Delta, AirTran cancel some routes

By Kelly Yamanouchi

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The two largest carriers in Atlanta, Delta Air Lines and AirTran Airways, continue to cut routes as they adjust to higher fuel costs and difficult economic conditions.

Among its route cancellations this year, Atlanta-based Delta is discontinuing its seasonal routes from Atlanta to Barbados and from Atlanta to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.

The airline made the decision because the flights weren’t performing well, according to Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter. He said the airline continues to monitor demand.

Meanwhile, AirTran, now a subsidiary of Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, is discontinuing its flights from Atlanta to Atlantic City, N.J. effective in January and to Newport News, Virg. as of March.

AirTran said it cannot support service to those market because of the “challenging economic environment and sustained high fuel prices,” and its parent Southwest plans to continue to consider ways to reduce “unproductive flying.”