MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Delta Air Lines will start paying a quarterly dividend and buy back some of its shares – investor-friendly moves that are common in other industries but rare for airlines.

2. American, US Airways Announce $11 Billion Merger - Friday, February 15, 2013

DALLAS (AP) – US Airways CEO Doug Parker has landed the big merger he sought for years. Now the soon-to-be CEO of the new American Airlines has to make it work.

Planes need painting. Frequent flier programs have to be combined. And the new airline will still be weak in Asia and need to win back business travelers who have been drifting away to other airlines.

3. Cox Expects Strong Year for Memphis Airport - Friday, January 25, 2013

As Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority President Larry Cox heads into the final 17 months leading up to his retirement in July 2014, he is hoping to cap off more than 40 years of service at Memphis International Airport with a big year.

4. Perl Retires From Airport Board - Thursday, December 20, 2012

The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority will begin the next year with an empty chairman’s seat as Arnold Perl retired Thursday, Dec. 20, after 31 years of service, including 16 years as the committee’s chairman.

5. Delta Buys Stake in Virgin Atlantic, Holds Investor Day - Friday, December 14, 2012

On the heels of agreeing to buy a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic from Singapore Airlines for $360 million on Tuesday, Delta Air Lines Inc. held its annual investor day conference on Wednesday, Dec. 12, in Atlanta and detailed the restructuring of its fleet, which will affect flights between Memphis and Birmingham.

6. Airport Officials Hopeful for Strong Holiday Season - Friday, November 16, 2012

Though passenger activity at Memphis International Airport again dropped in October, officials are hopeful for a strong end to the year and beginning to 2013.

Their optimism is buoyed by the coming holiday travel, encouraging news of a Delta Air Lines Inc. airfare sale that runs through early December and the upcoming opening of the new $90 million ground transportation center.

7. Board of Bankrupt Pinnacle Airlines Gets Update on Headquarters Costs - Friday, August 24, 2012

Pinnacle Airlines Corp.'s board opened a two-day meeting Wednesday, but isn't expected to decide yet whether to keep company headquarters in Memphis.

8. Air Canada Cuts Nonstop to Toronto - Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Two years after launching daily nonstop service at Memphis International Airport, the Air Canada regional carrier Jazz will drop the nonstop service to Toronto effective Sept. 18.

Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said the decision was a financial one.

9. AIRfair? - Monday, June 11, 2012

Two frequent-flyer businessmen booked side-by-side seats on Delta Air Lines flights from Minneapolis to St. Louis last month, with one of them getting charged a higher price than the other each time they tried booking it.

10. Gov't Watchdog Urges Stronger Air Safety Oversight - Wednesday, May 09, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Aviation Administration has repeatedly lagged in responding to whistleblower complaints about urgent safety problems, including takeoff and landing procedures at one airport that have caused planes to nearly collide, a government watchdog said Tuesday in an unusually harsh public rebuke.

11. Delta Declines to Address Oil Refinery Rumors - Friday, April 27, 2012

When it was time for questions on this week’s earnings conference call by Delta Air Lines Inc., the company’s president evaded questions about reports that Delta is considering buying an oil refinery in Pennsylvania.

12. US Airways Makes Deals With 3 AMR Unions - Monday, April 23, 2012

DALLAS (AP) – US Airways has struck deals with unions at American Airlines to win their support for a possible merger of the two airlines.

The unions are angry that American is trying to cut jobs and labor costs while under bankruptcy protection. They represent 55,000 pilots, flight attendants and ground workers at American, the nation's third-largest airline

13. Cox Calls Southwest Arrival ‘Game-Changer’ - Thursday, April 19, 2012

Larry Cox did his best in the fight to keep Pinnacle Airlines Corp.’s headquarters near Memphis International Airport and avoid it moving to Downtown’s One Commerce Square.

14. Flights of Fortune - Friday, March 30, 2012

The Delta Air Lines Inc. employees were busy with customers near concourse B at Memphis International Airport.

15. Seasonal Focus at Root of Flight Reduction - Friday, March 02, 2012

Delta Air Lines Inc. executives quoted discount airline pioneer Freddie Laker last April when they talked about the market that was causing them the most problems as fuel prices soared.

16. 2008 Model Predicts Effects of Airline Mergers - Friday, February 03, 2012

Two years ago, a trio of economics professors at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, checked in on a model they built in 2008 to measure and predict the long-term effects of U.S. airline mergers on specific markets, including Memphis.

17. Balmy Winter Brings Plenty of Economic Surprises - Monday, January 16, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Out of a relatively balmy winter have sprung some economic surprises. People have more cash in their pockets because they aren't turning up the thermostat. Airlines don't have to de-ice planes or battle blizzards. And shoppers are finding great deals on coats and boots.

18. Delta Shares Up on Report of Interest in AMR - Friday, January 13, 2012

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – Shares of Delta Air Lines Inc. rose Thursday after a report that the world's second-biggest airline may try to buy American Airlines parent AMR Corp.

19. Touch and Go - Monday, December 19, 2011

In the aviation industry, Memphis International Airport is considered a fortress hub, an airport where a single airline – in Memphis’ case, Delta Air Lines Inc. – handles 70 percent or more of the passenger flights.

20. Unfriendly Skies Looming at MEM - Monday, December 19, 2011

For all the improvements at Memphis International Airport – most notably the air-traffic control tower that just opened and the ground transportation center under construction – the picture inside MEM isn’t as uplifting.

21. NTSB Recommends Banning Drivers’ Use of Elec. Devices - Wednesday, December 14, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – States should ban all driver use of cell phones and other portable electronic devices, except in emergencies, the National Transportation Board said Tuesday.

The recommendation, unanimously agreed to by the five-member board, applies to both hands-free and hand-held phones and significantly exceeds any existing state laws restricting texting and cellphone use behind the wheel.

22. No Interference in Delta Election, Says Labor Board - Thursday, December 08, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Delta Air Lines did not interfere in an election where baggage handlers rejected a union, a federal labor board ruled Wednesday.

Delta said the decision clears the way to line up the pay and benefits of baggage handlers who came from Northwest Airlines, which Delta bought in 2008.

23. Airport CEO Larry Cox to Head Chamber Board - Thursday, December 01, 2011

The Greater Memphis Chamber has a new chairman of the board. Larry Cox, president and CEO of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority, has been elected by the chamber board to succeed former Smith & Nephew executive Joe DeVivo.

24. Airport CEO Larry Cox to Head Chamber Board - Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The Greater Memphis Chamber has a new chairman of the board.

Larry Cox, president and CEO of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority, has been elected by the chamber board to succeed former Smith & Nephew executive Joe DeVivo. DeVivo now works for Albany, N.Y.-based medical device provider AngioDynamics.

25. American Airlines Files for Bankruptcy Protection - Wednesday, November 30, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – The parent company of American Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday, seeking relief from crushing debt caused by high fuel prices and expensive labor contracts that its competitors shed years ago.

26. MSCAA Approves $52M in Projects - Friday, September 16, 2011

With the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration moving in Congress, the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority board of commissioners approved a logjam of more than $28 million in construction projects and contracts. Nine contracts approved at the Thursday, Sept. 15, meeting include everything from a new dump truck with a snow plow to elevator and escalator replacement to improved security technology.

27. Delta Sticks to Guns on Reduced Capacity - Friday, July 29, 2011

Even with earnings down 58 percent in the second quarter of 2011 compared to a year ago, Delta Air Lines Inc. CEO Richard Anderson remained locked this week on the message that Delta’s capacity reduction is at the right level and is the right thing to do.

28. Delta Q2 Earnings Drop 58 Percent - Thursday, July 28, 2011

Earnings for Delta Air Lines Inc. dropped 58 percent in the second quarter ended June 30 compared to the same quarter in 2010.

29. Spike in Fuel Prices Erasing Airline Profits - Friday, April 22, 2011

Soaring jet fuel prices are wiping out profits at the nation's biggest airlines.

The world's biggest airline company, United Continental Holdings Inc., said Thursday that it lost $213 million in the first three months of the year after it paid nearly $600 million more for fuel than in the year-ago quarter.

30. Conference Pits MEM At Center of Aviation World - Tuesday, April 12, 2011

For five years Memphis International Airport executives and other civic leaders have worked on developing the city’s aerotropolis – the concept of an airport serving as a region’s economic engine.

The idea will be as public as ever – at least here – Tuesday, the second day of the Airport Cities World Conference & Exhibition at The Peabody hotel. That’s when FedEx Corp. founder Frederick W. Smith and Delta Air Lines Inc. CEO Richard Anderson share the stage with University of North Carolina professor John Kasarda, the originator of the aerotropolis concept.

31. Cloudy Skies - Friday, March 25, 2011

Despite this week’s bad news, the fortunes of Memphis International Airport as a Delta Air Lines hub remain closely linked with Delta’s flagship hub at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

32. Trenary Move Signals More Change for Pinnacle - Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Pinnacle Airlines Corp. was already in transition before Monday’s announcement that Phil Trenary would resign as CEO on March 24. As the Pinnacle board begins a search for a new leader, the Memphis-based parent company of three regional air carriers faces more transition.

33. Airfares are Going Up, and Not Just Because of Oil - Monday, March 14, 2011

Airlines have used surging oil prices to justify fare increases of up to $60 per ticket since the start of the year. But the rising cost of fuel isn't the only reason it's getting more difficult to find cheap fares.

34. Delta Flight Attendants Sue Over Profit-Sharing - Thursday, March 03, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Six flight attendants for Delta Air Lines Inc. are suing the airline because their profit-sharing checks were smaller because of a union dispute.

35. Renovations Begin at Pinnacle Headquarters - Tuesday, March 01, 2011

40 S. Main St.
Memphis, TN 38103
Permit Amount: $8.7 Million

Project Cost: $8.7 million
Permit Date: Applied February 2011
Owner: Memphis Commerce Square Partners
Tenant: Pinnacle Airlines Corp.
Contractor: Grinder, Taber & Grinder Inc.

36. Pinnacle Airlines Readies for More Changes - Friday, February 25, 2011

2011 will be a year of more transition for Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines Corp.

Not only will Pinnacle consolidate its headquarters at One Commerce Square in Downtown Memphis, but it will transition to a holding company for two regional air carriers instead of three.

37. Delta Air Lines Announces Record Profit Sharing - Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Delta Air Lines announced Monday it is paying $313 million in profit sharing, the largest profit sharing payout in the airline’s history.

The airline, which has a hub at Memphis International Airport, announced the bonus to its 80,000 employees around the world after posting a record $1.4 billion profit in 2010.

38. Pinnacle Pilots Join Air Line Pilots Assn. - Thursday, January 27, 2011

Pinnacle Airlines Corp. pilot leaders have endorsed a tentative agreement uniting pilots from Pinnacle Airlines Inc., Mesaba Airlines Inc. and Colgan Air Inc. under a single contract, according to the Air Line Pilots Association.

39. US Airlines Make Money Again by Flying Less - Wednesday, January 26, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – After a decade of multibillion-dollar losses, U.S. airlines appear to be on course to prosper for years to come for a simple reason: They are flying less.

By grounding planes and eliminating flights, airlines have cut costs and pushed fares higher. As the global economy rebounds, travel demand is rising and planes are as full as they've been in years.

40. Flight Plan - Wednesday, November 03, 2010

The decision to merge airlines and consolidate operations into one locale involves a detailed course of action, and it starts with the employees.

Because Pinnacle Airlines Corp. manages three airline subsidiaries and employs 7,700 workers – 1,500 in the Mid-South – technological issues will inevitably be in store when the company moves its headquarters from the airport area to Downtown.

41. United, Continental Complete Combination - Monday, October 04, 2010

United and Continental closed the deal on Friday that will create the world's biggest airline. The new carrier aims to lure business fliers who want to travel overseas while keeping fares competitive with discount carriers in the U.S.

42. Southwest to Buy AirTran for $1.4B - Tuesday, September 28, 2010

More change is coming to the airline industry – and likely to the local travel scene – following Monday’s news that Southwest Airlines will buy rival discount carrier AirTran Airways for $1.4 billion.

43. Southwest Airlines to Buy AirTran for $1.4B - Monday, September 27, 2010

More change is coming to the airline industry – and likely to the local travel scene – following Monday’s news that Southwest Airlines will buy rival discount carrier AirTran Airways for $1.4 billion.

44. Delta Ramp Workers to Vote on Union - Wednesday, September 22, 2010

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – More union votes are on tap for Delta Air Lines Inc.

A union that wants to represent roughly 14,000 ramp workers says their election will run from Oct. 14 through Nov. 18. The International Association of Machinists also said it will file cards on Tuesday to trigger an election for a group of more than 16,000 workers including reservation and gate agents.

45. City Leaders Roll Out Red Carpet for Pinnacle - Thursday, August 12, 2010

The opportunity to convince Pinnacle Airlines Corp. to bring its Memphis headquarters Downtown has presented the first opportunity for several important figures to coordinate their efforts on a major economic development deal.

46. The Hard Sell - Monday, August 09, 2010

To understand how Northwest Mississippi’s small boomtowns like Olive Branch keep one-upping Memphis and reeling in jobs and taxpayers with the promise of greener pastures, an Internet video is one place to start.

47. Delta Posts $467M Profit In 2nd Quarter - Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Delta Air Lines Inc. reported its largest quarterly profit in a decade Monday but investors dumped its shares as sales didn’t meet expectations and the carrier gave a cautious outlook amid economic uncertainty.

48. 15 Years Later: Amsterdam Flight Opens Doors for City - Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Fifteen years ago this month a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines MD-11 dubbed “Elvis One” arrived in Memphis after a 10-hour flight from Amsterdam.

The momentous occasion gave the airline industry its first joint venture whereby domestic and foreign – Northwest and KLM – were granted antitrust immunity to operate as a single company. And it also gave Memphis its first direct overseas international flight.

49. US Rule Move Favors Unions at Airlines, Railroads - Tuesday, May 11, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – In a major victory for organized labor, unions will have an easier time signing up airline and railroad workers after the Obama administration Monday changed a 76-year-old U.S. rule on union elections.

50. Delta Reports $256 Million Q1 Loss, Sees Q2 Profit - Wednesday, April 21, 2010

ATLANTA (AP) – Delta Air Lines Inc. blamed heavy winter storms and one-time expenses for propelling it to a $256 million loss during the first three months of the year, though it said Tuesday it expects a solidly profitable second quarter as the peak summer season ramps up.

51. January Air Traffic Numbers Marred by Weather - Friday, February 19, 2010

In what has become a recurring theme for numerous businesses around town, January’s bad weather impacted Memphis International Airport’s traffic and revenues.

The snow and ice that shut down the city at the end of the month kept numerous flights from landing and affected activity, airport officials said at Thursday’s Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority board of commissioners meeting.

52. 2009 Cargo Numbers Up at Memphis Int’l - Friday, January 29, 2010

Officials at Memphis International Airport spent Thursday preparing for the harsh winter weather possibly headed this way, but they also discussed ways in which the airport has been dealing with a brutal economic climate.

53. Nonstop to Toronto - Thursday, January 28, 2010

As carriers reduce capacity to cope with shrinking demand for air travel, Air Canada is beefing up its service by entering seven U.S. markets – including Memphis.

The Montreal-based airline is adding twice-daily, nonstop, year-round flights between Memphis and Toronto, the company announced Wednesday.

54. Air Canada Adds Memphis to Toronto Flights - Wednesday, January 27, 2010

As carriers reduce capacity to cope with shrinking demand for air travel, Air Canada is beefing up its service by entering seven U.S. markets – including Memphis.

The Montreal-based airline is adding twice-daily, nonstop, year-round flights between Memphis and Toronto, the company announced Wednesday.

55. Air Canada Adds Memphis to Toronto Flights - Wednesday, January 27, 2010

As carriers reduce capacity to cope with shrinking demand for air travel, Air Canada is beefing up its service by entering seven U.S. markets – including Memphis.

The Montreal-based airline is adding twice-daily, nonstop, year-round flights between Memphis and Toronto, the company announced Wednesday.

56. Delta Posts Small Loss for Fourth Quarter - Wednesday, January 27, 2010

ATLANTA (AP) – Delta Air Lines Inc. sees signs that corporate travel demand is picking up as it closed the books on a turbulent 2009 by posting a $25 million loss for the final three months of the year.

57. Security Rules Eased for Passenger Flights - Tuesday, December 29, 2009

DALLAS (AP) – In-flight security rules have been eased after a two-day clampdown, airline officials familiar with the matter said Monday.

At the captain’s discretion, passengers can once again have blankets and other items on their laps or move about the cabin during the tail end of flight. In-flight entertainment restrictions have also been lifted.

58. Gov't Imposes 3-Hour Limit on Tarmac Strandings - Tuesday, December 22, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Stinky toilets, crying babies, airless cabins – the Obama administration said Monday passengers don't have to take it any more. It ordered airlines to let people get off planes delayed on the ground after three hours.

59. Delta Sees Brighter Revenue Environment Ahead - Thursday, December 10, 2009

ATLANTA (AP) – Delta Air Lines Inc. expects the improving revenue environment to continue in the months ahead, though sales of premium seats remain pressured.

60. American, Partners Offer $1.1B to Japan Airlines - Friday, December 04, 2009

TOKYO (AP) - American Airlines upped the ante in the tug-of-war over Japan Airlines, vowing Thursday to lead a $1.1 billion investment in the struggling carrier to prevent it from falling into the orbit of rival Delta.

61. Oct. Cargo Numbers Give Airport Good News - Friday, November 20, 2009

October brought a mix of good and bad news for Memphis International Airport, which saw passenger traffic decline but cargo counts improve.

The latest numbers were revealed Thursday during the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority’s board of commissioners meeting. They highlighted the ongoing troubles for the aviation industry as carriers reduce capacity to meet the soft demand for air travel here and nationwide.

62. Rule Would Boost Unions at Airlines, Railroads - Tuesday, November 03, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Workers at U.S. airlines and railroads would have an easier time forming unions if the National Mediation Board succeeds in changing a 75-year-old rule on union organizing.

63. Airlines Improve On-Time Arrivals in Aug. - Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Arriving on time was just a little bit easier for airline passenger traveling in August.

The U.S. Transportation Department reported Tuesday that 79.7 percent of flights arrived on time in August. That was an improvement from 78.4 percent in August 2008, and 77.6 percent in July.

64. Bond Issuance Approved for Airport Garage - Friday, September 18, 2009

Plans for a new parking garage and rental car facility at Memphis International Airport took a step forward Thursday when the airport’s board of commissioners approved a resolution to issue bonds for the building, one of the largest individual projects in the airport’s history.

65. Delta Says Available Cash Will Continue to Dwindle - Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Delta Air Lines Inc., the world’s biggest airline operator, reported Monday its available cash on hand will continue to fall by the end of the year as demand for air travel has been hit hard by the economic downturn.

66. Delta Considers Ties To Japan Airlines - Monday, September 14, 2009

Delta Air Lines Inc. is considering making a cash infusion of a couple hundred million dollars to aid struggling Japan Airlines Corp., a person briefed on the talks said Friday.

67. Airport Cargo Activity Up - Friday, August 21, 2009

Cargo activity at Memphis International Airport improved for the second straight month, airport officials said at Thursday’s board of commissioners monthly meeting.

Memphis handled 681.1 million pounds of cargo in July, a 1.3 percent increase from 672.6 million pounds in July 2008, according to the latest report. A previous improvement of 1.5 percent in June marked the airport’s first year-over-year upturn in 14 months.

68. Delta to Cut More Management Jobs - Monday, August 10, 2009

ATLANTA (AP) – Delta Air Lines Inc., Memphis’ dominant carrier and the world’s biggest airline operator, is planning to cut more management and administrative jobs, but isn’t saying how many, according to a recorded message and a memo from top executives.

69. Delta Narrows Q2 Net Loss - Thursday, July 23, 2009

Delta Air Lines Inc. on Wednesday released its financial results for the second quarter, and the outlook remained gloomy – with a few bright spots sprinkled in – for Memphis’ dominant carrier and the world’s largest passenger airline.

70. June Air Cargo Up; Delta Makes ‘Strong Statement’ - Friday, July 17, 2009

Thursday morning’s Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority board of commissioners meeting yielded a couple of “Yea’s” and even a “Hallelujah” when the June activity reports were unveiled.

For the first time in months, cargo traffic at Memphis International Airport increased from the same month a year ago. Cargo climbed 1.5 percent from 638.7 million pounds in June 2008 to 648.1 million pounds in June 2009.

71. Delta Air Lines to Cut More Capacity - Friday, June 12, 2009

ATLANTA (AP) – Delta Air Lines Inc. will shave additional capacity later this year as it warns that more than $6 billion in benefits it expected from lower fuel prices, its merger with Northwest Airlines and previous capacity reductions will be overtaken by declining revenues.

72. US Airlines Report More Flights on Time in April - Wednesday, June 10, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - Flights on U.S. airlines were on time more frequently in April than the month before and improved from a year earlier, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

73. Airport Authority Unveils Smaller Budget for 2010 - Friday, May 22, 2009

The nationwide slowdown in air travel will affect the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority’s 2010 fiscal-year budget, which the airport’s Board of Commissioners approved Thursday.

With operating revenues projected to decline further, Memphis International Airport adopted a $126.9 million budget for next year, marking a $2.8 million – or 2.1 percent – dropoff from the $129.6 million budget it operated under during fiscal year 2009.

74. Air France-KLM, Delta to Reap $12B a Year - Thursday, May 21, 2009

Delta Air Lines Inc., Air France and KLM signed a deal Wednesday to combine two separate joint venture agreements to create a more integrated trans-Atlantic powerhouse they said will generate $12 billion in annual revenue and provide better travel options for customers.

75. Six Independent AIG Directors to Stand for Election - Wednesday, May 20, 2009

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Embattled insurer American International Group Inc. said Tuesday it will reconfigure its board to include six new independent directors.

76. Delta to Add Flights To Dallas From Memphis - Monday, April 27, 2009

Delta Air Lines Inc. said Friday it will begin flights to and from Dallas Love Field this summer.

77. Delta Posts $794M Q1 Loss - Wednesday, April 22, 2009

ATLANTA (AP) – Delta Air Lines Inc., the world’s biggest airline operator, said Tuesday it was instituting a $50 fee for most passengers to check a second bag on an international flight – a first among major U.S. carriers – as it reported a $794 million first-quarter loss from the weak economy and bad bets on fuel hedges.

78. March Passenger, Cargo Numbers Down at Airport - Friday, April 17, 2009

Traffic at Memphis International Airport continued to slide in March with passenger and cargo categories each registering declines, according to figures revealed at Thursday’s board of commissioners meeting of the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority.

79. Delta Air Lines to Cut Int’l Flights in Sept. - Wednesday, March 11, 2009

ATLANTA (AP) – Facing a continuing revenue slump amid the worsening global economic downturn, Delta Air Lines Inc., the world’s biggest airline operator, said Tuesday it will cut international capacity by an additional 10 percent starting in September, a move that likely will mean more job reductions.

80. Delta, Midwest Grow Marketing Alliance - Tuesday, March 10, 2009

ATLANTA (AP) – Delta Air Lines Inc. is expanding a marketing alliance with Midwest Airlines, once an acquisition target of Delta rival AirTran Airways.

81. Delta-Northwest Traffic Declines 11 Percent - Friday, March 06, 2009

The combined system traffic of Delta and Northwest airlines saw an 11 percent decline in February compared to the same month a year ago, Delta Air Lines Inc. reported Thursday.

82. Delta, Northwest Merging at Jackson Airport - Thursday, February 26, 2009

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The merger of ticketing, boarding and other operations of Delta and Northwest Airlines was completed at the Jackson airport on Tuesday.

Delta acquired Northwest on Oct. 29.

83. Delta Reports $1.4B Q4 Loss; Shares Plunge - Wednesday, January 28, 2009

ATLANTA (AP) – Delta Air Lines Inc., the world’s biggest carrier, said Tuesday it lost $1.4 billion in the final three months of 2008 as it recorded a massive charge related to employee stock awards and wasn’t able to benefit fully from the decline in oil prices because of bad bets on fuel hedges. Delta shares fell nearly 18 percent in early trading Tuesday.

84. Delta, Golden Triangle Regional Airport Begins New Flight - Wednesday, January 28, 2009

COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) - Delta Airlines will begin service from Golden Triangle Regional Airport near Columbus to Memphis in May.

Delta officials said Tuesday that the airline will fly 32-passenger turboprop planes to Memphis twice a day, with one morning and one afternoon flight coming to GTRA from Memphis and vice versa.

85. Airlines Threaten to Move Flights From Atlanta to Memphis - Wednesday, January 21, 2009

ATLANTA (AP) – Airlines that do business at the world’s busiest passenger airport are playing hardball in talks over new lease agreements, threatening to move some flights to other airports – including Memphis International Airport – if they can’t maintain competitive costs on fees they pay.

86. Airline Merger Not Expected To Affect Monroe Flights - Monday, December 29, 2008

The merger of Delta and Northwest airlines isn’t expected to affect service to Atlanta and Memphis from Monroe, La.

Cleve Norrell, the manager of Monroe Regional Airport, said Delta officials told him those connections would continue. He said a reduction in service isn’t planned and that he had no reason to believe there would be one in the future.

87. Memphis Logistics Defies Storms, Stays on Top - Wednesday, December 24, 2008

This past year was a mixed bag for the logistics and distribution industries, with a smattering of good news and bad news throughout 2008.

Mother Nature made perhaps the biggest impact of the year when devastating storms ripped through the area’s warehouse district Feb. 5, damaging distribution centers and forcing companies to find new storage places.

88. Two Delta, NWA Work Groups Ink Seniority Pacts - Monday, December 22, 2008

Delta Air Lines Inc., the world’s biggest carrier, said tentative seniority list integration pacts have been reached by representatives of two more employee groups at Delta and Northwest Airlines.

89. Pinnacle Airlines Traffic Rose in November - Wednesday, December 17, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Pinnacle Airlines Corp. said Tuesday that traffic in November rose, although that wasn't fast enough to keep up with the carrier's expansion, resulting in more empty seats on its planes.

90. Panel Rules on Seniority For Delta, NWA Pilots - Wednesday, December 10, 2008

ATLANTA (AP) – The pilot seniority lists at Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines will be integrated based on pilots’ status and aircraft category, though pilots from one carrier will not be able to fly for a period of time certain planes the other carrier brought to the combination, an arbitration panel ruled.

91. Delta, American Express Extend Card Agreement - Wednesday, December 10, 2008

ATLANTA (AP) - Delta Air Lines Inc., the world's biggest carrier, said Tuesday it is getting a $1 billion boost following a credit card agreement it has reached with American Express Co. A company executive also said Delta expects to turn a profit in 2009.

92. Service Sector Shrinks as New Orders Fall in Nov. - Thursday, December 04, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) - The U.S. service sector contracted dramatically in November, as employment, new orders and prices fell precipitously, hurting retailers, hotels and other industries.

The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing executives, said Wednesday that its services sector index fell to 37.3 in November from 44.4 in October. It was far below the reading of 42 expected by Wall Street economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters.

93. Delta Details Planned Capacity Cuts - Wednesday, December 03, 2008

ATLANTA (AP) – Delta Air Lines Inc. hinted Tuesday that more job cuts could be on the way as it disclosed that it will reduce consolidated system capacity by 6 percent to 8 percent in 2009, compared to the current year.

94. Northwest Flight Attendants’ Union Sues Delta - Wednesday, November 26, 2008

ATLANTA (AP) – The union that represents Northwest Airlines flight attendants is suing Delta Air Lines Inc. to block the world’s biggest carrier from starting the process to integrate the two carriers’ seniority lists until the combined group is given the opportunity to vote on union representation.

95. Delta to Trim Future US, International Capacity - Monday, November 24, 2008

ATLANTA (AP) – Nine days after announcing new overseas routes for 2009, Delta Air Lines Inc., the world’s biggest carrier, said in a regulatory filing Friday it plans to reduce future domestic and international capacity because demand for seats has slowed amid the global financial crisis.

96. Memphis Airport to Host World Conference in 2011 - Friday, November 21, 2008

Memphis International Airport will host the Airport Cities World Conference and Exhibition in April 2011, giving the city a chance to showcase the airport – and its burgeoning aerotropolis concept – to executives from around the globe.

97. Delta to Launch New Memphis Flights - Thursday, November 13, 2008

ATLANTA (AP) - Fresh off its acquisition of Northwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc., the world's biggest carrier, said Wednesday it plans to add 15 new international routes starting next spring, though it's unclear whether that will mean another year of big capacity growth outside the U.S. as the carrier will cut frequencies on other routes.

98. Airlines' On-Time Performance Improved in Sept. - Monday, November 10, 2008

ATLANTA (AP) - U.S. airlines' on-time performance and baggage handling improved in September, though the carriers overall posted a higher rate of domestic cancellations compared to the same month a year ago, the Transportation Department said Friday.

99. Delta Air Lines Adds First Bag Fee - Thursday, November 06, 2008

ATLANTA (AP) – Delta Air Lines Inc., the world's biggest carrier, reported Wednesday it will impose a $15 fee to check a first bag for customers flying within the U.S.

100. Golden Triangle Airport Targets Memphis - Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Officials from Golden Triangle Regional Airport, in the Starkville, Miss., area, are targeting Memphis in planned talks with Delta Airlines in providing the airport with westbound service.

The merger of Delta and Northwest makes Memphis an important hub because of constraints on flights in and out of Atlanta.