Delta Heading to Bankruptcy???

[YankssRule]

This article is in today's NY Daily News:

Delta Heading to Bankruptcy
Delta plans to file for bankruptcy protection in Manhattan as early as tomorrow, accorind to an industry consultant who has been informed of the company's plans.
The consultant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Delta is working with credtors to arrange roughly $2 billion in debtor-in-possession financing. The money would allow the airline to operate in bankruptcy.
Delta, which has lost nearly $10 billion since January 2001, likely will pledge the few remainign assets ot already pledged as collateral for loans as part of the bankruptcy financing agreement, the consultant said.
A Delta spokewoman declined to comment on any bankruptcy plans.
The filing would make Delta the third major U.S. carrier to enter Chapter 11 since the 2001 terrorists attacks, joining United parent UAL Corp. and US Airways, which has filed twice in the last three years.
One major question is whether Delta would go the route of UAL and US Airways and seek to turn over its pilot and other employee pension plans to the federal government.
Delta, wh ich has announced up to 24,000 job cuts over the last four years, lists its total debt at rougly $20.5 billion and $21.6 billion in assets as of June 30. The assett figure would make Delta's bankruptcy the ninth-largest in U.S. history, according to bankruptcy tracker New Generation Research.

[spleisher]

Yep, pretty much. Time to book a flight on a flying Corn Dog! We know they'll be around a while!

[WillFlyToDisney]

Yeah, no kidding!

[spleisher]

Northwest is really close too.

[WillFlyToDisney]

Of course they are - I started flying them this year. :rolleyes:

[StPeteMark]

...That's why I haven't panicked with my 500,000 miles. :thumbsup: Nor I with my 9,100 miles. :lol:

[hbailey682]

I have a flight Saturday and two in October on Delta...oh please don't cancel :cry: . This Saturday flight is into DCA which I always dread...short runway, restricted airspace, etc. etc....mumble, mumble...:eek:

[WillFlyToDisney]

I was on the phone with Delta tonite. They have an automated spiel when you call that says that "their customers are their first priority". I checked on an upcoming flight I plan to use miles for and they are still showing the flights and the availability of using miles.

Unlike Ken, I do use my miles for personal flights. Right now I have almost enough banked for 5 domestic RT coach tickets with skymiles and 13 with skybonus (if I can figure out how to use those!). :)

Ken - I say we do the around the world tour with our miles!!

Kel

[WillFlyToDisney]

I'm game! Lets make our list of places to see! Where is the list of places that DL flies?

[WillFlyToDisney]

BOS works! I would love to fly to Canada and see a REAL hockey game, too.

[MountainMitch]

I got a cheery e-mail from Delta letting me know that they're still will to allow me to buy a ticket even though they've filed for banruptcy.

I've been flying on them for 10 years and feel pretty happy with the way they've run the show. I live in Salt Lake City and, with their hub here, I can get most places in a single hop, often in first class.

One thing that puzzles me: they've announced a downsizing of the CinCin hub. CinCin is such a great city from a passenger perspective: easy connections, relatively good weather, centrally located.
Atlanta, on the other hand, seems so prone to delays and big enough to may connections tricky. Don't they get that Atlanta doesn't work well as a hub?

Perhaps I'm missing something here, in which case, please clue me in.

Mitch (who might make it to gold medallion but really, in no particular hurry.)

[spleisher]

I have a flight Saturday and two in October on Delta...oh please don't cancel :cry: . This Saturday flight is into DCA which I always dread...short runway, restricted airspace, etc. etc....mumble, mumble...:eek:

There's nothing particularly short about Runway 1/19 at DCA. This is the runway they land jets on most of the time. It's almost 7000 feet, which may be slightly below average, but it's really no big deal for mid sized airliners.

I've watched jets land there a million times at gravelly point, and with the exception of the old, relatively underpowered MD-80's everything gets off the ground with plenty of room to spare, and can also slow down just fine to make a casual turn off the runway.

As far as the approach goes, if you're landing on Runway 19 (The DC side), it can be a fun ride with restricted airspace all around. The approach pretty much follows the river, but I hear is actually quite fun from the pilot's perspective.

The approach to the other end (runway 1) is a about as plain vanilla as they come. A nice long steady final. Nothing out of the ordinary there at all.

Personally, I like the river approach. The view of te nation's capitol is nothing short of breathtaking.

Get a swindow seat on the left if you're flying into DCA. If you come in on the river side, you'll get a heck of a view of Georgetown University, followed by all the familiar landmarks of DC.

If you come in from the SOuth, you'll get a nice view of Old Town Alexandria, and maybe the Mount Vernon Estate just before that.

Happy flying!

[hbailey682]

Thanks Scott!!! I always enjoy your explanations...very comforting. And thanks for the tip, I checked and our seats are on the left side of the plane. :happyguy: I've been lucky to experience the river approach, even though a bit nervous (twisting and turning ugh), and you're so right, the view is spectacular. We're flying on a CRJ, so if I blink I might miss the view, they scoot :eek: .

Helene

[spleisher]

Helene,

Actually, being on the CRJ should really make no difference. Their speeds are almost identical to the larger planes, and speed and spacing on approach is really determined by ATC, so you should really notice little change in the RJ.

It's funny you should mention that though. When you look at airliners from the ground, the perspective really changes depending on the size of the airplane you are looking at. The smaller jets seem to scoot along, while the larger ones appear to hang in the air, barely moving at all.

I think this is an optical illusion though. Consider this: The 747 is among the fastest airliners out there, but it looks the slowest on approach or departure. I can't even imagine how much that A380 must appear to crawl along.

Perspective can be different inside the plane as well. Though a CRJ may be at the same speed as say, a 757 on approach and touch down on the runway, you're a lot closer to the ground as it's rolling. That's going to make the groud seem to zip by really fast. That's why it seems like you're going so fast at take off, while at 40,000 feet you barely feel like you're moving, even though you're really going a whole lot faster. It's all in how you perceive it!

Pretty cool, huh?

[hbailey682]

Pretty cool, huh?
"way" cool :D...thanks Scott...sometimes I wish there was a perception button that I could switch to "off" :sigh:

[MountainMitch]

Hi All,

Just got a ticket for a trip from SLC to NJ, returning from PHL to SLC on the Delta PM nonstop.
Startling discovery: the plane has no first class! It's a 737-800 with only coach seats. :eek: I checked with an agent and it's not a Song flight; regular Delta.
I guess they're cutting back.
Has anyone heard of this before?

Mitch

[WillFlyToDisney]

Yep, Mitch. The one 737 flight from CHS to ATL and back is on a plane like that - no first class. Weird, huh.

Have a great trip!
Kelley

[DALBIRD]

Mitch-

When I lived in ATL and flew Delta alot, sometimes they would have a "shuttle" plane with no first class seats on a regular route. They flew these planes between the BOS-LGA-DCA as "Delta Shuttle". But, sometimes, I guess when they need a plane, it would get into the normal process.

I remember it b/c it was all coach but the seats were all leather.

I don't fly Delta as much anymore so I don't know if it is the same deal.
:sunshine:

[Huey]

Yes, they have been using one class 737-800s in several routes. ATL-PHX has them.

They announced the sale of 11 767-200s right before they filed. They're getting away from that type and restructuring their fleet.

NWA and Delta filed within minutes of one another at the same courthouse, I believe. Their route structures do not overlap, and Cincy would not be needed if they picked up a hub, say, in Minneapolis. Look for a merger.

And a C-5 Galaxy can land (and does regularly) on a 7000 foot runway. If that airplane can do it...

[WillFlyToDisney]

I have noticed for the past year or so that Delta and Northwest seem to be interchangeable with flights on their website - you don't see that with Continental (who is also Skyteam). I would hope that DL would keep the CVG hub over MSP though if such a merger happens. CVG is more centrally located AND has much better weather! Hasn't NWA learned anything from having 2 NORTHERN hubs? MEM is a secondary hub for NWA but I cant see DL moving their routings from CVG to MEM unless they dump Comair.

Only time will tell but I will cringe if I have to ride on a plane smaller than a 767 on a cross-country route. The last trip back was on a 757 and just seemed cramped compared to the 767 and 777s that DL usually flies on that route.

Psst, Huey - nice to see ya. How's the baby?

Kel

[Huey]

She's fine, thanks.


Memphis will likely be the replacement for some of the Cincy traffic. NW has a great Asian route structure and Delta is already creeping in with "Delta Orient" (remarkably similar to 'Northwest Orient', dontcha think?)

Delta would add some 747s to the mix, keep the 777s going to Europe, and add a northern and midwestern (more centrally located) hub.

Atlanta is what is called a "protected hub", meaning that landing slots are limited and are essentially commodities. Once they sell them, they're likely gone. AirTran would take them, but Delta wants the business in the south, where they're still very, very strong.