Delta to cut capacity by 6-8%

Redundancies expected at airline

Delta Air Lines is to cut capacity by 6-8% by 2009, the carrier announced.

The airline said there would be an 8-10% cut in domestic capacity and a 3-5% drop in international capacity.

The figures include the impact of previous cuts announced this year.

The move is expected to create redundancies among the 75,000 strong workforce.

A statement by Richard Anderson, the airline's ceo and Edward Bastion, its president, cited "the global economic recession and weaker demand for air travel" as the reason for the cut.

The statement continued: Once again, Delta must take the necessary steps to adjust our business accordingly and make certain seat capacity meets customer demand.

"These economic hurdles are difficult, and we remain committed to building our company on a durable financial foundation with industry-leading liquidity."

The airline, which merged with Northwest Airlines earlier this year to create the biggest carrier in the world, said it was now assessing the impact on staffing the capacity cut would make.

It said it would offer voluntary redundancy programmes to "adjust staffing needs."

www.delta.com