Delta Air Lines

[RobertS975]

With KQ being a Skyteam member, there may well have been a decent feed for the DL flight. But the economics of the new route is not why I started this thread. It was the very fascinating last minute "stop sign" put up by the TSA and comments of "specific threats" to this flight. So how does this get "fixed"?

The Prime Minister of Kenya was to have met the incoming first flight for airport ceremonies.

[Iceman49]

Perhaps, the economics does not justify the service, and it just became easier to blame it on an outside source...

[hellsbrink]

Maybe I am reading too much into this, but the abrupt cancellation so close to the start of service by the TSA, citing information that it has derived from several sources, means that there is/was a specific threat to flights into NBO by a US flag carrier

Yes, you are reading too much into it.

The TSA state, in another link on the same page, that the threat level over East Africa (NOT just Nairobi) is too high at this time. Why would that be the case?

Somalia

[411A]

Perhaps, the economics does not justify the service, and it just became easier to blame it on an outside source...

Wrong.
For some airlines, African flights can indeed be very profitable, as in...smiling all the way to the bank.

The world does not end at the southern boundry of the Mediterranian.
Some folks need to take a slightly broader world view...

[jstevenbaker]

I have read every article that I can find about the cancellation because I have a safari vacation the beginning of August now in jeapardy. Therefore, this was a disappointment as well as a shock to me.

This was NOT cancelled by Delta. I saw somebody on the thread said DL used security threats as an easy out because of poor economics. That's BS. My girlfriend works for DL in the international arena and is as plugged into this new service as anybody except for maybe Gov't Affairs. The decision was a shock to DL and Kenyans alike.

The most specific detail I have found is an alleged threat on aircraft using the Nairobi airport - not US specific per this article. And TSA associated the current threat with an incident that occured over 7 years ago in Mombasa.

It is all very odd to me. To prohibit operations the same day as the inaugural flight I would expect requires something very specific and very credible...or the TSA is teaching somebody a lesson at the expense of passengers who have purchased tickets for services that now do not exist. The biggest surprise is how little information to justify the decision has been shared with Delta, Kenyan officials, and the public. This is a significant and mysterious blow to those business stakeholders that have invested in the Kenya-US service.

[RobertS975]

Maybe disclosing exactly what was known or suspected about an impending plot will hamper the pursuit and capture of those involved, or even jeopardize under cover assets in the region.

[davidjohnson6]

If we assume that the US Govt operates in a relatively non-corrupt manner, then for the TSA to decide that DL cannot operate their route to NBO at short notice, would require some degree of accountability withiin the US Govt.

Either the TSA is acting without sufficient controls, or there is something which the US Govt security apparatus knows which we don't know and cannot be told.

One assumes that the people running the TSA are aware of the need to demonstrate accountability and that sufficient controls are in place, so as to enjoy the confidence of both the American public as well as the upper echelons of the US Executive.

The TSA are presumably aware that if the American public lose confidence in the existing controls and accountability process, then there are likely to be significant ramifications.

[B Sousa]

Delta Drivers doing the ATL/JNB run??

Any of you guys who are now on the Delta route into Africa. There are quite a few places to visit if your not familiar, makes the stay a bit nicer.
Please drop me a PM and I can give you some suggestions on the places to visit. There are also other websites for those flying in Africa.

Delta now has the nicest routing for me rather than going through Europe. Keep Delta ready when I am..

Thanks

Bert

[stylo4444]

Delta 737-800s

Sorry for this is not the right place to post this question.

Does anyone know the status of Delta's project to install PTV's on every seat for these aircraft? I hard read before that it was supposed to have been completed last year, but not 100% sure. If anyone has any info, that would help greatly as I will be flying on one in the next couple weeks.

Many thanks.

[bobleeds]

Travelled Atlanta to John Wayne and return last year on 737-700 and 737-800W, I can't recall any PTV's on either flight. However, the system on the transatlantic leg from MAN (767-400) was excellent, so should be pretty good as and when fitted. Also found the Delta Cabin crew to be very helpful and happy going about their work.

Enjoy your trip!

[OltonPete]

European/ME Service Reductions this Autumn

No press releases but mentioned on another forum and it starts this Autumn.

One explanation given is a 7% year-on-year reduction under the joint venture with KLM and Air France. No idea if this is correct of not.

Services allegedly cancelled: -

JFK - CPH, ARN, TXL, CAI, AMM

PHL - CDG

MEM - AMS

ATL - SVO.

However despite getting flights for MAN-JFK on most booking engines and in the Delta.com timetable but when booking from October onwards it seems only to offer via AMS. Anybody have any more information on this?

Pete

[Jamie2k9]

Delta Winter 2011/12

Cut:
JFK - MAN - 10 Sep - 26 Mar - US deparutres

Reductions:
ATL - AMS - A332 (A333 W10)
ATL - MXP - 4 weekly (5 weekly W10)
ATL - MUC - B763 (B764 W10)
ATL - CDG - daily (2 daily W10) AF will operate 2 daily (1 daily 10)
BOS - LHR - daily (planned 2 daily)
EWR - AMS - B764 (A332 W10)
JFK - MXP - B763 (A332 W10)
PDX - AMS - 5 weekly (daily W10)

Increase:
ATL - BCN - daily B767 (5 weekly B767 W10)
DTW - AMS - 3 daily A333 (A332 W10)
JFK - BRU - daily B767 (757 W10)
JFK - DUB - daily B767 (757 W10)
JFK - PRG - daily B767 (5 weekly W10)
SLC - CDG - daily B767 (5 weekly W10)

[Jamie2k9]

Delta Winter 2011/12 - further reductions

Reductions:
JFK - ATH - 5 weekly (daily winter 2010/11)
JFK - NCE - reduced to 4 weekly (29 Oct - 9 Jan) then cancelled until 23 March.
JFK - MAD - 5 weekly (daily winter 2010/11)
JFK - PRG - 5 weekly (planned to be daily winter 2011/12 but same as winter 2011/12)

New Route:
ORD - CDG - Oct 29 - 5 weekly replaces Air France

[jabird]

Comparing prices on LHR-LOS v LHR-JFK/EWR shows that there is certainly vast profit potential in Africa routes from the UK at least.

And the phrase African-American must have come from somewhere!

But I am still curious about DL's best strategy for ta flights - bring them into JFK which must be the biggest destination, and offer some onward connections, or to ATL which is neither a significant tourist destination nor a top metropolitan area, but which just happens to be the world's busiest airport.

I'd be curious about where the main final destinations are for Africa-US services?

[delta154]

Some more changes to the system, most notably as previously reported on here were:

Increase:
ATL - BCN - daily B767 (5 weekly B767 W10)

This is now back to 5 weekly

JFK - DUB - daily B767 (757 W10)

This is now reverted back to a B757 for the winter

SNN is cut for the winter (was 4 weekly winter 10)

More details on the famous blog site for new routes.

[j636]

Delta extends suspension of 5 trans Atlantic routes until 1 June 2012 instead of resuming on 23 March 2012.

Atlanta – Moscow Sheremetyevo
New York JFK – Berlin Tegel
New York JFK – Copenhagen
New York JFK – Manchester
New York JFK – Stockholm