Delta To Launch Low-Fare Service

Delta Air Lines plans to launch its lower-fare air service in October, initially flying between 15 cities in the Northeast, Midwest and Florida, the airline said Tuesday.

W.E. “Skip” Barnette, managing director of the low-fare operation, said the effort is largely aimed at leisure travelers, with five of the destinations in Florida.

“There’s a lot of strength in a sunshine-route structure,” he said. Indeed, the airline’s choice of an October start puts it in position to take advantage of Northeasterners and Midwesterners looking for cheap trips to flee the onset of cold weather.

The airline plans to cut its costs on the routes by getting more use out of its airplanes and taking advantage of a lower base pay rate for pilots who fly the 737 jets dedicated to the service, Barnette said from his Atlanta office.

The airline would not release specific cities to be served or what fares will be.