Delta Air Lines is cutting back its Atlanta-Shanghai flight to five times a week for the winter instead of daily, a move to better match capacity to "reduced market demand."

The airline launched the daily Atlanta-Shanghai flights March 30 with much fanfare, after receiving approval for the flights last September.

The change to five days a week goes into effect Nov. 7. The service will return to daily in May 2009 for the summer.

During the period from November until May, the flights will not operate on Wednesdays or Fridays from Atlanta to Shanghai, nor on Thursdays and Saturdays from Shanghai to Atlanta.

"As a new carrier in China, we learn more about the demand patterns and the profile of the market," said Delta spokesman Kent Landers. "Delta remains committed to the China market and serving that market from Atlanta."

He said the airline makes adjustments "to make sure we have a year-round profitable operation."

Delta received U.S. Department of Transportation approval for the change this week and has already removed the flights from its inventory.