Song news.
 

[PHP]http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,173792,00.html[/PHP]

Pretty interesting news. Maybe now it'll keep them from blocking fare hikes. We'll see..


Respectfully,

JayDub


Delta Airlines to Nix Discount Carrier Song
Friday, October 28, 2005

ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines Inc. (DALRQ) , which is reorganizing under protection from the federal bankruptcy court, announced plans Friday to discontinue its discount carrier Song by May 2006 and incorporate Song's fleet into Delta's regular service.

In the interim, Delta plans to include first-class service on Song's 48 planes in an attempt to make the flights more attractive to business travelers and to conform with Delta's regular service.

"As Delta continues its transformation to become a more customer-focused airline, we are incorporating the best of Song into the best of Delta," said Delta CEO Gerald Grinstein (search) in a statement. "Our new Song service will set the standard in transcontinental travel, making Delta the first choice for customers on these routes."

The financially-strapped parent company also plans to convert an additional 50-plus Delta aircraft to two-class Song service and expand in-flight entertainment on Song flighs.

Joanne Smith, currently president of Song, has been named vice president of consumer maketing for Delta, effective immediately.

Atlanta-based Delta filed for Chapter 11 bankrupcy protection from creditors in New York on Sept. 14.

agreed
 

Song was lossing money and this seems like a graceful way to backout. The part about spending money to upgrade 100 jets with the Song IFE system sounds good but that is awfully expensive for a company in bankruptcy. I just don't see them or the judge allowing it. I also hope the fairs to Florida destinations rise.

Song was like flying on a different airline. The seats were new, the inflight video entertainment was state of the art, and the stews' attitudes were ripped right out of Southwest's playbook.

In short, Song was a superior product to mainline Delta. You Legacy CEO's just don't get it. While focusing in on costs, you neglect to make a product/service mix equal to a Frontier or your own low cost tryout like Song.

Now, what are the odds that Delta will revamp their entire fleet with the successes of Song, including "attitude"? They can blame costs all they want, but it will be to the passengers' demise.

I've flown my share of both song and mainline flights, and I think that song is, by far, a better product. I'm hoping that mgmt's aim is to make mainline more like Song, rather than the opposite. It would be a shame to kill the spirit and dedication that I see every time I fly the green planes. I've got my fingers crossed.

I would like to hear some thoughts about what will happen to the Song stews..`er.... flight attendants and ground folks after the green planes are returned to Delta colors. It`s my understanding that they were all hired on a 3, 4, or 5 year contract. A good many (so I`m told) were Delta folks that had to resign from Delta to go over to Song....What a mess...

So long Song
 

Maybe the employees at Song will get hosed?

SkyHigh