Delta's 4Q2012 international route cuts free up significant widebody capacity

Planned route cuts by Delta Air Lines being instituted in late 2012 as part of the carrier's capacity management scheme to reduce trans-Atlantic supply by 5% and trans-Pacific capacity by 1%-2% will free up a number of widebody aircraft. As the carrier makes seasonal adjustments throughout its network it is not exactly clear where the widebodies exiting certain markets will be deployed.

The carrier's planned 4Q2012 cuts in trans-Atlantic capacity will mostly be implemented in late Oct-2012, at the start of the IATA winter 2012 schedule and about one month after the peak travel season in the US ends. Most of the capacity will be restored at the start of the summer 2013 schedule in late Mar-2013. Nearly one-third of Delta's international capacity (seats) is currently deployed on routes to Western Europe.