Company Watch - Delta Air Lines.

Edited by Aram Gesar, [e-mail] For more global news, data, analysis and features, please go to: http://www.AirGuideOnline.com/professional.htm Sep 18, 2006

Comair pilots who received an updated aeronautical chart of Lexington Blue Grass Airport have been told to exercise "extreme caution" when using the runways and taxiways where a Comair CRJ200 attempted to take off from the incorrect runway before crashing on Aug. 27, killing 49 people. Spokesperson Nick Miller said that the advisory was offered after company officials discovered that an updated chart received Sept. 8--nearly two weeks after the accident--had "incorrect information" and did not accurately portray signs and markings at LEX. Sep 13, 2006

Comair warns pilots to use caution in Lexington. Comair is urging its pilots to use extreme caution when navigating taxiways at the Lexington, Ky., airport. The carrier on Friday received an updated chart of the airport. A Comair jet crashed at the airport on Aug. 27 after taking off from the wrong runway. Sep 12, 2006

FAA, controllers at odds over staffing. The crash of a Comair regional jet in Kentucky on Aug. 27 has aggravated a conflict between the Federal Aviation Administration and air traffic controllers over the staffing of airport towers. The FAA does not believe the lack of a second controller at the Lexington airport contributed to the crash, but the controllers' union says an additional controller might have noticed that the plane turned on to the wrong runway before it crashed. Sep 11, 2006

Delta Air Lines this week unveiled "the industry's first two-class domestic flight experience to feature [on-demand] digital entertainment," a result of the carrier's decision to fold its low-cost Song subsidiary and reintegrate the 48 757s and portions of the Song inflight product into the mainline fleet. The service will be available on select flights longer than 4 hr., mostly from the Atlanta and New York JFK hubs "where Delta is a major competitor for long-haul customer loyalty," according to COO Jim Whitehurst. Approximately 18 repainted former Song aircraft will be equipped each month through November, with a combined 117 757s, 767-300s, 767-400s and 737-800s brought online by the end of 2008. "Going forward, this new service will also be available to customers flying from Florida to the West Coast, as well as on many of our overseas routes, as we continue making improvements to our international BusinessElite and international coach class products," Whitehurst said. The aircraft will feature a two-class configuration with 38-in. pitch in the 26-seat first class section and 33-in. pitch on 158 coach seats. All seats are leather. Screens will offer at least 24 channels of live TV, more than 20 movies, 10 video games and a music program allowing passengers to create customized playlists from more than 1,600 songs, DL said. The carrier will designate which flights feature the new inflight entertainment with a TV icon on its website. Sep 15, 2006

Delta Air Lines this week unveiled "the industry's first two-class domestic flight experience to feature [on-demand] digital entertainment," a result of the carrier's decision to fold its low-cost Song subsidiary and reintegrate the 48 757s and portions of the Song inflight product into the mainline fleet. The service will be available on select flights longer than 4 hr., mostly from the Atlanta and New York JFK hubs. Approximately 18 repainted former Song aircraft will be equipped each month through November, with a combined 117 757s, 767-300s, 767-400s and 737-800s brought online by the end of 2008. The triple-seven goes away on the route April 2, 2007, reverting to a 767-300. The aircraft will feature a two-class configuration with 38-in. pitch in the 26-seat first class section and 33-in. pitch on 158 coach seats. All seats are leather. Screens will offer at least 24 channels of live TV, more than 20 movies, 10 video games and a music program allowing passengers to create customized playlists from more than 1,600 songs, Delta said. The carrier will designate which flights feature the new inflight entertainment with a TV icon on its website. Sep 15, 2006

Delta to unveil new entertainment systems. Delta Air Lines plans to unveil a new entertainment system for travelers on long domestic flights. Travelers on flights four hours or longer will have access to movies, games, music and television. Coach travelers will pay $5 for movies, but the other features will be free to passengers. Sep 12, 2006

Delta shifts to overseas flights: Delta Air Lines has shifted capacity to more lucrative international routes since it filed for bankruptcy. International routes now account for one-third of the airline's capacity and 35% of its revenue. Sep 12, 2006

Delta Air Lines last week announced the recall of up to 65 pilots and around 200 flight attendants "to support changes the company is making to build a profitable network." The airline has added more than 50 international routes in the past year alone. Recalled pilots will begin training next month and return to flying "shortly thereafter." DL recalled 64 pilots in June and said it is in the process of bringing back 100 maintenance personnel. It also said it is looking to hire cabin staff who speak French and Spanish. Sep 12, 2006

Delta to recall some pilots, flight attendants. Delta Air Lines says it will recall 65 pilots and about 200 flight attendants. The company, which is expanding operations, says it is on track to leave bankruptcy protection in the first half of 2007. Sep 11, 2006