October 28, 2005
Bankrupt Delta Airlines has announced it will discontinue its stand-alone discount airline, Song, and incorporate the carrier into Deltas existing operations. The merger will take place in May 2006, according to the company.
Song was intended to be a counterweight to jetBlue, offering consumers a few extra perks in a single-class configuration. It never seemed to catch on with the flying public. While jetBlue grew quickly, Song failed to provide enough lift beneath Delta to keep both airlines from declaring bankruptcy.
Its not clear whether the restructuring will give Delta any payroll relief. Company officials apparently have already factored in any layoffs to Deltas previously announced 9,000 job cuts.
Song has flies nearly 50 Boeing 757-200 aircraft from 16 locations, including some of the nations largest airports. Once the change takes place in May, those routes will become part of Deltas schedule, company officials said.
