Better on-time performance and shorter wait times were among factors cited by Delta Airlines as major reasons for the success of its historic schedule transformation.
Said Lee Macenczak, Delta’s chief customer service officer:
“Customers told us they were extremely pleased with the improvements.”
Preliminary results of the new Delta schedule started earlier this month showed:
• Atlanta set a new record for on-time arrivals with 96.7% of all flights arriving within 15 minutes of their scheduled time.
• Improved weather recovery: during times of poor visibility, on-time performance was up to ten percentage points higher than the past year.
• By spreading flights more evenly, the new Delta schedule reduced security waits to an average of 35 minutes.
• Delta flyers also have more choices because of an additional 80 flights from Atlanta.
Delta’s move was the largest schedule transformation in aviation history, according to the company.
More than half, or 51%, of the airline’s network was restructured.
The Atlanta hub was redesigned, the Cincinnati and Salt Lake City hubs were re-deployed, and Delta nonstop service was added to 34 cities.
Delta executives said the transformation plan was intended to launch “the right airline for the new era” by improving its customers’ traveling experience while simultaneously targeting more than $5 billion in annual cash savings by 2006.
As part of the changes, Delta customers can also use SimpliFares for travel within the 48 contiguous US. SimpliFares remove Saturday stay requirements and lower the cost of unrestricted fares on Delta flights and some Delta connections.
Report by David Wilkening
