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Delta Air Lines requests “slow waiver” for most of its China routes
February 27th 2024
Atlanta-headquartered Delta Air Lines has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) for a “temporary dormancy waiver” that would allow it to retain 32 of the 42 Mainland frequencies it does not intend to use between March 31 to October 26 this year. Read More » The SkyTeam alliance member said the hiatus covered all seven Atlanta-Shanghai, all seven Detroit-Beijing, all seven Los Angeles-Shanghai, all seven Seattle-Beijing and four of its seven Detroit-Shanghai frequencies. At present, Delta operates daily Seattle-Shanghai and three times a week Detroit-Shanghai. “There is good cause, and it is in the public interest, to grant Delta’s request for a dormancy waiver,” the airline said in its application. “Delta applauds the department’s efforts to reinstate U.S.-China air services in a way that is balanced and fair for carriers from both countries. Nonetheless, due to ongoing aero-political challenges, additional frequencies are unlikely to be fully authorised in the upcoming [northern] summer season.” Delta said more applications for dormancy waivers may be necessary given the “challenges inherent in the restoration of services between the U.S. and China”.
