Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) will add more flights at London's Heathrow airport with a special focus on lucrative transatlantic routes after securing slots that British Airways and AMR Corp's American Airlines were forced to surrender due to competition issues after forging their alliance.
Delta's Senior Vice President for Europe, Middle East & Africa, Perry Cantarutti, told reporters that the company will continue to look at further opportunities at the world's busiest international passenger airport. He declined to comment on how much Delta paid for the new slots.
The second-largest U.S. airline will increase flights per day from Heathrow to U.S. destinations to 10 from currently seven and add flights to Boston and Miami in March. Cantarutti noted that demand at London's smaller Gatwick airport held up well despite the company's focus on Heathrow.
Cantarutti said Delta was happy with the timings within its slot portfolio and is "feeling good about the demand environment" as far as forward bookings are concerned.
Delta has fitted all its Heathrow flights with flatbed seats. Through a one-two-one configuration per row of seats each passenger has direct access to an aisle.
