dawg,
ExpressJet/ASA is also shrinking. There are CRJs that come off contract in the next 18 months with them as well.
If you have been around DL as long as you say you have, then you would know that DL's first transatlantic venture was with Swissair and Sabena and came after DL realized it could not fly all of the Pan AM network on its own.
Legally, AF/KL is a deeper venture but it came before KL/NW and DL funneled huge amounts of traffic to SR/SN. At one time, SN operated the 747 to CVG as part of the venture. DL operated ZRH.
And, yes, DL is a larger TATL carrier than either AA or UA.
traffic statistics are here to show it.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/american-airlines-group-reports-july-120000840.html
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/delta-reports-financial-operating-performance-130000769.html
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/united-reports-july-2014-operational-202000752.html
whether DL is violating the terms of the PILOT contract regarding JV balance is something they can argue about, but DL is indeed the largest US TATL airline and started cooperating with other carriers not only long before Richard Anderson but also before KL/NW.
As for ramp and maintenance and the 717, DL rampers work what ever shows up so the fact that 717s or CR9s show up means nothing. Other than in a few hubs, shifts between aircraft types doesn't affect ramp work.
As for the 717s and maintenance, DL might not be doing the same level of maintenance as on the CRJs but the 717s were delivered ready to fly thanks to WN and the 717 agreement. DL is also pulling a couple score worth of 757s from the fleet over the next few years and replacing them with 739s and 321 - the exact same thing that AA and UA are doing. There is a limit to what DL is willing to sustain with older aircraft.
Whether DL ramp or maintenance is growing or not, there have been no layoffs either.
E,
where did you come up with the notion that DL is better outsourcing maintenance to a JV partner over anyone else?
Not only is the AF/KL/DL JV not about maintenance but neither is any other partnership.
If you are referring to the AM/DL maintenance JV, there is no evidence they have the capacity to do more than what they are doing right now.
And again, the 717s don't need much heavy maintenance right now. DL specifically said the newer fleet, just like at AA and UA, will reduce maintenance spending.