Delta is cutting back 25% of its flights to and from it’s Memphis hub and to anyone who follows the industry, this comes as no giant surprise.   The merger between Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines resulted in two hubs very close to each other:  Memphis and Cincinatti.  Another hub, Atlanta, was also nearby and everyone was pretty sure that both hubs would see a reduction in activity. 

Cincinatti has already been drawn down significantly and Memphis has experienced some reduction.  The thing about this announcement is how it was couched by Delta President Ed Bastian.  He says this will be good for Memphis.

I do wonder if Memphis feels similarly.  Reduction is probably appropriate but one should call it what it is:  rationalization of the network to provide better profit and other benefits to the company.

Filed under: Airline News by ajax