Delta's New York to D.C. Shuttle, Bucking Tradition, Removes Midday Flights

[Hatu]

Delta Air Lines (DAL - Get Report) said it will cut back on its New York La Guardia-Washington Reagan National shuttle flights, ending a longstanding pattern of hourly flights on the shuttle...

Over the weekend Delta loaded fall schedules, which take effect in August, that have 12 daily weekday departures, but skip two midday flights.

"Delta is unwilling to take the load factor and profitability penalty that goes with operating midday hours," said aviation consultant Bob Mann.

Operating a shuttle is "a peaky business," Mann said. "It makes sense to fly only when you can make money."

http://www.thestreet.com/story/13554107/1/delta-s-new-york-to-d-c-shuttle-bucking-tradition-removes-midday-flights.html?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO

 

[FWAAA]

Makes sense. Back in the regulated era, the shuttle flights were not cheap but there was a flight every half hour (the two airlines had complementary schedules). The higher fares provided the incentive for the airlines to roll out an empty additional plane in case a flight filled up.

With the high-speed Acela as competition, and the post-September 11 airline security hassles, the Delta and US/AA shuttles don't carry all that much O&D, especially on the shorter DCA-LGA segments. Makes sense for Delta to adjust schedules to eliminate slow-selling mid-day flights.

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

Starting to sound/look like  MORE and MORE that ....DL   is looking to remove  'OLIVES'  from  the whole dam   'COMPANY' !!