It is with great pleasure I congratulate you on Delta's most recent achievement: We have won the Business Travel News Annual Airline Survey, marking the first time in the contest's 14-year history that we beat all other carriers.

Business Travel News is important because it is the industry's most well-read magazine by corporate travel managers. These are the high value customers who purchase billions of dollars in annual air travel and BTN went straight to this audience to conduct the survey.

This win is no doubt thanks to all of your hard work. All of our 80,000 employees have a hand in an award such as this one. From the frontline flight attendants whose service sets the industry standard to the information technology specialist who ensures our computers can help travelers rebook a flight seamlessly, everyone here plays a role in how our customers perceive the way we fly.

The victory also reflects how our most important corporate customers have embraced the billions of dollars in upgrades and enhancements we've made in all areas of our flying experience, from our beautifully renewedDelta Sky Clubs, to our growing numbers of full flat bed seats in our BusinessElite cabins to our more than 800 Wi-Fi equipped planes that help keep business travelers productive.

Above all, this kind of recognition can only come when you run a tremendous airline operationally. Our significant improvements in on-time, completion factor and baggage handling are the kind of performance that our best customers appreciate.

Our strong performance this year helped win BTN's survey and these business travelers are continuing to help us generate solid revenue growth. Please congratulate Steve Sear, vice president - Global Sales and his team on a job well done with this award, and congratulate yourselves for all you do to make us a great airline.

Source: PRNewswire

Delta Air Lines (DAL) initiated the increase Monday on its premier class and last-minute fares, with increases up to $120 for a round-trip ticket. Other large network airlines subsequently matched it by raising prices on first-class, business-class and seven-day advance-purchase tickets that can cost as much as $900 for a domestic round trip.

After initially matching Delta's move, US Airways (LCC)changed its mind and canceled the increase Wednesday. Others — Delta, American Airlines (AMR),United Airlines(UAL) and Continental Airlines — followed suit, according to Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare.com, which closely monitors fares.

"I thought (Delta's hike) was overzealous," he says. "They're probing customers. They're also probing the appetites of other airlines. I guarantee you we'll see more probing in the coming days."

Airlines closely monitor each other's fares and frequently match any price movements, lest they lose sales to a cheaper competitor. Their attempts to raise fares often fail if competitors don't match them.

With the economy improving and corporate travel departments enlarging their budgets, airlines are emboldened to charge higher fares even as they keep their seating capacity in check.

The network airlines' most recent attempt to raise business travel fares was their second in as many weeks. They've also raised fares more broadly — affecting most of their seats and leisure travelers — five times since December.

But the airlines' failure this week may be a sign of the tentative pace of the recovery of business travel, which sank along with the economy in 2008.

As airlines raised fares for most of their routes, Southwest Airlines (LUV) didn't match in two of the rounds, Seaney notes.

"If Southwest doesn't participate," Seaney says, "(other airlines) tend to tiptoe around those (routes) to make sure they're at equilibrium with Southwest."

Airlines argue that rising fuel prices dictate higher fares.

Jamie Baker, a JPMorgan Chase airline analyst, told the Associated Press that if fares don't rise further, airlines will need lower fuel prices or will have to cut flights and seating capacity to boost their earnings.

Source: USA Today

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced it has eliminated the SkyMiles mileage expiration, creating a new industry-leading benefit for all members.  This program change is effective for all accounts as of Jan. 1, 2011, and makes Delta the only major U.S. carrier without mileage expiration.

Previously, miles expired 24 months after a member's last qualifying mileage activity, which required a member to earn or redeem miles within that period.

"Now that our massive frequent flyer program integration is complete, we are focused on smart ways to improve the SkyMiles program for all members," said Jeff Robertson, Delta's vice president – SkyMiles.  "We know how much customers value their miles, so eliminating mileage expiration is a major win for them.  This is yet another benefit that sets us apart from the pack, making Delta a clear leader in loyalty program benefits."

This change is the latest of several enhancements made to the SkyMiles program in the last year including the new Diamond Medallion tier with complimentary lounge access and Rollover Medallion Qualification Miles.  These features complement other recent changes such as the elimination of all award redemption fees and a free first checked bag on Delta flights for Gold, Platinum and Reserve Delta SkyMiles credit card holders from American Express.

Members can look forward to more in 2011, including significant improvements to delta.com such as an upgraded award travel calendar, improved booking process and better flight information displays.  Additionally, Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion members can expect several new benefits when flying select alliance partner airlines – including Air France, KLM, Alitalia and Alaska Airlines.  

Now in its 30th year, SkyMiles is one of the longest-running and most successful loyalty programs in the travel industry. Last year, frequent flyers redeemed more than 264 billion miles in the SkyMiles program for more than 12 million award redemptions. In 2010, 8.3 percent of revenue miles flown on Delta were for award travel. Delta offers more ways to redeem frequent flyer miles than any other airline, including airline tickets, mileage upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays, Delta Sky Club memberships, merchandise and more than 30 types of gift cards. SkyMiles was named "Best Domestic Frequent Flyer program" for 2007 through 2010 by readers ofExecutive Travel magazine and "Best Frequent Flyer Program" for 2006 through 2010 by Business Traveler magazine. For more information on the SkyMiles program, Medallion status and mileage redemption options, visit delta.com/skymiles.

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 357 destinations in 66 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 75,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam,Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake Cityand Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world's largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Delta is investing more than $2 billion through 2013 in airport facilities and global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.

All SkyMiles program rules apply to SkyMiles program membership, miles, offers, mile accrual, mile redemption and travel benefits. The rules are subject to change. To review the rules, please visit delta.com/memberguide. Taxes for Award Travel are the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time the ticket is booked. Award Travel seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or in all markets. Alliance partner airline benefits subject to change and subject to the terms and conditions of each partner. Offers and benefits subject to change without notice.

Source: Delta