Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport

[Lexy]

Nice work! How'd you get into Delta's maint?

Since you obviously like ATL and in case you don't already have it, head over to http://www.atcmonitor.com for some fun...



This was a quote from me earlier in this thread...
I am much more connected to the industry than you would think. Matter of fact, you would be pleasantly surprised to know what I do in regards to it and what I know (or WHO I know).


Hopefully that helps some. But thanks alot for the nice words. I appreciate it more when others can enjoy the pictures as much as I can.:)

[ThrashATL]

when I was a kid, we'd go sit at the end of the PDK runway just to watch the planes! Of course, now we would be considered terrorists... :-/

I don't have to go to the airport and watch them, I see nearly everything heading for 20L as they go over my house constantly. I can ruler in Google Earth a perfectly straight line from our house to the end of 20L. Friday nights from about 4:30 to 7:30 are the best as it's a constant stream of private jets, where I've counted 23 in one hour before.

[Lexy]

I have password protected the galleries for a while. I will let everyone know when I open the galleries back up. Keep it bookmarked and check back often!

[LoveAtlanta]

guys how is the airtrain company? i flew once with them from NYC to ATL and the plain was so old and loud. do they still have old plains?

[john3eblover]

they have the newest plains in the industry, more or less! They are brand spanking new Boeing 717s. I fly airtran often and it's no different from any legacy carrier in my opinion really. A very good option if you need to get a cheap flight.

[Atlriser]

Personally I love flying airtran and fly them exclusively if they go where I need to. They've really made Delta be more competitive here in Atlanta and provide great service for a great price I feel. As they advertise, they have the youngest all Boeing fleet in the nation....it's true!

[atl2phx]

Personally I love flying airtran and fly them exclusively if they go where I need to. They've really made Delta be more competitive here in Atlanta and provide great service for a great price I feel. As they advertise, they have the youngest all Boeing fleet in the nation....it's true!

agreed, as much as i'm a diehard delta fan, i flew airtran from ATL to FTL last week and could barely make a distinction between the two - nice aircraft and decent service - i was impressed.

[ThrashATL]

I fly a few times a month and the best service I've had this year so far was on Delta Connection (flown by Shuttle Americe by Republic Airways a Delta partner) on an ERJ 175 (or 170?). The plane was spotless and more comfortable than a 737, the crew was professional, courteous, friendly and accomodating. The flight was flawless, left Austin, TX 5 mins EARLY and arrived in ATL 23 mins early.

I now go out of my way to find a Shuttle America/Republic Airways operated flight, whether it be as a Delta or another airline.

Just a heads up when you see this airline listed as a choice. Don't pass it by because it's a regional, they're doing some good things.

[Atlriser]

I'd add, my last 3 flights on Airtran each arrived 10 to 20 minutes early at my destination airport also. I don't know if it's the new 5th runway exclusively but they've worked very hard it seems to eliminate late flights from their schedule this summer.

[LoveAtlanta]

thanks guys. i flew with airtran like 5 yrs ago and it was an old plane. but now that they have new ones i will consider them. thank you for input.
anyway i take trips all the time ATL to NYC and what is the best airline to get on?

thanks again!

[Atlriser]

More important than the airline is the airport in NYC. Laguardia is a nightmare all the time. Neward is better but still....ughh. JFK never been to so couldn't comment. I prefer Airtran to Newark myself.

[Lexy]

Here are a couple of shots from my visit on Saturday to the ATL. Very busy day as everyone heads home from vacations and such before school starts. Enjoy.

http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/83366013/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/83365643/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/83364289/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/83364339/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/83364374/original.jpg

[Fiorenza]

Wow, nice!

[atlantaguy]

Yes, very nice Lexy! Looks like you caught all of the PM Euro-birds.

How long has it been since your last visit to Hartsfield?

[Lexy]

Yes, very nice Lexy! Looks like you caught all of the PM Euro-birds.

How long has it been since your last visit to Hartsfield?


I came down initially with a photo group on July 14th, but the rain never stopped and I was rather dissapointed with my shots from that visit. So my wife and I came back down last weekend to "make it up" so to speak. I appreciate the nice words everyone.

[Lexy]

I met to tell you all, if you want to see the whole shebang go here: http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/atlanta_airport_images Everything is in there from both of my trips to the ATL. Enjoy and tell me what you think!

[SteveD]

:previous: sweet, Lexy! I enjoyed those immensely! :tup:

[Lexy]

:previous: sweet, Lexy! I enjoyed those immensely! :tup:


I appreciate that. That's what it's all about to me. Getting pictures that others will enjoy as much as me. Thank you.

[atlantaguy]

Absolutely wonderful shots - extremely impressive! You got to see the whole enchilada.

Two things - Your pic of the control tower is beautiful, and I'm really going to miss the Song livery.

[Lexy]

Absolutely wonderful shots - extremely impressive! You got to see the whole enchilada.

Two things - Your pic of the control tower is beautiful, and I'm really going to miss the Song livery.

Thank you for the compliment. Yes I did get to see most everything and I must say it is quite impressive! I too agree about the Song livery. It's kind of cool and adds some flavor to the line up. I'm just glad I have been offered the chance to get some pics of it while I can.

[atlantaguy]

So glad you enjoyed yourself. Have you checked out the Terminal at all? The atrium is pretty cool.

Re: the Song 757's. I just flew one home from LAX, and the seatback IES that Delta will be introducing throughout the fleet blew me away. I can't wait until it's system-wide.

Question for you Lexy - Now that you've seen the operation here in person, can you understand how some of us get touchy when people claim this is nothing more than a connecting airport? To anyone that see's Hartsfield in person, the huge O&D traffic is pretty obvious - don't you think?

Please don't think that I am referring to you making those observations. It's usually Chicago people that make it.

[Lexy]

Question for you Lexy - Now that you've seen the operation here in person, can you understand how some of us get touchy when people claim this is nothing more than a connecting airport? To anyone that see's Hartsfield in person, the huge O&D traffic is pretty obvious - don't you think?

Please don't think that I am referring to you making those observations. It's usually Chicago people that make it.

Oh i've always felt that the O&D in Atlanta was big. It's just the reliance on having to go through there as a passenger that would seem a bit "old". But it makes sense in the long run and as long as it continues to benefit the customer then it's fine by me. The thing I have is the fact that this airport here in my town doesn't get a real fair shake out of the airlines and that's too bad (probably because of Southwest). But perhaps someday that will change. Eitherway, Hartsfield is a nice airport and for a photographer it's an airplane paradise. LOL!!

On a side note: I have seen the O'Hare vs Hartsfield debates on here and other places. They are not a pretty sight to say the least.

[john3eblover]

so i flew United on Tuesday from Dulles to St. Louis...flight was 2.5 hrs delayed! We'll see what happens tomorrow on my flight back. I'm also flying from IAD-ATL next week on United Express, so hopefully that will go smoother. getting up at 430 am sucks when your flight is delayed that badly.

[Trae]

I love airplanes.

[GTviajero81]

umm, ok. Good! :)

btw, great shots Lexy! I work out of ATL and it's awesome to see those Euro birds....I didn't realise that Air France had the 744 back in service...but I guess it's summer time so that makes sense. I miss the South African 747 that used to come here.

[ThrashATL]

umm, ok. Good! :)

btw, great shots Lexy! I work out of ATL and it's awesome to see those Euro birds....I didn't realise that Air France had the 744 back in service...but I guess it's summer time so that makes sense. I miss the South African 747 that used to come here.

Yep, SAA and JAL too. I was at Hartsfield one day when it was hot like it is now and that JAL 747 used every inch of the runway to get airborne.

[Lexy]

Yep, SAA and JAL too. I was at Hartsfield one day when it was hot like it is now and that JAL 747 used every inch of the runway to get airborne.

I got a picture of that (well, it wasn't the same JAL bird as you may have seen, but none the less) JAL 747 here in Nashville one night. It diverted here due to inclement weather in ATL and spent about two hours on the ground here. I was really, REALLY lucky to have gotten this parked at BNA.

http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/81346636/original.jpg

[SteveD]

Yep, SAA and JAL too. I was at Hartsfield one day when it was hot like it is now and that JAL 747 used every inch of the runway to get airborne.

That would be exciting to watch! Runway length issues like that remind me of Key West. I fly out of there often. I'm not sure which aircraft Delta uses (I'm not in the industry), but they get right to the beginning of the runway, gun the engines with the brakes on, then release the brakes! The jet lurches forward and becomes airborne moments before the runway melts away into ocean just below the jet! They're also always carefully monitoring every pound of payload going on to those jets. The whole process is both scary and exciting at the same time!

[ThrashATL]

I got a picture of that (well, it wasn't the same JAL bird as you may have seen, but none the less) JAL 747 here in Nashville one night. It diverted here due to inclement weather in ATL and spent about two hours on the ground here. I was really, REALLY lucky to have gotten this parked at BNA.


Well, the 747 I saw was a few years back and was passenger, not cargo. Still, not much dif between the two when it's 102 and 65% humidity. All I know is by the time the wheels got off the ground, the plane didn't ascend all that much more and probably gave a few people a heart attack on I-75 near the Ford plant as that sucker "skimmed" the horizon. I was on Loop Road near the end of 27R and I could see the damn rivets on the thing.

[Rail Claimore]

^Even more reason they need to do as planned and lengthen that runway to 13,300 ft.

[STrek777]

Found this little goody today while combing through the internet. It is an interview with the DFW CEO and he talks about all that DFW has done to improve the passenger travel experience. Below is an excerpt from that interview.

Jeff Fegan: It all started in 2000. We put together a customer service audit team, made up of 10 people from our senior staff. They went through every customer experience that passengers had at DFW. They identified a number of things to do to improve customer service issues. We addressed many of them through our capital improvement plan. For example, the connection between terminals was horrible and SkyLink was built to address that, and it's now the best large hub connect system in the world. We built a new international terminal building and that set the stage for the look and feel at DFW. We added shopping and dining, and we continue to do that. We do a lot of surveys. We had customer complaints about the quality of our restrooms, so we're spending $45 million to upgrade them in Terminals A, B, C and E.

I have flown in and out of DFW a few times and I fly out of ATL often and I can tell you that their SkyLink is no match for our Terminal Train. I guarantee you that if you started both trains at Terminal A and started them running at the same time to Terminal C our ATL train would win by a mile. As big and bulky as ATL is it is very efficient. Below is the link to the entire article.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/FIVE08147.xml&headline=Five%20Good%20Questions:%20DFW%20Airport%20CEO%20Jeff%20Fegan

[ThrashATL]

I have flown in and out of DFW a few times and I fly out of ATL often and I can tell you that their SkyLink is no match for our Terminal Train. I guarantee you that if you started both trains at Terminal A and started them running at the same time to Terminal C our ATL train would win by a mile. As big and bulky as ATL is it is very efficient. Below is the link to the entire article.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/FIVE08147.xml&headline=Five%20Good%20Questions:%20DFW%20Airport%20CEO%20Jeff%20Fegan

Skylink??? WTF? Is that it's name? I have news for this dude, DFW is an airport to be avoided at all costs. Connecting or originating.

[john3eblover]

i had an incredible time flying in and out of st louis last week with United Express. Hours upon hours of delays, ultimately 2 canceled flights and a lot of time sitting in the airport. Hey at least I got to fly to O'Hare and fly on a 767-300 to Dulles!

Flying United again from Dulles to Atlanta tomorrow....lets hope there are no delays this time!!

[Rail Claimore]

^It goes without saying, if you have a choice between ORD, DFW, or ATL... go through ATL.

[STrek777]

Well Delta now has a new CEO and has announced the lineup of the new management team.

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/delta/stories/2007/09/07/delta_0908.html

Now we just wait and see what happens.

[ThrashATL]

ATLANTA'S INCREASING NUMBERS OF INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS

Rank Airport Jan.-June 2007 Jan.-June 2006 % Change
1 Miami 2.3 million 2.2 million 5.6%
2 Atlanta 1.96 million 1.7 million 12.5%
3 NYJFK 1.86 million 1.6 million 12.4%
4 Newark 1.8 million 1.6 million 9.3%
5 O'Hare 1.6 million 1.6 million 1.5%

International traffic surges at airport

By JIM THARPE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 09/14/07

Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is increasingly becoming a major gateway for passengers boarding flights for other countries, according to numbers reported Thursday by the federal government.

Atlanta's airport had one of the fastest rates of international passenger growth in the nation for the first six months of this year, according to numbers compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The numbers show international traffic at Hartsfield-Jackson jumped 12.5 percent over the same six-month period the year before.

The new figures come as the city gets ready to unveil plans for a new billion-dollar international terminal — scheduled for a 2011 opening — and on the heels of this month's arrival of new Delta Air Lines CEO Richard H. Anderson, who has touted international flights as the Atlanta-based carrier's route to prosperity. Delta uses Hartsfield-Jackson as its main hub and accounts for more than 70 percent of its flights.

"Atlanta is the international heart of Delta, and it will continue to be," said Delta spokesman Kent Landers. "We look forward to the construction of a new international terminal that will allow us to expand on the 63 international markets we've added to Atlanta in the last decade."

Delta only had 17 international destinations from Hartsfield-Jackson when the 1996 Olympics came to town — it now has 80 to five continents. From all of its U.S. hubs, Delta serves 109 international destinations, Landers said.

More than 1.96 million passengers boarded international flights at Hartsfield-Jackson from January through June of this year, ranking it No. 2 in the nation behind Miami for the total number of "international enplanements," according to the DOT. About 2.3 million international passengers boarded flights in Miami, which saw a 5.6 percent increase in international passengers.

Only Los Angeles International Airport, which ranks eight nationally in the total number of international passengers served, had a stronger growth rate than Hartsfield-Jackson. The Los Angeles airport saw international passenger growth surge by 13.9 percent to 906,000.

Hartsfield-Jackson already is ranked the No. 1 airport in the world for total passengers — estimated to be 86 million this year — and has been steadily adding to its international total as Delta has begun to aggressively add new international flights.

"International is clearly the future of Delta," Landers said.

The airline, which emerged from bankruptcy earlier this year, has added about 33 international routes from Hartsfield-Jackson since 2005. Delta is now trying to secure two routes to mainland China, one of which would begin next year.

The increase in the number of international flights this summer from Hartsfield-Jackson at times overwhelmed gate capacity at the current international terminal, which was constructed for the '96 Olympics.

Landers said "a handful" of departing Delta international flights had to use gates on Concourse T during busy afternoons during the peak of the summer travel season.

[STrek777]

ATLANTA'S INCREASING NUMBERS OF INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS

Rank Airport Jan.-June 2007 Jan.-June 2006 % Change
1 Miami 2.3 million 2.2 million 5.6%
2 Atlanta 1.96 million 1.7 million 12.5%
3 NYJFK 1.86 million 1.6 million 12.4%
4 Newark 1.8 million 1.6 million 9.3%
5 O'Hare 1.6 million 1.6 million 1.5%

International traffic surges at airport.

It is important to note that MIA, JFK, EWR, and ORD have these impressive number of international passengers due to many multiple carriers in those cities. Where as in ATL there is really only Delta, Korean, Air France, and British Airways. Also the other airports have multiple domestic legacy carriers launching international flights from the same airport. Whereas in ATL Delta is the only domestic legacy carrier with international flights. It never ceases to amaze me just how big a footprint Delta has in ATL.

[MAH4546]

It is important to note that MIA, JFK, EWR, and ORD have these impressive number of international passengers due to many multiple carriers in those cities. Where as in ATL there is really only Delta, Korean, Air France, and British Airways. Also the other airports have multiple domestic legacy carriers launching international flights from the same airport. Whereas in ATL Delta is the only domestic legacy carrier with international flights. It never ceases to amaze me just how big a footprint Delta has in ATL.

Actually, these numbers are based entirely on domestic airlines only. The entire article is wrong. I e-mailed the author about it, and they "corrected" the article, but it still reads very poorly.

When you add international airlines into the mix, it is a very different story:

2006 International traffic for combined domestic and international airlines:
1) JFK - 20.0M
2) LA - 16.9M
3) Miami - 14.7M
4) O'Hare - 11.6M
5) Newark - 10.2M
6) San Francisco - 8.4M
7) Atlanta - 8.1M
8) Houston - 7.4M
9) Dallas - 5.7M
10) DC/Dulles - 5.2M
11) Honolulu - 4.1M
12) Boston - 4.0M
13) Philadelphia 4.0M
14) Detroit - 2.9M
15) Seattle - 2.5M
16) Ft. Lauderdale - 2.4M
17) Las Vegas - 2.2M
18) Orlando - 2.1M
19) Charlotte - 2.0M
20) Denver - 1.9M
21) Phoenix - 1.7M
22) Minneapolis - 1.6M
23) LaGuardia - 1.3M
24) Sanford, Florida - 1.0M
25) Cincinnati - 0.9M
http://www.miami-airport.com/html/passenger_rankings.html

International airlines have huge footprints at JFK, MIA, and LAX. Qantas, for example, has as many as six daily flights to Los Angeles; Avianca operates seven daily flights to Miami; British Airways' has eight daily flights to JFK. At MIA and JFK, believe it or not, British Airways carriers more passengers than United does!

[Tombstoner]

It is important to note that MIA, JFK, EWR, and ORD have these impressive number of international passengers due to many multiple carriers in those cities. Where as in ATL there is really only Delta, Korean, Air France, and British Airways. Also the other airports have multiple domestic legacy carriers launching international flights from the same airport. Whereas in ATL Delta is the only domestic legacy carrier with international flights. It never ceases to amaze me just how big a footprint Delta has in ATL.

I think you're mostly right, but United has a flight directly to FRA from ATL, NW/KLM have direct flights to AMS and American may have a flight to London from ATL (they used to, anyways...).

[atlantaguy]

Tombstoner - United codeshares on the Lufthansa flight to Frankfort - it is really operated by Lufthansa metal, not United. Same thing with NW/KLM - it is operated by KLM, NW codeshares on it.

American has never flown from Atlanta to London, just BA & Delta (and British Caledonian back in the day.....)

[Tombstoner]

Tombstoner - United codeshares on the Lufthansa flight to Frankfort - it is really operated by Lufthansa metal, not United. Same thing with NW/KLM - it is operated by KLM, NW codeshares on it.

American has never flown from Atlanta to London, just BA & Delta (and British Caledonian back in the day.....)

My bad. I always take the UA and NW codeshared flights and forgot that it's not domestic metal.

[MAH4546]

Delta will announce Atlanta-Stockholm and Atlanta-Shanghai on Tuesday.

[STrek777]

Delta will announce Atlanta-Stockholm and Atlanta-Shanghai on Tuesday.

rrreeeaaalllyyy?! Any word on Atlanta - Beijing

[Plasticman]

Well Delta now has a new CEO and has announced the lineup of the new management team.

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/delta/stories/2007/09/07/delta_0908.html

Now we just wait and see what happens.
Well I flew out of Atlanta to Akron on Monday of last week and back to Atlanta from Akron on Friday afternoon. I've made this trip several times and when I take Airtran the flight is smooth, always on time, with no issues. This time and one other time I took Delta Connection and every flight was late. Monday morning it was due to "We are sorry but our crew has not arrived yet". And then they announced for another flight at an ajoining gate "We are sorry but the lavatory facilities on this flight are out of order. Please use the airport lavatory before boarding this flight".

Delta is poorly ran and poorly maintained. Let's hope new management can turn that around.

[MarketsWork]

Delta Connection is not the same as Delta, as Delta has sold its controlling interests and has no day to day management control over the independent airlines which operate those flights. Unfortunately though, what happens under the "Delta Connection" name tarnishes Delta's image. I have also had very good experiences on AirTran, but a fairer comparison would be made with actual Delta Air Lines flights.

[GTviajero81]

Delta Connection is not the same as Delta, as Delta has sold its controlling interests and has no day to day management control over the independent airlines which operate those flights. Unfortunately though, what happens under the "Delta Connection" name tarnishes Delta's image. I have also had very good experiences on AirTran, but a fairer comparison would be made with actual Delta Air Lines flights.


Not quite the whole story there. In Atlanta, Delta has taken over the majority of ground operations for Delta Connection therefore Delta IS actually controlling the day-to-day operational management of its Connection carriers. Outstations are at times a different story. If a lavatory does not function on an aircraft that only has one, of course the passengers would notice. If, however, there were three or more, I doubt anyone would say much about it. I just flew Delta Connection (ASA) from New Bern, NC to Atlanta (continued on to Minneapolis on NW) yesterday and the service from the flight attendant on the DLC flight was superb. Nice leather seats, interesting reading material, and service that would be the same that one would receive on a Delta mainline flight of similar time and service.

My MANY experiences on AirTran, however, have been just 'okay'. Never have I been blown away by anything...in fact sometimes I am a little appalled at the cabin crew and their actions and demeanour (along with some of the passengers). With this being said, however, the story is the same for most airlines. Some days you get the best of all worlds, other days one just has to settle. Quite honestly, my mindset is that when I am flying economy, I don't expect too much of anything -- how can expect a lot when one is paying low fares. When I am flying business (or the ever so occasional first class) I do expect a lot more. Maybe if more people thought along a similar vein then flying would be more pleasurable for all.

[STrek777]

Ok... one down. So it made it in the paper on Monday 9/24/07 instead of Tuesday 9/25/07. Now it's out there with one China announcement to go!

Delta announces daily Atlanta-Stockholm route

By RUSSELL GRANTHAM
rgrantham@ajc.com
Published on: 09/24/07

Delta Air Lines plans to launch daily non-stop flights between Atlanta and Stockholm next summer as it heads into the third year of its international expansion.

With the addition of the Swedish capital to its network, Delta said it will offer flights from Atlanta to all but four of the top 25 European passenger markets.

Delta was expected to announce the new service, which begins June 3, on Monday. Delta, which emerged from bankruptcy almost five months ago, has pinned much of its recovery on re-drawing its route map to shift more planes from domestic flying to more profitable overseas flights. The Atlanta carrier said it has launched 33 new international routes since 2005 from Atlanta, its largest hub for both domestic and international flights.

But Delta has indicated that much of its focus next year will shift to building its overseas route network out of New York. The airline has already been expanding its operations at New York's John F. Kennedy airport, turning it into a key hub over the past year. The bulk of the new overseas routes Delta will add to its schedule next year are expected to be out of New York.

With the addition of the Stockholm flight, meanwhile, Delta said it will be flying non-stop to more than 80 overseas destinations from Atlanta by next summer. Delta plans to operate six flights per week using 214-seat Boeing 767s.

"Delta's successive expansion into global markets continues to bolster the company's financial position and provides a diversified portfolio of options for our international customers," Delta executive vice president Glen Hauenstein said in a press release.

The company said the new route will "open a critical economic access point" between Sweden and Georgia. Delta said 55 Swedish companies operate in Georgia and about 900 U.S. companies have operations in Sweden.

[dirtybird]

Delta expected to get direct Atlanta-China flights
Airline wants entry into Asian country's huge economy

By RUSSELL GRANTHAM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 09/24/07

Federal officials are expected to announce Tuesday that Delta Air Lines has won long-sought rights to launch new non-stop service between Atlanta and China as early as next year.

Delta could win rights to fly to either Shanghai or Beijing — or both.

Delta, the largest U.S. carrier without flights to China, has two applications pending with the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin nonstop flights from Atlanta to Shanghai next year and to Beijing in 2009.

Longtime industry consultant Mike Boyd said he was told Delta will get the more lucrative Shanghai route.

"It's the business center. Beijing is just the capital," said Boyd, with Evergreen, Colo.-based The Boyd Group.

He said the new route could boost Delta's revenue by $250 million within a year as it draws business travelers throughout the Southeast and Latin America. "You don't go to Shanghai on a cheap vacation. It's business fares."

The Atlanta airline has been trying for years to gain entry to China's huge economy as it has pinned much of its recovery strategy on expanding its international route network. Delta has added dozens of overseas destinations in the past two years as it cut its domestic capacity and shifted jets to more profitable international routes.

Many of those new overseas flights have been to emerging economies, such as its flights between New York and Mumbai, India, which the carrier says were profitable soon after the route was launched in 2006. Some routes have taken years to become profitable, however.

State and local government officials have also backed Delta's growing campaign for the China routes, arguing that access to the manufacturing powerhouse will boost job growth in the state and the southeastern United States. After being snubbed in earlier applications, Delta lined up political support from Gov. Sonny Perdue and dozens of governors, mayors and members of Congress, as well as email petitions from thousands of its frequent fliers and employees.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters is scheduled to hold a press conference Tuesday morning at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to "make an announcement regarding new air service," according to a press advisory released Monday.

Officials familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named, said they believe the DOT scheduled the event to announce the awarding of flying rights to Delta for at least one new route to China.

A spokeswoman with the DOT declined to comment.

DOT is considering applications from several airlines to open new flights to China through 2009. The flying rights were negotiated under a recent treaty between the United States and China.

Delta is widely believed to be the likely winner for the first flight to become available this winter or spring, which has been earmarked for a new entrant into China. The airline would offer the daily service using its long-range Boeing 777s, which carry 268 passengers.

Besides Delta, US Airways is the only other major network carrier that doesn't fly to China. It too has applied to begin Philadelphia-Beijing flights in 2009.

Delta faces other stiff competition for the 2009 flights. American, Continental and Northwest are hoping to begin new flights to China that year.

The DOT is also making two daily flights available as early as next spring, but only to certain destinations excluding Beijing and Shanghai, the most attractive cities for U.S. carriers.

—Jim Tharpe contributed to this report.

[Fiorenza]

Well damn, building the Mandarin Oriental and peddling the neighboring Campanile to the Chinese starts to make even more sense.

[MAH4546]

It's more than just Stockholm and Shanghai...

[Harry Cane]

MAH, 33137? That's my old zip and stomping ground.

[STrek777]

It's more than just Stockholm and Shanghai...

:banana:

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! Since you are obviously someone with an inside knowledge... any hints about Beijing?!?!?! Also if you want to drop any other little hints about other destinations feel free to do so. I've only heard, on good authority, about JFK - CAI comming for the 2008 lineup. Any others.

Delta Air Lines Wins Rights to Serve China Nonstop from Atlanta


Flights between world’s largest airline hub in Atlanta and fast-growing Shanghai slated to begin March 30, 2008

ATLANTA, Sept. 25, 2007 – Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) is poised to add nonstop flights between the world’s largest airline hub in Atlanta and Shanghai, China*, effective March 30, 2008, based on a ruling issued today by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“We applaud Secretary Peters and the Department of Transportation for recognizing that nonstop Delta flights between Atlanta and Shanghai will bring more value to airline customers than any competing route application,” said Delta Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson. “Delta’s new flights to China will fill a critical void in air travel today by providing the 65 million residents of the Southeast with direct access to the world’s fastest growing economy.”

Nearly 70,000 people supported Delta’s application to serve Shanghai from Atlanta, including more than 80 federal, state and local officials; and more than 80 companies, airports, business, tourism and professional organizations.

Delta plans to provide daily nonstop service between Atlanta and China using its flagship Boeing 777 aircraft in a two-class configuration featuring BusinessElite, Delta’s award-winning business class service. Additionally, Delta plans to introduce fully horizontal lie-flat seats on its Boeing 777 fleet beginning in 2008, with new in-seat entertainment system offering on-demand, digital video and music at every suite.

Delta Air Lines operates service to more destinations than any global airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 315 destinations in 54 countries. Since 2005, Delta has added more international capacity than all other major U.S. airlines combined and is a leader across the Atlantic with flights to 36 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers nearly 400 weekly flights to 54 destinations. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on nearly 15,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 477 worldwide destinations in 103 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.

*Subject to foreign government approval

Statements in this news release that are not historical facts, including statements regarding our estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections or strategies for the future, may be “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections and strategies reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the cost of aircraft fuel; the impact that our indebtedness will have on our financial and operating activities and our ability to incur additional debt; the restrictions that financial covenants in our financing agreements will have on our financial and business operations; labor issues; interruptions or disruptions in service at one of our hub airports; our increasing dependence on technology in our operations; our ability to retain management and key employees; the ability of our credit card processors to take significant holdbacks in certain circumstances; the effects of terrorist attacks; and competitive conditions in the airline industry. Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties that could cause differences between actual results and forward-looking statements is contained in Delta’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007. Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on Delta’s forward-looking statements, which represent Delta’s views only as of Sept. 25, 2007, and which Delta has no current intention to update.

NOTE TO BROADCAST MEDIA: B-Roll is available from Delta at http://mediaport.nmedia.com/

[STrek777]

Looks like in about two or three months we could get our first look at the revised International Terminal design.

Airport terminal gets $110 million push
Atlanta City Council committees move ahead on money for international facility

By JIM THARPE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/13/07
A new international terminal for Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is still on the drawing boards, but city officials took major steps Wednesday to make sure it's in operation by 2011.

Two committees of the Atlanta City Council approved $110 million in construction funds to build and equip two tunnels that will be used by underground trains to carry passengers back and forth to the facility from the main terminal.

"It looks like we're getting started on the international terminal," said Councilwoman Clair Muller, who chairs the Transportation Committee, after her panel approved the release of $45 million to dig the two tunnels and line them with concrete.

The Finance Committee later in the day approved $65 million for the trains, track and various systems needed to make the people-movers work. Most of the construction funds, which will be voted on by the entire City Council next week, come from passenger fees, federal grants and airline fees.

"We're going forward with the terminal," airport General Manager Ben DeCosta said after the Transportation Committee vote. "This terminal is needed for this airport and the area's future."

Since the 1990s, city officials, airport bigwigs and airline chiefs have talked about a new terminal for Hartsfield-Jackson's fast-growing international passenger load. However, this appears to be the year it actually will begin coming into focus.

DeCosta has said the new Maynard Holbrook Jackson Jr. International Terminal eventually could cost more than $1 billion, though no official price tag has been placed on the facility.

The airport already has moved about 1.5 million cubic feet of dirt to prepare the site for the facility, which will be located near the new control tower.

However, the future of the facility has been up in the air for about three years. The first terminal design team was fired, and is now suing the city for $60 million. Then, two years ago, Delta Air Lines declared bankruptcy, a move that brought into question the need for a new terminal.

Delta has now emerged from bankruptcy, and a new team should have a "schematic design" for the new facility in two or three months, DeCosta said. Delta, which represents about 80 percent of the business at the world's busiest airport, recently named a new CEO, Richard H. Anderson, who immediately stressed that international flights represent the largest growth opportunity for the airline.

The airline has added 60 international routes systemwide in a year or so. And since 2005, it has added 33 international routes from Hartsfield-Jackson. The airline is trying to secure two China routes, one of which would begin next year.

Delta officials said that two years ago about 20 percent of Delta's total revenues came from international routes. Today, that number is approaching 40 percent.

[RobMidtowner]

Giant ads to dot landscape near airport

By JIM THARPE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 09/25/07

Just in case you don't get enough advertising from in-flight magazines as you descend into Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, a London advertising agency has a treat for you.

The agency, Ad-Air, plans to install huge ads — the size of three football fields — on the ground near Hartsfield-Jackson along the flight paths of the world's busiest airport.

The agency plans similar ads near airports in London, Paris, Geneva, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Abu Dhabi, beginning with Abu Dhabi next month.

Kate Rosser, a London-based spokeswoman for the public relations firm that represents Ad-Air, said the ads near Hartsfield-Jackson could be in place by early next year. She said several sites had been contacted along the flight paths to the airport, but did not know their locations.

"We can't say who will be advertising on any of them yet," Rosser said during a telephone interview Tuesday.

Rosser said the ads will be on private property and will easily be visible to passengers on flights approaching the airport. Hartsfield-Jackson officials said they had not heard of the plan.

The giant ads, Rosser said, will be printed on a fabric mesh-type material that will be suspended above the ground, facing skyward.

[ThrashATL]

Delta Air Lines Wins Rights to Serve China Nonstop from Atlanta


http://img.coxnewsweb.com/C/04/66/82/image_5882664.jpg

Appears so!

[MAH4546]

Delta will announce the following routes on Thursday from New York City. Not Atlanta-related, but still exciting:

Amman, Jordan
Cairo, Egypt
Cape Town, South Africa (via Dakar, Senegal)
Dakar, Senegal
Edinburgh, Scotland
Lagos, Nigeria
Malaga, Spain
Nairobi, Kenya (via Dakar, Senegal)

[STrek777]

Delta will announce the following routes on Thursday from New York City. Not Atlanta-related, but still exciting:

Amman, Jordan
Cairo, Egypt
Cape Town, South Africa (via Dakar, Senegal)
Dakar, Senegal
Edinburgh, Scotland
Lagos, Nigeria
Malaga, Spain
Nairobi, Kenya (via Dakar, Senegal)

To add to your post I found this while doing some more digging around. Very fun stuff!!! :yes:

Nine new trans-Atlantic routes with nonstop service between JFK and:
Amman, Jordan (effective June 5)*;
Cairo, Egypt (effective June 4)*;
Edinburgh, Scotland (effective May 1);
Lagos, Nigeria (effective June 9)*;
Malaga, Spain (effective June 4)*;
Tel Aviv, Israel (effective March 10)*;
Dakar, Senegal (effective June 2)*;
Nairobi, Kenya (via Dakar) (effective June 2)*;
and Cape Town, South Africa (via Dakar) (effective June 3)*.

Five new Latin America routes with nonstop service between JFK and:
Guatemala City, Guatemala (effective Dec. 14);
Liberia, Costa Rica (effective Feb. 16)*;
Panama City, Panama (effective Dec. 13);
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (effective Dec. 20)*;
and San Jose, Costa Rica (effective Feb. 15)*.

The flights will be operated with a mix of Boeing 737-800, 757-200 and 767-300ER aircraft, with 737s and 757s serving Latin America and 757s and 767s flying across the Atlantic. The airline’s 2008 expansion will be aided by the introduction of 15 additional Boeing 757-200 airplanes on international routes. With the introduction of 757s in trans-Atlantic service, Boeing 767-300s serving short-haul routes will be freed up to serve long-haul destinations in Africa and the Middle East.

Also: as part of its plan to address congestion and delays at JFK, Delta will make the following changes before summer 2008:

Metering its use of airport resources by reducing average hourly departures by 6 percent during the most congested hours of 3:30-6:30 p.m.;

Decreasing departures during JFK’s afternoon ‘rush hour’ by shifting short-haul trans-Atlantic flights to a third bank of international departures after 7 p.m.;

Optimizing connecting times to increase transit time for JFK customers to enhance overall baggage performance and schedule reliability;

Increasing by 47 percent the number of Delta flights operated with larger two-class jets. Of the 204 daily departures at JFK planned for 2008, 60 percent will be operated with larger two-class aircraft seating between 70 and 270 passengers – up from 40 percent in summer 2007; and

Eliminating all Delta flights at JFK operated with turboprop aircraft.

Together, these changes will reduce Delta’s demands on limited airspace and airport resources until a comprehensive redesign of the New York airspace is funded by the federal government. Delta’s redesign will offer a more than 20 percent increase in available seat miles by summer 2008, with 11 more daily departures.

:banana:

[trainiac]

The agency, Ad-Air, plans to install huge ads — the size of three football fields — on the ground near Hartsfield-Jackson along the flight paths of the world's busiest airport.


These better not be additional impervious surfaces -- the airport area has enough of that as it is. Oh, the poor Flint River

[STrek777]

Here is the official press release!

http://news.delta.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=10861

[STrek777]

I thought ya’ll would like this. Apparently the US and Australia plan to finalize an open skies agreement early next year. With Delta’s dedication to international expansion out of ATL this could be a major boost to our airport. Delta still has quite a few 777-LRs left to take ownership of over the next few years. With the Australian open skies on the horizon we may not have to long to wait to catch a flight out of ATL to SYD or PER or CBR. Here is the link below.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/09/30/1191090945530.html

[Rail Claimore]

I thought ya’ll would like this. Apparently the US and Australia plan to finalize an open skies agreement early next year. With Delta’s dedication to international expansion out of ATL this could be a major boost to our airport. Delta still has quite a few 777-LRs left to take ownership of over the next few years. With the Australian open skies on the horizon we may not have to long to wait to catch a flight out of ATL to SYD or PER or CBR. Here is the link below.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/09/30/1191090945530.html

Can even a 777-LR make it from ATL to SYD? I'd expect an LAX-SYD route out of Delta, but I'm not sure about ATL.

[ThrashATL]

Can even a 777-LR make it from ATL to SYD? I'd expect an LAX-SYD route out of Delta, but I'm not sure about ATL.

Out of curiosity, I plugged in a flight from ATL to SYD into MS Flight Simulator X and it's 8065 nautical miles or 9281 landlubber miles. Thats using a direct GPS routing too, as straight a line as you can fly between the two. The range of a 777-ER is 7,880 nautical miles, so no, it wouldn't reach Sydney nonstop from Atlanta. My 777 addon for MSFS X even asked me what stop would be used for enroute fueling... so there ya go, it won't be with an ER. Now if the LR's record flight holds up to full production models of 11,664 nautical miles, THAT would reach. The flight lasted 22 hours and 42 minutes (they went eastbound). So how many LR's is Delta buying?

[john3eblover]

8 so far I believe....?

[STrek777]

I thought ya’ll would like this. Apparently the US and Australia plan to finalize an open skies agreement early next year. With Delta’s dedication to international expansion out of ATL this could be a major boost to our airport. Delta still has quite a few 777-LRs left to take ownership of over the next few years. With the Australian open skies on the horizon we may not have to long to wait to catch a flight out of ATL to SYD or PER or CBR. Here is the link below.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/09/30/1191090945530.html

I should have been more careful how I phrased my post. Even though I never stated non-stop I can see how it could have been seen as suggesting non-stop. The last time I spoke with Jim Whitehurst he did mention that the even the 777-LR would have to make a pit stop before hopping the Pacific. The most logical choice would be LAX since we already have a hub there and Delta has been jumping at every opportunity to beat American at there own game there.

Sorry for any misunderstanding.

[Rail Claimore]

I should have been more careful how I phrased my post. Even though I never stated non-stop I can see how it could have been seen as suggesting non-stop. The last time I spoke with Jim Whitehurst he did mention that the even the 777-LR would have to make a pit stop before hopping the Pacific. The most logical choice would be LAX since we already have a hub there and Delta has been jumping at every opportunity to beat American at there own game there.

Sorry for any misunderstanding.

American's operations at LAX are mainly for the transpacific and bicoastal markets. United is big dog at LAX that Delta has to deal with. Count on them to put out all the stops to keep Delta from making profit on any transpacific routing except Tokyo.

[SteveD]

Out of curiosity, I plugged in a flight from ATL to SYD into MS Flight Simulator X and it's 8065 nautical miles or 9281 landlubber miles. Thats using a direct GPS routing too, as straight a line as you can fly between the two. The range of a 777-ER is 7,880 nautical miles, so no, it wouldn't reach Sydney nonstop from Atlanta. My 777 addon for MSFS X even asked me what stop would be used for enroute fueling... so there ya go, it won't be with an ER. Now if the LR's record flight holds up to full production models of 11,664 nautical miles, THAT would reach. The flight lasted 22 hours and 42 minutes (they went eastbound). So how many LR's is Delta buying?

Those long hauls are fascinating to me. As someone not "in the business" or knowledgeable about jet fuel efficiency, can someone tell me in ballpark terms how much fuel one of these babies would need to be lifting off with to reach 8-, 9-, or even 10,000 miles? How much miles per gallon (or perhaps gallons per mile??) do these puppies consume, in general terms. I know there's a host of variables (older, newer models - climate conditions, headwind or tailwind, etc). I guess I'm trying to get a handle on how big the fuel tanks are!

[Andrea]

... how much fuel one of these babies would need to be lifting off with to reach 8-, 9-, or even 10,000 miles? How much miles per gallon (or perhaps gallons per mile??) do these puppies consume...

And do the babies need more than the puppies? (j/k, Steve)

I think the fuel thing is a fascinating question, too.

One other thing I wondered about is whether there's a tolerance level as to how long a flight people can handle. I start getting fidgety even on flights to Europe.

[Tombstoner]

One other thing I wondered about is whether there's a tolerance level as to how long a flight people can handle. I start getting fidgety even on flights to Europe.

I'm routinely on 17-24 hour flights (with stopovers, of course) and haven't gone nuts* yet. That being said, I honestly do think there are a lot of health consequences; a Continental pilot once told me that insurers calculate that pilots' life expectancy is 3-5 years shorter than it would be otherwise due to the general stress of traveling across time zones.

*certifiably

[STrek777]

Those long hauls are fascinating to me. As someone not "in the business" or knowledgeable about jet fuel efficiency, can someone tell me in ballpark terms how much fuel one of these babies would need to be lifting off with to reach 8-, 9-, or even 10,000 miles? How much miles per gallon (or perhaps gallons per mile??) do these puppies consume, in general terms. I know there's a host of variables (older, newer models - climate conditions, headwind or tailwind, etc). I guess I'm trying to get a handle on how big the fuel tanks are!

Here is the best I could find.

http://www.faatest.com/books/AK/8-4.htm

Of course you have to remember that there are quite a few factors to consider before fueling up.

For a more laymans term explanation here is another link although it only focuses on a 747.

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question192.htm

[ThrashATL]

Those long hauls are fascinating to me. As someone not "in the business" or knowledgeable about jet fuel efficiency, can someone tell me in ballpark terms how much fuel one of these babies would need to be lifting off with to reach 8-, 9-, or even 10,000 miles? How much miles per gallon (or perhaps gallons per mile??) do these puppies consume, in general terms. I know there's a host of variables (older, newer models - climate conditions, headwind or tailwind, etc). I guess I'm trying to get a handle on how big the fuel tanks are!

The 777 LR carries a max of 195,280 litres or 51,592 gallons. A gallon of jet A weighs 6lbs per gallon. The 777 on it's 22+ hour flight landed in London with 25,000lbs of fuel left, or 4166 gallons. It used 47,426 gallons of fuel for the entire flight average 4 gallons a mile.

[SteveD]

:previous: Excellent. Thanks for the info. I thought I'd heard before the "five gallons per mile" thing...

[ThrashATL]

:previous: Excellent. Thanks for the info. I thought I'd heard before the "five gallons per mile" thing...

But the 777 is about 10-20% more efficient than say a 747 or Airbus 340, so 20% off the 5gpm is 4... whoohoo.

[Rail Claimore]

And do the babies need more than the puppies? (j/k, Steve)

I think the fuel thing is a fascinating question, too.

One other thing I wondered about is whether there's a tolerance level as to how long a flight people can handle. I start getting fidgety even on flights to Europe.

Most people want at least one stop if they're flying more than 15 hours somewhere, but that's only if transfering planes on that stop is smooth and efficient. The last thing someone wants to experience at a stop is delay or cancellation. I've flown transpacific from the eastern US (13-17 hours) practically all my life. You learn to get a night's sleep while on the plane. I don't even get jetlag when I'm flying west to Asia.

One of Delta's current longest flights is ATL-ICN (Seoul) which is about 15 hours.

[SteveD]

Most people want at least one stop if they're flying more than 15 hours somewhere, but that's only if transfering planes on that stop is smooth and efficient. The last thing someone wants to experience at a stop is delay or cancellation. I've flown transpacific from the eastern US (13-17 hours) practically all my life. You learn to get a night's sleep while on the plane. I don't even get jetlag when I'm flying west to Asia.

One of Delta's current longest flights is ATL-ICN (Seoul) which is about 15 hours.

You're lucky if you can actually fall asleep. I find it to be nearly impossible to fall asleep in most moving objects...car, bus, train, jet...I just can't do it. I just did ATL-Rome last week and was up all night, even with a Lunesta. Cruise ships buck this trend. No problem sleeping on a cruise ship.

[GTviajero81]

I think the main problem is in which direction one is headed.

Eg., ATL-FCO (Rome-Fiumicino) is a night flight but it is only dark for maybe 6-7 hours of a 9 hr flight. Hard to sleep well on that one. However try flying back from Europe to Atlanta in the winter on a flight at leaves VERY early (around 0400-0800). Flight times average 10 hours and it will be dark for all but the last hour of flight. A heck of a lot easier to sleep on.

I flew on Delta from Dubai to Atlanta a month and a half ago. We left DXB at 2245 and arrived in ATL at some time right before sunrise (it was still dark whilst taxiing to the concourse, but sunlit whilst driving home to the city). About 15 hours inflight ALL during the night....I tell you though, that was some good sleep! :)

To Asia it's a different story. Most transpacific flights leave the east coast around 1200 and so it is daytime all the way until one reaches the International Date Line. If it's winter time one will then see dusk. If it's summer time...sorry it'll be bright the entire way over. I flew on Korean Air a few years back from ATL-ICN in February....it was dark for the last three hours in flight (over Siberia there was light but it was dark when we arrived in Seoul-Incheon), however I flew on United from Atlanta to Osaka (via ORD) in the summer time and it was daylight the entire way over...sheesh that was a bit difficult...but nothing a bit of champagne in Business Class couldn't fix! :)

[GTviajero81]

Oh and btw Delta's longest flights are:

1) BOM (Mumbai, India) to JFK (New York) : 16:00
2) JFK (New York) to BOM (Mumbai, India) : 15:05
3) ATL (Atlanta) to ICN (Seoul, Korea) : 15:00
4) DXB (Dubai, UAE) to ATL (Atlanta) : 14:55
5) ATL (Atlanta) to NRT (Tokyo-Narita) : 14:20
5) ATL (Atlanta) to DXB (Dubai, UAE) : 14:00
6) ICN (Seoul, Korea) to ATL : 13:45
7) TLV (Tel Aviv, Israel) to ATL : 13:15

I could keep going but running through my brain to remember the scheduled flight times is a bit tiring. So there you go. I am quite sure that with PVG (Shanghai-Pudong) added in the mix that that flight will go to the top 5 in stage lengths.

[bw87a]

anything cool to do in the airport? i have an hour and a half layover tomorrow.

[john3eblover]

explore!

[Andrea]

I'll have to echo Randy's story. I too "grew up" with this airport, and I love it.

Although I will have to say I always liked the way the Alexander Calder mobile looked in the old terminal, too. Tres 60s -- you almost expected to see Napoleon Solo come strolling by.

:haha:


Hartsfield Jackson is pretty utilitarian, but it works. And yes, Maynard Jackson absolutely deserves to have his name on this airport. Love the aerial photos

[john3eblover]

i flew into and out of JFK this week, man what a dump. made me miss hartsfield jackson :(

[ThrashATL]

i flew into and out of JFK this week, man what a dump. made me miss hartsfield jackson :(

JFK... and what's that smell there??? Is it the ocean and dead fish? Mold in the building? A garbage dump? WHAT???

[LoveAtlanta]

i hope virgin america will one day start flying from ATL

[ThrashATL]

I love this site. Many of you aviation fiends probably know about it already but I'll post it anyway for those that don't. I mainly use it to see the tail numbers of the planes going over our house and their orig/dest (usually PDK).
Free too, snoop around. Track flights, check the national air traffic, watch traffic any airport, etc.

http://flightaware.com/

[akiatl261]

:previous: Also if you are a plane freak like me LOL then you all if you havent been might also like www.airliners.net or to watch free videos of planes both in the cabin during flight and from spotters on the ground
www.flightlevel350.com I think for those who havent been to that those sites you will LOVE!! it LOL :)

[Andrea]

I was poking around the airport the other day and wondered why some of the hangars have all that framework of big orange girders sticking out at the top. I thought maybe they were to let the planes in, but if that is the case, how come they're not closed in? Is there a movable roof? Or do they just use them to attach hoists?

[john3eblover]

JFK... and what's that smell there??? Is it the ocean and dead fish? Mold in the building? A garbage dump? WHAT???

lol...NO CLUE! I was wondering that myself. The whole thing was just not a great experience, especially a hassle renting a car. Although the staff was really good at Enterprise. Fun seeing a lot of international wide bodies though.

[akiatl261]

I actually like JFK. I have fond memeories there when flying from overseas to the us. I wish we had the fraction of intresting tails they have at JFK, But I guess Delta makes up for it basically brining the world to us Nonstop. :)

[STrek777]

Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - 7:33 AM EDT

Delta profit hits $220M in third quarter

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Delta Air Lines Inc. continued to rise to new heights in the third quarter, posting the largest quarterly revenue in company history while recording a profit.

The Atlanta-based carrier (NYSE: DAL) had net income of $220 million on $5.2 billion in revenue, the highest quarterly revenue in company history. This compares with net income of $52 million on $4.8 billion in revenue in the third quarter of 2006.

"As these results demonstrate, Delta has emerged as a leader in the airline industry and we intend to maintain that position," said Richard Anderson, Delta CEO. "We have significant opportunities in front of us as our financial improvements, combined with the power of our people, route network and balance sheet, give us tremendous flexibility and strength as the industry continues to evolve."

During the third quarter, Delta paid down more than $1 billion in debt, including its bankruptcy-related obligations to the Air Line Pilots Association and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. Delta also invested more than $400 million in capital expenditures, focused primarily on customer-facing initiatives, such as improvements at Delta's Atlanta and New York-JFK hubs, and aircraft deposits.

During the quarter, Delta hedged 32 percent of its fuel consumption, resulting in an average fuel price per gallon of $2.17. Delta realized $46 million in cash gains on fuel hedge contracts settled during the quarter.

At the end of the third quarter, Delta had $3 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, of which $2.4 billion was unrestricted.

Through nine months, Delta had net income of $1.7 billion on $14.4 billion in revenue, compared with a net loss of $4.2 billion on $13.3 billion in revenue for the same period of 2006.



All contents of this site © American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved.

:yes: :banana: :tup:

[SteveD]

I'm delighted to see Delta turning things around. Delta's importance to metro Atlanta absolutely can not be overstated.

[smArTaLlone]

Consolidation Could Be In The Cards For Delta
Atlanta Business Chronicle

Delta Air Lines Inc. CEO Richard Anderson told analysts Oct. 16 that consolidation could be in the cards for the Atlanta-based airline.

"This industry, including Delta and candidly all network carriers, are the products of consolidation," said Anderson, in the third-quarter earnings conference call conducted from Paris. "We firmly believe this evolution will continue."

He said his concern is for Delta (NYSE: DAL) to continue from a "position of strength. As a result, we are evaluating the best path forward for Delta."

Said Anderson: "There are obvious benefits that could accrue from consolidation for our shareholders and employees."

He did not indicate which airlines Delta is eyeing, but did say that Delta and SkyTeam Alliance partner AirFrance would make an announcement from Paris on Oct. 17. that would be a benefit to employees and would help Delta's continued international expansion.

Earlier Tuesday, Delta reported its third-quarter profit rose to $220 million on record quarterly revenue of $5.2 billion.

[Dragonheart8588]

Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - 7:33 AM EDT

Delta profit hits $220M in third quarter

Atlanta Business Chronicle

Delta Air Lines Inc. continued to rise to new heights in the third quarter, posting the largest quarterly revenue in company history while recording a profit.

The Atlanta-based carrier (NYSE: DAL) had net income of $220 million on $5.2 billion in revenue, the highest quarterly revenue in company history. This compares with net income of $52 million on $4.8 billion in revenue in the third quarter of 2006.

"As these results demonstrate, Delta has emerged as a leader in the airline industry and we intend to maintain that position," said Richard Anderson, Delta CEO. "We have significant opportunities in front of us as our financial improvements, combined with the power of our people, route network and balance sheet, give us tremendous flexibility and strength as the industry continues to evolve."

During the third quarter, Delta paid down more than $1 billion in debt, including its bankruptcy-related obligations to the Air Line Pilots Association and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. Delta also invested more than $400 million in capital expenditures, focused primarily on customer-facing initiatives, such as improvements at Delta's Atlanta and New York-JFK hubs, and aircraft deposits.

During the quarter, Delta hedged 32 percent of its fuel consumption, resulting in an average fuel price per gallon of $2.17. Delta realized $46 million in cash gains on fuel hedge contracts settled during the quarter.

At the end of the third quarter, Delta had $3 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, of which $2.4 billion was unrestricted.

Through nine months, Delta had net income of $1.7 billion on $14.4 billion in revenue, compared with a net loss of $4.2 billion on $13.3 billion in revenue for the same period of 2006.



All contents of this site © American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved.

:yes: :banana: :tup:

You know, I am glad that they are turning things around. Actually, STrek777 might actually like me after saying this. Well, last Friday, I took my sister to the airport for her flight to Boston. Her agent book the flight with Delta, and when she was checking in, the lady at the counter was VERY pleasant. I told her that she was first person that I dealt with Delta that was actually nice. I was glad to be there to see that and maybe when this happen to more often then I would definitely fly Delta.

Well, my family is taking a trip to Anaheim and Vegas to see my sister pageant in November and the whole trip would not require to fly Delta. ATL to Anaheim (Frontier); Anaheim to Vegas (US Airways), Vegas to ATL (Spirit). Ain't that amazing, Y'all!

Hopefully, I will fly Delta more often in the future.

[STrek777]

Consolidation Could Be In The Cards For Delta
Atlanta Business Chronicle

Delta Air Lines Inc. CEO Richard Anderson told analysts Oct. 16 that consolidation could be in the cards for the Atlanta-based airline.

"This industry, including Delta and candidly all network carriers, are the products of consolidation," said Anderson, in the third-quarter earnings conference call conducted from Paris. "We firmly believe this evolution will continue."

He said his concern is for Delta (NYSE: DAL) to continue from a "position of strength. As a result, we are evaluating the best path forward for Delta."

Said Anderson: "There are obvious benefits that could accrue from consolidation for our shareholders and employees."

He did not indicate which airlines Delta is eyeing, but did say that Delta and SkyTeam Alliance partner AirFrance would make an announcement from Paris on Oct. 17. that would be a benefit to employees and would help Delta's continued international expansion.

Earlier Tuesday, Delta reported its third-quarter profit rose to $220 million on record quarterly revenue of $5.2 billion.

Darn you beat me to it. Still this is going to be very interesting to watch play out... especially for me. We may have hit a slump regarding skyscraper/construction in Atlanta but the talk of Delta is just getting started. Oh and I have a have a very strong feeling that the announcement that the ABC references will be regarding our new LHR routes. ;)

[STrek777]

You know, I am glad that they are turning things around. Actually, STrek777 might actually like me after saying this. Well, last Friday, I took my sister to the airport for her flight to Boston. Her agent book the flight with Delta, and when she was checking in, the lady at the counter was VERY pleasant. I told her that she was first person that I dealt with Delta that was actually nice. I was glad to be there to see that and maybe when this happen to more often then I would definitely fly Delta.

Hopefully, I will fly Delta more often in the future.

:) Oh heck we've always been good I'm just really fired up about my job and plunge off into a tangent at times and I'm sorry that I got cross with you. But we're good :tup: Have a great day Dragonheart!

[atlantaguy]

Well, my family is taking a trip to Anaheim and Vegas to see my sister pageant in November and the whole trip would not require to fly Delta. ATL to Anaheim (Frontier); Anaheim to Vegas (US Airways), Vegas to ATL (Spirit). Ain't that amazing, Y'all!

Hopefully, I will fly Delta more often in the future.


I hope whoever booked your trips advised that Frontier involves a change of plane in Denver, as Delta has the only non-stops to Orange Country from here (BUT Frontier is a great little airline, you'll like them).

And man on man, good luck with Spirit. Can you say the absolute WORST customer service in the industry, and rapidly gaining a rep for bumping people with absolutely no compensation at all. Good luck - I would love to hear about them when you get back!

[Dragonheart8588]

I hope whoever booked your trips advised that Frontier involves a change of plane in Denver, as Delta has the only non-stops to Orange Country from here (BUT Frontier is a great little airline, you'll like them).

And man on man, good luck with Spirit. Can you say the absolute WORST customer service in the industry, and rapidly gaining a rep for bumping people with absolutely no compensation at all. Good luck - I would love to hear about them when you get back!

I knew about Frontier layover (45 mins) at Denver. It was cheaper than Delta at the time.

Spirit was really cheap ($91 one way LAS - ATL), and this is my 1st with them. I was taken back that we have to pay for our luggages ($5 dollar each, 2 discnt max online, and $10 for additional/per person). Well, let's hope what you said about them are not true because I have to be back on Tuesday red eyed flight. I have class and a test that day.:(

[STrek777]

New Delta-Air France venture opens door to Heathrow
By RUSSELL GRANTHAM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/17/07

Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM Group plan to announce a joint venture today that will give the Atlanta carrier access to London's Heathrow Airport and boost flight options for customers on both sides of the Atlantic.

The deal, which is similar to an alliance Northwest Airlines and Dutch carrier KLM forged in the 1990s, would allow Delta and Air France to share revenues, profits and customers from dozens of trans-Atlantic routes. Those routes are expected to account for billions of dollars in annual revenues.

The join venture, to be detailed at a news conference in Paris, would help break the exclusive hold that British Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways have on U.S. flights to Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport.

The partnership solves one sticky point in particular for Delta, which didn't own any of the so-called slots that an airline must hold to operate flights at Heathrow. The highly coveted landing and takeoff rights cost about $100 million per pair, according to Delta. Air France is supplying four pairs of Heathrow slots to the joint venture.

However, Delta Chief Executive Richard Anderson said access to the key business airport is a "small part" of the benefits Delta hopes to gain from the joint venture, which will go into effect in April after a recent air services treaty between the United States and the European Union takes effect.

More importantly, he said, the joint venture will allow Delta and Air France to better take advantage of an earlier decision by federal regulators that granted antitrust immunity to the two carriers. That immunity allows them to coordinate schedules, marketing and ticket pricing, and share revenues and profits.

The two airlines are already part of the SkyTeam Alliance, which lets passengers accrue frequent-flier miles from the various members of the group.

However, the alliance includes Northwest and several other carriers that do not have the antitrust immunity.

"It's a very important turning point," Anderson said in an interview. "You have the ability to operate the largest network across the Atlantic."

In its first phase, the airlines said, the joint venture will consist of a daily flight between Heathrow and Delta's Atlanta hub, plus three other flights from New York and Los Angeles to the London airport, plus all trans-Atlantic flights between Delta's and Air France's hubs. The 19 daily flights will generate about $1.5 billion in annual revenues, according to the airlines.

By 2010, the airlines plan to expand the joint venture to cover all of the carriers' trans-Atlantic routes between Europe and North America, as well as Air France's flights between Los Angeles and Tahiti.

The carriers estimate that those routes will eventually generate $8 billion in revenues annually.

"We think that there's at least $150 million" in pretax profits for Delta to earn each year from the agreement, said Delta Executive Vice President Glen Hauenstein.

"This is a huge win for Delta."

Some details of the partnership, such as how large a stake Delta will own and how much of its profits the carrier can claim, haven't yet been determined, the executives said.

Anderson said the agreement does not presage plans for a merger with Air France. The Delta CEO indicated Tuesday that the carrier may eventually consider buying another carrier.

But he ruled out an outright merger with Air France, noting that U.S. law limits foreign ownership of U.S. carriers to 25 percent, and that antitrust immunity grants most of the benefits of a merger anyway.

"This is purely about taking advantage of the antitrust laws of the U.S.," said Anderson.

[STrek777]

New Delta-Air France venture opens door to Heathrow
By RUSSELL GRANTHAM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/17/07

Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM Group plan to announce a joint venture today that will give the Atlanta carrier access to London's Heathrow Airport and boost flight options for customers on both sides of the Atlantic.

The deal, which is similar to an alliance Northwest Airlines and Dutch carrier KLM forged in the 1990s, would allow Delta and Air France to share revenues, profits and customers from dozens of trans-Atlantic routes. Those routes are expected to account for billions of dollars in annual revenues.

The join venture, to be detailed at a news conference in Paris, would help break the exclusive hold that British Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways have on U.S. flights to Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport.

The partnership solves one sticky point in particular for Delta, which didn't own any of the so-called slots that an airline must hold to operate flights at Heathrow. The highly coveted landing and takeoff rights cost about $100 million per pair, according to Delta. Air France is supplying four pairs of Heathrow slots to the joint venture.

However, Delta Chief Executive Richard Anderson said access to the key business airport is a "small part" of the benefits Delta hopes to gain from the joint venture, which will go into effect in April after a recent air services treaty between the United States and the European Union takes effect.

More importantly, he said, the joint venture will allow Delta and Air France to better take advantage of an earlier decision by federal regulators that granted antitrust immunity to the two carriers. That immunity allows them to coordinate schedules, marketing and ticket pricing, and share revenues and profits.

The two airlines are already part of the SkyTeam Alliance, which lets passengers accrue frequent-flier miles from the various members of the group.

However, the alliance includes Northwest and several other carriers that do not have the antitrust immunity.

"It's a very important turning point," Anderson said in an interview. "You have the ability to operate the largest network across the Atlantic."

In its first phase, the airlines said, the joint venture will consist of a daily flight between Heathrow and Delta's Atlanta hub, plus three other flights from New York and Los Angeles to the London airport, plus all trans-Atlantic flights between Delta's and Air France's hubs. The 19 daily flights will generate about $1.5 billion in annual revenues, according to the airlines.

By 2010, the airlines plan to expand the joint venture to cover all of the carriers' trans-Atlantic routes between Europe and North America, as well as Air France's flights between Los Angeles and Tahiti.

The carriers estimate that those routes will eventually generate $8 billion in revenues annually.

"We think that there's at least $150 million" in pretax profits for Delta to earn each year from the agreement, said Delta Executive Vice President Glen Hauenstein.

"This is a huge win for Delta."

Some details of the partnership, such as how large a stake Delta will own and how much of its profits the carrier can claim, haven't yet been determined, the executives said.

Anderson said the agreement does not presage plans for a merger with Air France. The Delta CEO indicated Tuesday that the carrier may eventually consider buying another carrier.

But he ruled out an outright merger with Air France, noting that U.S. law limits foreign ownership of U.S. carriers to 25 percent, and that antitrust immunity grants most of the benefits of a merger anyway.

"This is purely about taking advantage of the antitrust laws of the U.S.," said Anderson.

yyyyeeeeeeaaaaaayyyyyyy!!!! This is a huge win for Delta!

[popewiz]

Let's remember the reason for their record profits, dumping 1000's of employees off of their pension and healthcare programs. Hooray Delta!

[STrek777]

Let's remember the reason for their record profits, dumping 1000's of employees off of their pension and healthcare programs. Hooray Delta!

wow... you are so smart! I mean really you must have read a few articles in the AJC and now your an expert.

The only people who had their pensions turned over to the PBGC were the pilots. All ground employees and flight attendants kept their pensions intact. The only reason Delta turned the Pilots pensions over to the PBGC was because they were able to take their entire pension in one lump sum. Delta could not afford for the pilots to take their pensions in one lump sum so Delta turned them over to the PBGC. The pilots pensions are not gon they will still recieve a check and those who were fully vested will still recieve the full or nearly full amount of their pension.

I am sure that you could, and probably will, go on talking smack but I'm checking out of this one early. I got very snippy with Dragonheart and I will not go down that path again. I wish everyone a glorious day!

[john3eblover]

Let's remember the reason for their record profits, dumping 1000's of employees off of their pension and healthcare programs. Hooray Delta!

hey, way to be an idiot!