Delta Air Lines said today it would cut 13,000 jobs and reduce its flight schedule by 15 per cent as a result of the drastic drop in demand for air travel after the September 11th attacks on the United States.
With the cuts, Delta joins every major US air carrier except Southwest Airlines in reducing employment and schedules in the aftermath of the attacks by hijacked airliners that destroyed the World Trade Center in New York and damaged the Pentagon outside Washington.
The attacks led to the shutdown of US commercial aviation for two days, the introduction of costly security measures, and left many too afraid to fly.
The US Congress and President Bush approved a $15 billion aid package for airlines in an effort to stave off bankruptcies.
Ahead of the announcement, Delta shares were up 67 cents, or more than 2.7 per cent, at $25.19 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.