BY CHIP JONES
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Sep 20, 2006
By using the long, narrow-body jet, Delta will offer 41 additional seats on each of the two daily Atlanta flights currently served by an MD-88.
AP
Delta Air Lines, which recently grabbed the largest share of local air travel, is preparing to stake another claim.
On Nov. 1, Delta will introduce a Boeing 757 jet at Richmond International Airport for regular service to and from its home base of Atlanta.
"This would be the largest scheduled aircraft flying into Richmond on a regular basis," said George Hoffer, a Virginia Commonwealth University economics professor.
Delta spokeswoman Gina Laughlin said the Boeing 757 would be used for the most popular morning flight at 7:40 a.m. and also for a high-demand return flight back from Atlanta at 6:55 p.m.
By using the long, narrow body jet, Delta will add 41 more seats on each of the two daily Atlanta flights currently served by an MD-88 jet.
"It's a well-timed flight for business travelers and other travelers making connections," Laughlin said of the 7:40 a.m. flight. "Obviously we see a demand for those additional seats."
Airport spokesman Troy Bell said the airport has incomplete records about the history of aircraft sizes.
But the Boeing 757 appears to be the biggest commercial aircraft in regular service here since Eastern Airlines used an Airbus 300 jet before that airline went out of business in 1991. The 757 is larger than the Airbus, he said.
Delta's move is tied to a long-term strategy to drive low-fare rival AirTran Airways out of the market, Hof- fer said. That happened in early 1999, but AirTran returned in mid-2005.
Introducing the 757 "shows its aggressiveness toward AirTran," Hoffer said.
Laughlin replied, "We compete with all carriers we serve, in every market we serve."
Delta commanded a 25.4 percent share of the local airport passengers in July, barely outpacing US Airways. AirTran had a 7.3 percent share.
Delta has 10 flights daily to Atlanta, compared to AirTran's five flights.
But AirTran has cut one of those daily flights on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday because those are slow days for the airline. The low-fare carrier also has reduced its earlier service to Orlando, flying nonstop only on Saturdays.
Since AirTran re-entered the Richmond market last year, Delta has upped its seating capacity here by 6.3 percent. After the 757's introduction, Delta will have a daily capacity to Atlanta of 1,113 seats -- or about double AirTran's comparable seating.
The Capital Region Airport Commission, which operates the airport for area governments, has expressed concern that Delta might drive its rival out of the market after AirTran helped drive down overall air fares.
AirTran officials have said they're getting solid support from the Richmond business community and say the airline is satisfied with its local performance.
Commission Chairman Beverley "Booty" Armstrong welcomed Delta's aircraft introduction because "we're always glad to get additional seats going to any city."
Delta, which is operating under bankruptcy protection, has been adding flights from Richmond to New York and Atlanta in recent months and is making other moves to help it return to profitability.
"It does appear that Delta is being extremely aggressive in its competitive stance with the Atlanta market," and AirTran in particular, Armstrong said.
Airport officials said they hope Delta has more long-haul service on its radar.
"A 757 has the range to fly to interesting destinations I frequently hear about, like Las Vegas or even their Salt Lake City hub," Bell said.
Bell and other airport officials stay in regular contact with counterparts at Delta, but he said they have not heard any promises about extending the 757's reach beyond Atlanta.
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Sep 20, 2006
By using the long, narrow-body jet, Delta will offer 41 additional seats on each of the two daily Atlanta flights currently served by an MD-88.
AP
Delta Air Lines, which recently grabbed the largest share of local air travel, is preparing to stake another claim.
On Nov. 1, Delta will introduce a Boeing 757 jet at Richmond International Airport for regular service to and from its home base of Atlanta.
"This would be the largest scheduled aircraft flying into Richmond on a regular basis," said George Hoffer, a Virginia Commonwealth University economics professor.
Delta spokeswoman Gina Laughlin said the Boeing 757 would be used for the most popular morning flight at 7:40 a.m. and also for a high-demand return flight back from Atlanta at 6:55 p.m.
By using the long, narrow body jet, Delta will add 41 more seats on each of the two daily Atlanta flights currently served by an MD-88 jet.
"It's a well-timed flight for business travelers and other travelers making connections," Laughlin said of the 7:40 a.m. flight. "Obviously we see a demand for those additional seats."
Airport spokesman Troy Bell said the airport has incomplete records about the history of aircraft sizes.
But the Boeing 757 appears to be the biggest commercial aircraft in regular service here since Eastern Airlines used an Airbus 300 jet before that airline went out of business in 1991. The 757 is larger than the Airbus, he said.
Delta's move is tied to a long-term strategy to drive low-fare rival AirTran Airways out of the market, Hof- fer said. That happened in early 1999, but AirTran returned in mid-2005.
Introducing the 757 "shows its aggressiveness toward AirTran," Hoffer said.
Laughlin replied, "We compete with all carriers we serve, in every market we serve."
Delta commanded a 25.4 percent share of the local airport passengers in July, barely outpacing US Airways. AirTran had a 7.3 percent share.
Delta has 10 flights daily to Atlanta, compared to AirTran's five flights.
But AirTran has cut one of those daily flights on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday because those are slow days for the airline. The low-fare carrier also has reduced its earlier service to Orlando, flying nonstop only on Saturdays.
Since AirTran re-entered the Richmond market last year, Delta has upped its seating capacity here by 6.3 percent. After the 757's introduction, Delta will have a daily capacity to Atlanta of 1,113 seats -- or about double AirTran's comparable seating.
The Capital Region Airport Commission, which operates the airport for area governments, has expressed concern that Delta might drive its rival out of the market after AirTran helped drive down overall air fares.
AirTran officials have said they're getting solid support from the Richmond business community and say the airline is satisfied with its local performance.
Commission Chairman Beverley "Booty" Armstrong welcomed Delta's aircraft introduction because "we're always glad to get additional seats going to any city."
Delta, which is operating under bankruptcy protection, has been adding flights from Richmond to New York and Atlanta in recent months and is making other moves to help it return to profitability.
"It does appear that Delta is being extremely aggressive in its competitive stance with the Atlanta market," and AirTran in particular, Armstrong said.
Airport officials said they hope Delta has more long-haul service on its radar.
"A 757 has the range to fly to interesting destinations I frequently hear about, like Las Vegas or even their Salt Lake City hub," Bell said.
Bell and other airport officials stay in regular contact with counterparts at Delta, but he said they have not heard any promises about extending the 757's reach beyond Atlanta.
