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Delta to drop LHR-Seattle route

Published: 10/11/2008 - Filed under: News »

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Delta, the new airline formed from the merger of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines, is scrapping the London Heathrow-Seattle service it began just six month ago.

The last flight eastward will be on January 7 and the last flight westward on January 8. The service was started by Northwest Airlines in June (see online news June 3) in the wake of the Open Skies agreement between the US and the EU.

It aimed to challenge BA which has had a monopoly on this transatlantic route for many years. But while BA offered a four-class service on Boeing 777s and 747s, Northwest had a two class service on A330s.

Delta did not say why the service was being stopped but merely said the slots at Heathrow would be re-allocated, although it did not say to which routes. 

The airline added: “As with any route, Delta is hopeful that we have the opportunity to re-evaluate the Seattle to Heathrow route in the future should market conditions warrant."

The likely reason for the suspension of the service is the route had performed poorly. One industry insider said that on a recent flight from Seattle only one tenth of the economy seats were sold.

For more information visit delta.com.

Report by Alex McWhirter and Stanley Slaughter 

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