Delta Air Lines Names Don Bornhorst Senior Vice President of Delta Connection

Oct 9, 2007

ATLANTA, Oct. 9, 2007 – Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced that Don Bornhorst has been named Senior Vice President – Delta Connection, effective Oct. 15. Bornhorst, a 16-year industry veteran, most recently served as Comair’s president.

“One of Delta’s top priorities is improving the Delta Connection experience for our customers from onboard products and services to operational performance. Don is a proven leader with the background, focus and determination needed to unify the Delta Connection brand and improve service to a level that meets or exceeds our customers’ expectations,” said Joe Kolshak, Delta’s executive vice president of operations.

Bornhorst, 42, was named Comair’s president in May 2006, after working in every major operating group at Comair. Before becoming president, he served as Comair’s chief financial officer, vice president of Information Systems and senior vice president of Customers with oversight of Customer Services and In-flight.

As senior vice president of Delta Connection, Bornhorst will oversee the day-to-day operations of nine partner airlines and lead efforts to ensure Delta Connection service is seamless with mainline operations. Bornhorst replaces Wayne Aaron, who returns to his role as vice president – Strategic Planning and Business Development.

With Bornhorst’s transition to Delta, Comair has tapped industry veteran and former Delta executive John Selvaggio to lead Comair. Selvaggio most recently served as the head of Delta’s former low-cost unit, Song, and prior to that he served as senior vice president for Delta’s Airport Customer Service division.

“John has a wealth of experience in airline operations and his proven leadership will ensure that Comair stays focused on its primary mission of delivering excellence to Delta customers,” said Kolshak.

Selvaggio, 60, brings a unique depth of regional airline expertise to Comair, including previous service as the head of U.S. Airways’ Express Division and president of Wings West Airlines, a predecessor to American Eagle. In 1998, Selvaggio joined Delta and coordinated the company’s efforts in the acquisition of Atlantic Southeast Airlines in 1999, followed by Comair a year later.

Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 310 destinations in 54 countries. Since 2005, Delta has added more international capacity than all other major U.S. airlines combined and is the leader across the Atlantic with flights to 36 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers more than 400 weekly flights to 53 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 475 worldwide destinations in 104 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.

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Delta CEO Richard Anderson Responds to Preliminary DOT Report Regarding Delay of Continental Flight 2816

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Delta to Adjust Service to Smaller, Underperforming Markets

Jul 15, 2011

ATLANTA, July 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today will notify the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) of its plans to adjust flying in 24 small markets. In concert with the retirement of Delta's Saab fleet and to halt $14 million in annual losses, the changes will affect Essential Air Service (EAS) markets.

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Flights in these markets on average depart with 52 percent of the seats filled, with some locations as low as 12 percent. This compares to a domestic system load factor of 83 percent for 2010. Weak demand in some markets has led to flights occasionally operated with no passengers on board.  

"While Delta would prefer to continue serving these communities, the new reality of mounting cost pressures faced by our industry means we can no longer afford to provide this service. As we continue to strengthen our business, Delta is retiring the Saab turboprops and some 50-seat jet aircraft, which will hinder the financial viability of serving these smaller markets," Delta said.

Delta has taken a number of steps to respond to added cost pressures. Delta previously announced its intention to reduce capacity this fall by 4 percent and retire 140 aircraft. Delta has reduced its facility costs at 170 airport locations and 10 cargo locations across the system, saving more than $80 million annually.  

The notification provides the DOT the opportunity to select a new carrier to begin service in affected EAS communities within a 90-day period. Delta will continue to serve the affected communities through its Delta Connection partners until the DOT selects a replacement carrier and appropriate funding is available. In some cities, Delta is coordinating with other carriers to bid on the routes. In addition, Delta will to continue service in some subsidized and non-subsidized markets, but the subsidy rate must be higher in order for Delta to fly larger regional jets on the routes in question. A complete list of affected communities is available at http://news.delta.com/index.php?s=18&item=156.

The EAS program was created to ensure small communities continue to have access to passenger air service. In some cases, airline service in EAS markets is subsidized by the government. The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 provides that if a carrier is held in beyond the 90-day notice period, it is entitled to receive compensation "to pay for the fully allocated actual cost to the carrier of performing the ...service ... plus a reasonable return on investment that is at least 5 percent of operating costs; and to provide the carrier an additional return that recognizes the demonstrated additional lost profits from opportunities foregone [by continuing to be held in and providing service]."

Delta will offer customers booked for travel in these markets alternative transportation choices or refunds.  Delta will reach out to customers who have provided full contact information in their reservations to arrange alternate transportation or refunds. Customers wishing to make changes to reservations also can contact Delta Reservations at 1-800-221-1212.

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year, and was named by Fortune magazine as the most admired airline worldwide   in its 2011 World's Most Admired Companies airline industry list. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 355 destinations in 65 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, a world-class airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Delta is investing more than $2 billion through 2013 in airport facilities and global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines

For press inquiries: Delta Corporate Communications, +1-404-715-2554

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Comair to Cease Operations

Jul 27, 2012

ATLANTA, July 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced its subsidiary, Comair, Inc. will cease operations after Sept. 29, 2012.

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In a memo issued today to the Officers and Directors of Delta Air Lines, Don Bornhorst, Senior Vice President of Delta Connection, said:

"While regional flying has and will remain a key component of Delta's network, customer expectations and the unit costs of regional flying have evolved.  In response, Delta recently announced its plans to reduce the total number of regional jets in its network while adding more mainline flying.  This includes reducing the number of 50-seat regional jets from nearly 350 aircraft to 125 or fewer in the upcoming years.  As a result of this reduction and changes to its customer-focused business strategy, Delta has made the difficult decision to cease Comair's operations."

Ryan Gumm, President of Comair, communicated Delta's decision this morning to Comair employees in a memo, the full text of which is included below.

The discontinuation of Comair's operations will not result in any significant changes to Delta's network, which has enough flexibility to accommodate these changes.  Currently, Comair accounts for approximately one percent of Delta's network capacity.  There will be no disruption to customers and no significant adjustments to Delta's flight schedule or locations served.  All customers who travel on the Delta network, whether on Delta Connection flights or mainline aircraft, can continue to make travel plans with Delta as they have in the past.

Cincinnati will continue to be an important market in Delta's worldwide network.  Over the past several years, working with community leaders, Delta has right-sized capacity at Cincinnati to better match service to local passenger demand.  Cincinnati is now a profitable market for Delta and the city continues to enjoy over 120 peak daily flights, with non-stop service to 49 destinations.  No reductions in the number of Delta flights are planned at Cincinnati as a result of this decision.

To                            All Comair Employees
From                        Ryan Gumm, President
Subject                    Comair to Cease Operations
Date                        July 27, 2012

All,

Today, I am writing to let you know that Delta has made the difficult decision to cease Comair's operations after September 29, 2012.

Delta recently announced its intent to reduce the overall number of 50-seat regional jets in its network from nearly 350 to 125 or fewer in light of the significant changes in the economic and competitive conditions in the airline industry.  We believed this announcement would have a negative impact on Comair because we operate some of the oldest 50-seat aircraft in the Delta Connection fleet, which also have the highest unit cost per flight hour.  And, in fact, Delta has decided to remove the remaining 16 Comair 50-seaters from the Delta network, leaving Comair with only 28 aircraft in scheduled service.  This further reduction of Comair's active fleet will only create higher unit costs, which equates to a business model that is no longer sustainable in this competitive regional environment.

I understand that today's news is very difficult and raises many questions for you and your family.  Human Resources is prepared to directly assist you during this time.  They will post a memo and other documents on the Human Resources Epic page to keep you informed of the assistance available and to help answer many of your questions.  We will also have staff available over the weekend to answer questions if needed.  If after reviewing the information on Epic you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your departmental leadership as well.

The discontinuation of Comair's operations is in no way a failure or a reflection of your work – it is an unfortunate necessity due to the economic limitations of our aging aircraft, cost structure, the long-term outlook for 50-seat aircraft, and our challenging industry and economy.  The quality of our operations has continued to be outstanding during our lengthy restructuring efforts, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to lead such a committed team.  I am asking that each of you recognize the importance of remaining focused on safety and the job at hand as we continue operations throughout the wind-down period.  Your continued commitment and your dedication to a safe and reliable operation is a testament to the professional team we have built here at Comair.

About Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. During the past year, Delta was named domestic "Airline of the Year" by the readers of Travel Weekly magazine, was named the "Top Tech-Friendly U.S. Airline" by PCWorld magazine for its innovation in technology and won the Business Travel News Annual Airline Survey. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to nearly 350 destinations in 65 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, a world-class airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Delta is investing more than $3 billion through 2013 in airport facilities and global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines

For press inquiries: Delta Corporate Communications, +1-404-715-2554, News archive at news.delta.com

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