Category Archives: Compass Airlines

Delta to expand Seattle/Tacoma operations with new flights to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) despite having a close relationship with Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma), will offer new daily nonstop service to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from San Francisco International Airport as well as increased service from Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, beginning next year. The new service is designed to provide customers access to the airline’s growing trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific network from its global gateway in Seattle/Tacoma.

Details of Delta’s new and expanded Seattle/Tacoma service include:

Six new daily nonstop flights from San Francisco beginning March 29, 2014, increasing to seven daily flights on June 5, 2014.
Two additional flights from Las Vegas for a total of three daily nonstop flights beginning Jan. 6, 2014, increasing to five daily nonstop flights on April 1, 2014.
Two additional flights from Los Angeles for a total of seven daily nonstop flights beginning June 5, 2014.

The Seattle area is one of Delta’s fastest-growing international gateways. The airline currently operates nonstop service to six international markets including Amsterdam, Beijing, Osaka, Paris, Shanghai-Pudong and Tokyo, and recently announced additional service in 2014 to London-Heathrow, Hong Kong and Seoul, pending government approval. The new and additional flights will allow for convenient connections to all of Seattle’s international Delta flights.

As of January 1, 2014, every international Delta flight from Seattle/Tacoma will feature full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite, Economy Comfort seating and entertainment on demand in every seat throughout the aircraft.

Delta’s service from San Francisco and Los Angeles will be operated by Delta Connection carrier Compass Airlines (Delta Connection) using two-class Embraer ERJ 175s, with the exception of one daily mainline flight from Los Angeles. Additionally, Delta’s Las Vegas-Seattle/Tacoma service will be operated by Delta Connection carrier SkyWest Airlines (Delta Connection) (St. George) using two-class Canadair CRJ700s and CRJ900s. Each aircraft is equipped with First Class and Economy Comfort seating as well as onboard Wi-Fi.

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N613CZ (msn 17000203) prepares to land at Washington (Reagan National).

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Delta to launch its Los Angeles-San Francisco hourly shuttle on September 3

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has confirmed our previous report. Delta will begin hourly, nonstop Delta Shuttle service between Los Angeles International and San Francisco International airports on September 3, 2013. The Delta Shuttle introduces 14 daily flights and a product tailored to business travelers while adding a California perspective to its popular New York-based shuttle.

Flights depart at the top of the hour beginning at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and will be operated by Delta Connection partner, Compass Airlines (Delta Connection) (Minneapolis/St. Paul) using Embraer ERJ 175 aircraft which accommodate 76 passengers in 12 First Class, 12 Economy Comfort and 52 Economy seats.

Customers flying the Delta Shuttle between Los Angeles and San Francisco will enjoy:

Check-in as close as 30 minutes prior to departure
Dedicated check-in counters exclusively for Shuttle customers
Gates located near security
Complimentary newspapers for all customers including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Financial Times and more
Assigned seating
Two classes of service with complimentary upgrades for SkyMiles Medallion members when available.
Complimentary onboard snacks provided by LYFE Kitchen, a California-based lifestyle food brand, offering great-tasting, good-for-you food
Complimentary beverages in-flight including Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. craft beer, Starbucks coffee and wine from Wente Vineyards in all classes of service
Cocktails available for purchase in Economy
Access to in-flight Wi-Fi on all Shuttle flights

Delta has partnered with the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles World Airports to invest $229 million to overhaul Terminal 5 at Los Angeles International Airport. The construction project has already begun and will be complete in 2015. Highlights of the project include doubling the size of the ticketing lobby and federal security screening checkpoints; an exclusive Sky Priority experience with a separate lobby and checkpoint; a renovation of the Delta Sky Club; new baggage carousels; upgraded facilities to improve international baggage recheck; and new finishes providing a cleaner, brighter customer experience. All Delta and Delta Connection flights serving Los Angeles offer customers the option of First Class, Economy Comfort or Economy seating, along with in-flight Wi-Fi. Delta operates the largest Wi-Fi-equipped fleet in the world, including all Delta Connection two-class regional jets.

In other news, Delta is also adding weekly Delta Connection Bombardier CRJ900 service from both Orlando and Raleigh/Durham to Nassau in the Bahamas beginning on December 21 per Airline Route. The carrier will also launch seasonal CRJ900 service between Fargo, North Dakota and the Atlanta hub also on December 21.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Compass Airlines’ Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N612CZ (msn 17000201) arrives at Washington’s Dulles International Airport.

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Compass Airlines to operates an hourly Los Angeles-San Francisco shuttle for Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) is planning to turn over the Los Angeles-San Francisco route to subsidiary Compass Airlines (Delta Connection) (Minneapolis/St. Paul). Starting on September 3, 2013, Compass will operate 14 hourly roundtrips with Embraer 175s per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N620CZ (msn 17000214) arrives at Los Angeles International Airport.

Delta Connection-Compass Airlines:

Delta orders 40 new Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has finalized an agreement with Bombardier Aerospace that will allow the airline to continue restructuring its domestic fleet by replacing less efficient single-class 50-seat aircraft with new two-class 76-seat aircraft. As part of the agreement, Delta will acquire 40 new CRJ900 two-class regional jets, with the option to purchase an additional 30 CRJ900 aircraft, and Bombardier will assist Delta in phasing out 60 single-class CRJ200 aircraft.

The addition of the CRJ900 is the latest step in Delta’s domestic fleet optimization plan focused on reducing inefficient flying, implementing strong capacity discipline by matching the right size aircraft to each market and improving the customer experience. The 76-seat CRJ900 will primarily replace less efficient 50-seat aircraft on a capacity-neutral basis. Retiring these aircraft reduces fuel and maintenance expense, improving Delta’s cost structure and environmental profile.

This announcement follows previously announced transactions supporting Delta’s domestic fleet optimization plan, including the addition of 88 Boeing 717-200 aircraft to primarily replace 50-seat aircraft, and acquisition of 100 new Boeing 737-900 ER jets to replace Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft.

Delta will begin taking delivery of CRJ900, 717-200 and 737-900 ER aircraft in the latter half of 2013.

This agreement also supports Delta’s efforts to improve the customer experience. The 40 76-seat CRJ900 aircraft enhance Delta’s efforts to offer customers more first class seats than any other airline. The CRJ900 will be configured with 12 seats in the first class cabin, 12 seats in Delta’s popular Economy Comfort section and 52 seats in economy. The aircraft will feature Delta’s all-leather seating in a two-by-two configuration with window and aisle seats only. Customers flying on Delta’s regional aircraft will continue to have access to the planeside valet program, with the opportunity to drop off larger carry-on baggage at the boarding door and pick it up planeside upon arrival.

Larger two-class regional jets flying for Delta also offer in-flight Wi-Fi access, Delta’s complimentary snacks and beverages, food available for purchase and complimentary first class meals on flights over 900 miles.

Delta’s regional fleet currently features 255 larger two-class regional jets, including 101 CRJ900 aircraft.

It is unclear which airline will operate the new CRJ900 aircraft.

In other Delta Connection news, flight attendants at subsidiary Compass Airlines (Minneapolis/St. Paul) have requested arbitration by the National Mediation Board (NMB) that will allow them to strike if management fails to negotiate a new agreement according to this report by Reuters.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Formerly operated by Comair, Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) N548CA (msn 15159) is now assigned to SkyWest Airlines (St. George).

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Delta Connection-SkyWest Airlines:

Delta Connection-Compass Airlines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Compass Airlines operates a large Embraer fleet for Delta Air Lines. Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N608CZ (msn 17000195) arrives at Baltimore/Washington.

Trans States firms up its order for 50 MRJs

Trans States Holdings (TSH) (St. Louis) executed a definitive Purchase Agreement with Mitsubishi for a firm order of 50 next-generation Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) aircraft (plus 50 options) on December 27, 2010. The order firms up a LOI announced in October 2009.

TSH is an airline holding company that owns and operates three independent airlines, Trans States Airlines, GoJet Airlines, and Compass Airlines, all of which have significant regional operations in North America. TSH provides feeder services for United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and US Airways.

Video:

Delta agrees to sell Compass Airlines to Trans States Airlines

Delta Connection-Compass Airlines Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N608CZ (msn 17000195) BWI (Brian McDonough), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) today (July 1) announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell is wholly owned regional airline subsidiary Compass Airlines (Minneapolis/St. Paul) to Trans States Holdings, Inc. (Trans States Airlines) (St. Louis) for $20.5 million.

Compass will continue to serve Delta as a Delta Connection carrier with a long-term, extendable agreement, ranging from seven to 12 years depending on aircraft type. Compass will continue to be headquartered in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Compass Airlines’ Embraer ERJ 170-200LR (ERJ 175) N608CZ (msn 17000195) prepares to land at Baltimore/Washington.

Delta to expand the Delta Shuttle to Chicago O’Hare with ERJ 175s

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) is launching a new business shuttle service with 11 daily round-trip flights between New York (LaGuardia) and Chicago (O’Hare), replacing existing, less-frequent service between LaGuardia and Chicago (Midway).

Delta’s new hourly shuttle service between New York (La Guardia) and Chicago (O’Hare) will begin June 10 and replace existing flights between LaGuardia and Chicago (Midway). The flights will operate between Delta’s convenient Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia and O’Hare’s Terminal 2.

In advance of the launch, Delta will install new dedicated Shuttle check-in and self-service kiosks at O’Hare, which will become a new Delta Shuttle station. The kiosks feature the ability to purchase tickets for travel that day to LaGuardia, replicating the speed and convenience that customers enjoy in other Delta Shuttle markets. The airline also will assign the Chicago-New York flights to dedicated gates located nearest to O’Hare’s Terminal 2 security checkpoint and offer complimentary morning coffee, tea and newspapers to customers departing from these gates.

Flights on this route will be operated with Embraer ERJ 175 regional jets (probably operated by subsidiary Compass Airlines) equipped with 12 seats in First Class and 64 seats in Economy Class. Both cabins are configured with no middle seats. Delta’s enhanced onboard Shuttle product will be offered in both classes, including meals in First Class, and, in economy, bagels on departures before 10 a.m. and complimentary wine and Sam Adams beer.

It is still unclear if the Embraer ERJ 175s will carry the standard “Delta Connection” titles or new “Delta Shuttle” titles.

In other news Delta is expanding operations at Los Angeles (LAX) with new service to four destinations. Delta’s new service between Los Angeles International Airport and four U.S. cities adds to the airline’s previously announced summer expansion plans from California, including new nonstop flights between San Diego and Honolulu; Sacramento and Detroit, and increased service between Los Angeles and Maui and Memphis.

The new flights between Los Angeles and San Francisco will operate daily. The Columbus flight will operate daily, while the Hartford and Raleigh-Durham flights will operate Sunday through Friday, beginning June 10..

Each of Delta’s new flights will offer customers First Class and Economy Class service, and will be operated on a mix of Boeing 737-800, Airbus A320 and Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft.