DUBAI, June 1 (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines ( DAL ) is
running its largest ever transatlantic schedule this year as it
sees healthy travel demand, especially on international routes,
senior executives said on Saturday.
Delta, one of the largest U.S. airlines, has forecast record
high second-quarter revenue thanks to buoyant demand for spring
and summer travel.
"Summer's progressing strongly and demand is quite healthy,"
CEO Ed Bastian told reporters.
"Demand is growing faster internationally than it is
domestically, and Delta is very well positioned to take
advantage of that with its partners," Bastian added.
Delta says consumers are spending on experiences with travel
a top priority after the pandemic.
Demand is particularly strong for premium travel, benefiting
carriers like Delta.
"We have seen continued strength through the spring to early
summer ... our international business is quite strong," Delta
President Glen Hauenstein told reporters.
Rival American Airlines ( AAL ), however, said this week
there was still excess seat capacity in the domestic market,
resulting in discounting pressure.
U.S. carriers have plans to further moderate capacity in the
second half of the year, which airline executives say will
underpin the industry's pricing power.
BOEING ( BA )
Delta operates a large mixed fleet including planes from
Airbus and Boeing ( BA ), which is engulfed in a
quality and corporate crisis.
Bastian said Delta is "encouraged" by steps Boeing ( BA ) is taking
with management changes and other adjustments at the company.
"I'm confident we will see improvement," Bastian said,
adding Delta was still committed to its order for Boeing 737 MAX
10 jets.
Delta currently does not fly any version of the Boeing MAX
but has MAX 10s on order for delivery next year. The MAX 10 -
the largest version of Boeing's ( BA ) best-selling narrowbody jet - is
still awaiting certification by the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA).
A January mid-air cabin panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines
MAX 9 flight has placed a question mark over the certification.
Rival United Airlines has asked Boeing ( BA ) to stop
producing MAX 10 for it and has converted a portion of its order
to the MAX 9.
Bastian said Delta has no plans "at this point" to swap the
MAX 10 for another model, adding he hopes the changes being made
at Boeing ( BA ) will allow it to make progress on building the MAX 10.
"We are scheduled to receive them next year, I don't
anticipate seeing them for quite some time," he said.