shares rose $1.81 to close at $51 on the NYSE.