On the Call: Delta in New York
On the Call: Delta official says airline will be able to outpace rivals in biggest US market
Sure, Delta Air Lines Inc. is based in Atlanta, but its executives know that the biggest air-travel market in the U.S. is up north, in New York.
Delta is beefing up there. It recently moved into new quarters at John F. Kennedy International Airport. And Delta's purchase of a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic airlines gives it a better toehold at London's Heathrow Airport, a major jumping off point for international travel to and from New York.
An analyst asked Delta officials Wednesday which markets would be most affected by changes in the airline landscape. Those changes include the proposed mergers of American and US Airways, which should produce a stronger rival to Delta along the East Coast.
David Fintzen of Barclays Capital wondered if industry observers should keep an eye on New York, Los Angeles or any other particular markets. Delta's executive vice president of network planning, Glen Hauenstein, fielded the question.
HAUENSTEIN: I think we feel very confident with the (takeoff and landing) slots that we have in New York, and the fact that we have the leading slot portfolio in New York that we will continue to be able to outpace the industry as we continue to improve our product and services in the New York City area. And then Detroit and Minneapolis have been very, very steady over the past few years. We don't see any change to that — great profit centers for us.
