NEWS SPECIAL REPORT despite challenges. Ian Taylor speaks to UK and Ireland regional sales manager Nadia Clinton


FUEL HIKE NOT HITTING SALES


This photo and left: Delta Premium Select


demand


demand for smaller conferences.” But she noted: “The corporate


booking window is a lot shorter than for leisure so it is too early to say [what corporate demand will be] for winter.” The growing requirement to


reduce the carbon footprint of businesses could reduce the number of corporate trips, yet Clinton insists Delta remains “comfortable” with the expected level of corporate demand. She said: “We expect to see


corporates combine two or three meetings in a single trip to meet sustainability requirements instead of taking two or three trips. “We’ve seen this trend already.


[But] we’ll work with our corporate partners to meet their needs. “Sustainability is high on our


agenda. We’re investing in sustainable aviation fuel [SAF], looking to replace 10% of jet fuel by SAF by 2030, and making a huge investment in more fuel-efficient aircraft.”


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Ed Bastian, Delta Air Lines president and chief executive, said Delta, like other major US carriers, does not hedge on fuel, meaning it has to purchase at the current price and “pass that price along in the market”. Addressing the UK’s Aviation Club in London in March, he noted: “Fuel surcharges are not permitted in the US.” Four months on, Delta’s Nadia Clinton said: “The war is having an impact on oil prices globally and we’re very focused on costs. But bookings remain strong.”


PREMIUM EXPANSION


Delta now offers its premium economy cabin Delta Premium Select on nearly all flights between Europe and the US. Premium Select matches


Virgin Atlantic’s premium economy with its own cabin, a bigger seat, greater recline and dedicated service, giving an option between the upgraded economy seat with extra legroom of Delta Comfort+ and the business-class Delta One cabin with flatbed seats. Clinton said: “We’re proud


of the Delta Premium Select service, which has had great feedback. It’s a separate cabin and meal service.” She reported “a lot of


upselling” to both leisure and corporate customers, saying: “Demand is strong across the cabin with customers upgrading to Comfort+, Premium Select and Delta One. Premium leisure demand is really growing.”


Carrier hails trade support and services with partner airlines


Delta has been located back at Heathrow Terminal 3 alongside joint- venture partner Virgin Atlantic since July last year and has also recently been joined at the terminal by partner airline group Air France-KLM. UK regional manager Nadia Clinton said: “We’re excited to be back


at T3 with our partner Virgin Atlantic and it was great to welcome Air France-KLM to T3 to allow customers to connect [at a single terminal].” Delta offers 10 services a day from Heathrow to the US, flying to New


York, Boston, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Detroit, Seattle and, since last month, Salt Lake City. Its schedule is coordinated with Virgin Atlantic, which also offers multiple flights a day from Heathrow and recently launched to Austin. The US carrier returned to Edinburgh in May, relaunching flights to


New York and Boston, with the New York service going daily in June. Virgin Atlantic has also relaunched Edinburgh-Orlando and has restored its US services from Manchester. Clinton declined to give an update on future plans but said: “We’re


looking at opportunities as we continue to monitor demand.” She highlighted relations with the trade as key to the carrier’s success,


saying: “The trade is critical to us. We value our trade relationships. “We have very strong relations with trade partners based on long-


standing, trusted partnerships, and we’re delighted to be back engaging with them face-to-face. We value the trade and that will never change.” Clinton noted: “Pre-pandemic, 70% of bookings came through the


trade and it could be higher now.” The strength of demand this summer means details of agent fam trips


must wait for now. Clinton said: “Our flights are full and we probably won’t see educationals [this summer]. But we are working on fam trips.”


7 JULY 2022


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PICTURES: Natalia Weedy; Chris Rank/Rank Studios


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