Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines expects to gain customers from AirTran Airways as the rival is folded into Southwest Airlines.
As Southwest gradually has taken over AirTran operations, they have cut flights. Delta expects to gain market share, according to Delta’s executive vice president of marketing Glen Hauenstein.
As of April 14, AirTran will stop flying from Atlanta to Charlotte; Rochester, N.Y.; and Flint, Mich. But Delta is also cutting flights, particularly international flights, to adjust to high costs and a tepid economy.
Southwest has also “put some very aggressive sale fares out there,” but Delta expects to “have a lot of traction” in Atlanta and has attracted a record number of new Delta American Express card holders over the last several months, Hauenstein said. Delta also said it gained some corporate travelers from struggling American Airlines.
The comments came as Delta reported a $1 billion profit in the third quarter, nearly double its profit a year ago, but that included some special items that might not occur again.
The company also is wrestling with rising costs. To address that, it is trying to save $1 billion by acquiring an oil refinery in Trainer, Pa., that should save on fuel costs, making its operations more efficient, and replacing 50-seat regional jets with larger planes.
Delta said it wants to buy additional 76-seat regional jets from Bombardier or Embraer to replace more inefficient 50-seat jets.
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