Delta is preparing for the Summer season as it readies to serve both Copenhagen and Stockholm for their seasonal services to Denmark and Sweden.

First up is New York to Stockholm which will get a 757-200 for the summer, with 6 services a week in June, reducing to 5 services a week in July and finally 4 services a week in August:

DL 202 DEPART JFK 21:45 ARRIVE ARN 12:20+1
DL 203 DEPART ARN 14.20 ARRIVE JFK 16:50

Booked Equipment: Boeing 757-200
See operational notes below for schedule. 

From 01 June 2013 to 29th June 2013:
DL 202 operates All days except Thursday
DL 203 operates All days except Friday

From 01 July 2013 to 31 July 2013
DL 202 operates Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
DL 203 operates Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday 

From  02 August 2013 to 31 August 2013
DL 202 operates Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
DL 203 operates Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday

Meanwhile, New York to Copenhagen will be getting a significant boost over the summer with a 767-300. Services start off with a 4 times a week service in June, ramping up to a full daily service for July and August:

DL118 DEPART JFK 19:30  ARRIVE CPH 08:15+1
DL119 DEPART CPH 11:30  ARRIVE JFK 13:50 

Booked Equipment: Boeing 767-300
See operational notes below. 

From 01 June 2013 to 15th June 2013:
- DL118 operates Monday, Wednesday, Thursday,Saturday
- DL119 operates Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday

From 15 June 2013
- DL118 operates Daily to 01 September 2013
- DL119 operates Daily to 02 September 2013

Both services will be operated in conjunction with Air France-KLM under the Transatlantic Joint Venture agreement – and available through all the usual ticketing agents

The summer is a critical travel season as people jet off to other climbs for a break. Seeing these services is a good sign that Delta can look at these markets and move appropriately to them.

That and more direct routes are never a bad thing.

It’s Sunday again, so it must be time for some more airplane art.

This week (spotted from the balcony of the Hyatt Regency O’Hare) is a Delta Air Lines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 on approach to Chicago O’Hare.

The image is clickable if you want to see a larger version – and yes you can keep them for your desktops!

More airplane art next week!

It’s Sunday, so it must be time for some airplane art.

This week, it’s a Delta 767-400ER taxing in the sun at London Heathrow Airport after arriving from the United States

The image is clickable if you want to see a larger version – and yes you can keep them for your desktops!

More airplane art next week!

It’s Saturday, so it’s time to turn back to the 1990′s for Popup Video… oops… to last year and to secure your safety belt, stow your tray table and bring your seat into the upright position as it’s time for the current Delta Safety Video…

.. in Pop Up Video style.

More safety videos next week!

Delta finally does what it wanted – and has gone ahead to acquire the 49% of Virgin Atlantic that Singapore Airlines was selling.

For the cool sum of $360 million (£244 Million), Delta gets more access to Heathrow, and the ability to set another joint venture across the Atlantic. For Richard Branson – 51% of the airline is still held by the Virgin Group with it’s own brand and operating certificate to be retained.

The Delta-Virgin Atlantic joint venture will operate 31 flights a day, with 9 of those flights dedicated to operating between London and New York JFK/Newark International Airport.

Delta will have to apply to the various anti-trust authorities over the 49% share of the airline, as well as the  Joint Business Venture between the airlines.

Richard Branson seems happy, saying

“This is an exciting day in Virgin Atlantic history. It signals the start of a new era of expansion, financial growth and many opportunities for our customers and our business I truly look forward to the possibilities our partnership with Delta will offer.

We have always been known for our innovation and service and have punched above our weight for 28 years. That is why our customers love us so much. We will retain that independent spirit but move forward in a strengthened partnership with Delta”

Delta CEO Richard Anderson seems happy with more Trans-Atlantic access, stating

“”Our new partnership with Virgin Atlantic will strengthen both airlines and provide a more effective competitor between North America and the UK, particularly on the New York-London route.” 

Meanwhile, the biggest looser in this seems to be Singapore Airlines, who originally brought the 49% share of Virgin Atlantic for £600 million – and having to sell at £244 Million – one hell of a loss. The airline says:

Singapore Airlines acquired 49 per cent of Virgin Atlantic in March 2000. The Airline had been evaluating strategic options for the stake for some time, as the investment has not performed to expectations and the synergies the parties originally hoped for have not materialised.

For frequent flyers, the current Virgin- Singapore Airlines arrangement will remain in place for now and probably until way after the sale is complete. Meanwhile Virgin and Delta are planning to allow  reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including shared access to Delta Sky Club and Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse lounges.

Well, this could be the shot in the arm that Virgin Atlantic needs. After staying out of the alliance game for far too long, failing to gobble up BMI when it had the chance, and using the power of whining to get what it wants rather than going out there, hopefully Delta will steer them in some sort of new direction that won’t be too painful for the customer – and yet deliver value to the new owner of the 49% of Virgin Atlantic…

If there’s anyone who can milk the media, it’s Richard Branson. With reports that Delta are going to snap up the 49% of Virgin Atlantic, IAG head Willie Walsh has been talking of the Virgin Atlantic brand going away.

Willie Walsh told the press aboard a London – Seoul flight that  that he couldn’t see Delta wanting to operate the Virgin brand.

“If they do, what does it say about their brand? And if they don’t, where does it leave the Virgin brand?”

And…

“It’s the slots they are buying. And where does that leave the Virgin brand at Heathrow?”

As well as the sale of the 49% of Virgin Atlantic that Singapore Airlines currently hold, there are also reports that as part of the deal, Virgin will sell some it’s holding to Air France-KLM Group, reducing the Virgin group’s holding below its current 51%.

This displeased Richard Branson, with a post on his blog that makes interesting reading – as well as a challenge.

Now, it’s well known that Virgin Atlantic and BA don’t get along at the best of times, with this harking back to the days of British Airways “Dirty Tricks” campaign against Virgin. However according to Richard Branson:

Rather than suing them on this occasion, I will pay £1 million to their staff if Virgin Atlantic disappears within say five years. If not, BA pays our staff £1 million.

Richard Branson goes on to say:

“Virgin Atlantic was my baby 28 years ago when we set up with just one plane,”

“Like all children, they never really stop being your babies and Virgin Atlantic is still much cherished.”

Whilst IAG/BA will probably not rise to the bait of a £1 Million challenge, it would be interesting if they did – least of all out of spite the Virgin Atlantic brand would be around for a long time to come….

And who says there are no characters in the aviation industry any more?

Good news if you like CRJ’s… or terrible news if you hate CRJ’s and fly Delta.

Delta have placed an order for 40 Bombardier CRJ900′s, with options for another 30 CRJ900′s if needed.

The jets will be operated by Delta Connection carriers as needed, and will configured with 76 seats in a two-class layout, configured with 12 first class seats, 12 Economy Comfort Seats and 52 seats in Economy.

Deliveries of these jets will commence in the second half of 2013 as Delta phases out 60 CRJ-200′s from service.

Looking at numbers, Delta has a massive fleet of CRJ’s available to it:

• 286 CRJ-200′s
• 79 CRJ-700′s
• 101 CRJ-900′s

The CRJ 900′s are currently operated by Pinnacle Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines and SkyWest Airlines – all operating as Delta Connection.

Delta President Ed Bastian says:

“The economics and customer features of the Bombardier CRJ900 made it the right aircraft to add to our Delta Connection fleet,”

“Combined with the removal of 50-seat aircraft, this opportunity bolsters our ongoing fleet restructuring program to remove less efficient, smaller regional aircraft from the system.

On the plus side, Delta are getting shot of CRJ-200′s – and lets face it – those are some of the worst aircraft in the air, being tight and cramp – and not comfortable for a flight of any length. Saying that the CRJ-900 whilst longer than a CRJ-200 is still not my favourite aircraft – again, it just feels tight no matter the configuration due to the curvature and size of the cabin.

It seems that Singapore Airlines is talking to others over the share of Virgin Atlantic it owns.

The share – 49% of Virgin Atlantic is the part up for sale – for which Singapore Airlines paid $600 million in 1999. The other 51% of the airline is owned by the Virgin Group.

Singapore Airlines also state that thethe discussions may or may not result in a transaction, and that it will make further announcements when necessary.

Officially, no one is saying who the sale of the 49% could be to. Thankfully there’s always other press to fall back on with everyone saying the same word – Delta.

With the talks with alliances Virgin Atlantic is having – a purchase by Delta along with appropriate discussions could push Virgin Atlantic into SkyTeam, and give Delta major access into Heathrow Airport.

Virgin Atlantic is the 2nd biggest slot holder at Heathrow after British Airways – and with a little management, this  could yield more traffic across the Atlantic, as well as the the UK network Virgin Atlantic is trying to create.

Again, Singapore Airlines could walk away from this if the deal isn’t right… but it depends how desperate Delta is for access to more slots at Heathrow…

Singapore Airlines is in talks with “interested parties” about a possible divestment of its 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic.

The Star Alliance member adds that the discussions may or may not result in a transaction, and that it will make further announcements when necessary.

While the airline did not say who it was in negotiations with, reports from the US and the UK say that Delta Air Lines has approached SIA with a view to buying the stake.

Both Delta and Virgin Atlantic could not be reached for a comment.

Singapore Airlines bought its 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic in 1999 for £600m ($961 million), but it has been looking to offload that for several years.

In October, SIA bought a 10% stake in Virgin Australia for Australian dollars (A$) 105 million ($109 million) to help to cement a partnership that the two airlines signed in 2011.

It’s Saturday again, so please place your seat in the upright position, stow your table and ensure your seatbelt is fastened as we look at this week’s safety videos.

Yes, Videos! It seems that Delta have rolled out two new safety videos, as Deltalina is relegated to a finger-wiggle in both of them,

They’ve injected a bit of humour in these videos from Cowboys with cutise bags, to bonsai trees, to no cartwheeling on a plane (dang… something I’ve always wanted to do..), but the idea behind the video in has its roots in the 2008 safety video, which seemed to kick-start the current wave of videos.

More next week!

It’s Sunday again, so it must be time for some more Airplane art.

This week, sitting on the sunny tarmac is a Delta Connection Embraer E-170 operated by Shuttle America at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

The image is clickable if you want to see a larger version – and yes you can keep them for your desktops!

More Airplane art of course next week!

Regular readers may have noticed that there was no Safety Video Saturday yesterday – I can only apologise as I’ve been on the rough end of a four day conference that I’m just about recovered from now. Which is an excuse for a trip report like thing in a few days time

Well in a move to get people flying after the 30th Olympiad, it seems that fare sale season has hit, with cheap fares loaded on long haul routes from London to the USA (with me looking at London – Chicago Routes):

Currently those on sale have about £30 – £70 off with the following groupings taking part:

• AirFrance/Delta/KLM
• British Airways/American Airlines/Iberia

Oddly, Star Alliance is conspicuous by its absence at the moment, but fares seem to be loading quickly.

Trying to get a list of cheap fares out of BA.com can be a challenge. Thankfully Netflights has a full list of what’s on sale in both World Traveller (Economy) and World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy)

Americas

To              WT      WT+
New York 	£444    £762
Boston 	        £439    £757
Washington 	£469 	£787
Chicago 	£449 	£827
Miami 	        £478 	£856
Orlando 	£435 	£813
Tampa 	        £455 	£833
Las Vegas 	£598 	£976
Los Angeles     £554 	£932
San Francisco 	£559 	£937
Philadelphia 	£499 	£817
Vancouver 	£618 	£991
Toronto 	£474 	£767
Calgary 	£604 	£977
Barbados 	£502 	£825
Antigua 	£502 	£825
St Lucia 	£532 	£854
Cancun          £517 	£840
Rio De Janeiro  £613 	£1001
Argentina       £695 	£1094
Mexico City 	£679 	£1030 	

Asia

Beijing         £628 	£966
Shanghai        £628 	£966
Tokyo 	        £654 	£1012 	

The Middle East and Indian Ocean

Dubai 	        £466 	£721
Muscat 	        £467 	£722
Abu Dhabi       £466 	£721
Maldives        £726 	£N/A
Mauritius 	£636 	£N/A 	

Africa

Johannesburg    £719 	£1127
Cape Town 	£779 	£1187
Nairobi 	£539 	£860

Booking Deadline: 25th September 2012.
Prices subject to change and loads, and in some cases are date restricted with surcharges for depatures/returns on certain days. Refer to Netflights or BA.com

Hopefully something of use to some people there.