Delta

WASHINGTON -- Delta Air Lines and other major carriers will lodge their objections today to what they call a federal proposal for "slashing operations" at delay-plagued John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The Federal Aviation Administration has recommended cutting traffic by 20 percent, setting a limit of 80 or 81 flights per hour at the congested hub where 100 takeoffs and landings an hour often occur. "Placing artificial constraints on the country's premier international gateway is not in the best interest of Delta customers," Kent Landers, a Delta spokesman.

ATLANTA -- Delta Air Lines Inc., the No. 3 U.S. carrier, yesterday dropped its 3 percent fare increase, raising the possibility that three rivals may roll back the higher prices, an Internet site that tracks fares said.Delta rescinded its increase on business and leisure fares, said Tom Parsons, editor of bestfares.com. The increase remains in place at UAL Corp.'s United Airlines, Continental Airlines Inc. and AMR Corp.'s American, which started the fare boost late Monday to make up for higher fuel costs.

"Down in the Delta" gets off to an awkward start, but rest assured: It grows on you. Fraught with uneven pacing, labored dialogue and a movie-of-the-week plot, Maya Angelou's directorial debut resonates with so much honesty and pulses with so much emotional and historical truth, that it overcomes every technical limitation.One of the ways Angelou has overcome the missteps of a first-time filmmaker is in assembling a cast of enormously gifted players, most of them woefully underused these days.

SEATTLE -- Delta Air Lines Inc., the world's third-biggest airline, will buy 49 planes valued at $3 billion from Boeing Co. as the Atlanta-based carrier accelerates the retirement of older aircraft in its fleet.The planes are part of a 1997 contract to buy up to 644 jets over 20 years exclusively from Boeing, the world's biggest plane builder. The airline has placed 173 firm orders and has about 471 options left.Most of the latest jets are short-range 737-800s, which will replace older, noisier 727s.

CHICAGO -- Delta Air Lines Inc. probably will seek an alliance with United Airlines that will let the airlines sell seats on each other's U.S. flights as they attempt to counter a major rival partnership, a report by United pilots said yesterday.Delta, the third largest U.S. airline, stands to lose the most business of any airline to the pending alliance of Northwest Airlines Corp. and Continental Airlines Inc. and "may attempt to initiate some activity in order to protect its position," said the report.

ATLANTA -- Delta and United airlines will begin merging their frequent-flier programs on Sept. 1, taking the first step in a planned marketing alliance that will later link their routes.The airlines said the initial move will enable passengers to choose which mileage program they want credited for a flight on either carrier. For example, a Delta passenger could have mileage credited to a Delta SkyMiles account or a United MileagePlus account. A United passenger could do the same.The airlines said they are still working on a timetable for cross-redemption benefits, in which SkyMiles could be used for award travel on United flights and vice versa.

ATLANTA -- Delta Air Lines Inc. said yesterday that it will buy all its new jetliners from Boeing Co. for 20 years or more, starting with a 106-plane order valued at more than $6.7 billion.The nation's third-largest airline also has the option to buy 538 more planes, making the agreement worth as much as $35 billion to Boeing.Boeing, locked in a fierce fight for sales with Airbus Industrie of Europe, probably gave Delta a discount of 20 percent off list prices, analysts said."You can bet Delta won a pretty good deal for agreeing to shop exclusively at Boeing," said Peter Jacobs, an analyst at Ragen MacKenzie in Seattle.

ATLANTA -- Delta Air Lines Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Ronald Allen announced unexpectedly yesterday that he will retire July 31, after clashing with board members over a bid to demote the airline's chief financial officer and leading a failed pursuit of Continental Airlines Inc.A career-long Delta employee, Allen's combative personality put him at odds with his board and made it impossible for him to get support for his vision for the airline.Though...

For years, Harford County officials and Cardiff and Whiteford residents have made efforts to get a sewage treatment plant built because of failing septic systems in the area.Now, at last, it looks as if a solution may be near.Harford officials are waiting to learn if $3.4 million in federal funds will be available to help pay for connections to a planned sewage treatment plant in Delta, Pa., for more than 200 property owners in Cardiff and Whiteford.Whether Harford residents are able to connect to the Delta plant depends on the Farmers Home Administration approving a combination loan and grant to help pay for the system, said Jacqueline Ludwig, head of the water and sewer department for Harford.

Delta, AT&T in joint ventureDelta Air Lines Inc. and AT&T Corp. are expected to announce today that they have formed a joint venture to sell information-management services, according to people familiar with the companies' plans.As part of their agreement, AT&T will take over many of the computer operations of Delta, the nation's third-largest airline. Delta seeks savings from all aspects of its operations as part of its goal to cut $2 billion from annual operating costs by 1997.

State sends letters on extra jobless aid The Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation said yesterday that it was sending letters to those eligible for an extra seven weeks of unemployment benefits. The typical unemployment benefit runs 26 weeks, and Congress extended that last summer by 13 weeks. More recently, lawmakers tacked on another seven weeks as part of emergency relief legislation. The first week for these extended benefits is the week that ended Nov. 29. State officials said those eligible should wait until they receive the letter before contacting the claims center.

Comcast third-quarter profit rises 38 percent PHILADELPHIA : Comcast Corp., the nation's largest cable operator, reported yesterday a 38 percent increase in third-quarter earnings as a sharp drop in capital spending and higher cable TV rates buoyed its bottom line. Bucking the trend among cash-strapped companies, Comcast also said it expects to exceed its free cash-flow growth forecast of at least 20 percent in fiscal 2008. Brian Roberts, chief executive, said the company has adequate financial reserves to weather the current economic crisis.

On September 26, 2008, Christine M. Jankowski Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 1st from 10 to 11 AM at Harkins Funeral Home, 600 Main Street, Delta, PA with the funeral service at 11 AM. Interment will be in Slate Ridge Cemetery, Delta, PA. Memorial contributions may be made to Living Legacy Foundation, 1730 Twin Springs Road, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21227

Air travelers who booked tickets in advance for this fall may want to check again before they check in. As airlines cut back, some who followed the travel industry's advice to book their trips ahead - from honeymooners to family vacationers - are finding themselves with seats on flights that no longer exist. Carriers say they are doing the best they can to notify customers of disruptions and accommodate changes. But affected travelers say the options presented by the airlines can be inconvenient, requiring them to use more vacation days, pay for longer - or additional - hotel stays or shave time off the start or end of their trips.

On April 10, 2008, BRUCE R. COATES of Forest Hill, MD. Beloved husband of Peggy L. (nee Remmell) Coates, loving father of Brandon, Dylan, and Vanessa Coates. Dear brother of Brenda A. Hash. Visitation will be on Sunday, April 20th from 1:30 to 3 PM with a memorial service to begin at 3PM at Calvary Chapel of Delta, 5911 Delta Rd., Delta, PA 17314. Memorial contributions may be made to the chapel at the above address.

A major shareholder of United Airlines and Delta Air Lines wants the two carriers to merge, an idea that in principle is appealing to both sides and appears to have led to informal talks, though both sides deny that a deal is being negotiated. Hedge fund Pardus Capital Management LP set off fireworks yesterday after it sent a letter urging Delta's management to pursue a merger with United's Chicago-based parent company, UAL Corp., or risk returning to bankruptcy. The news sent the airlines' shares soaring, as did rumors that negotiations were under way - speculation that the airlines quickly squelched.

On Saturday, November 3, 2007, EMO JANE MINTZ of Delta, PA, formerly of Baltimore, devoted mother of Kay Boone, Rose Marie Fisher and Cherrie Osborne. Dear sister of Mary Pennell and Roy Hood. Loving grandmother and great grandmother. Visitations will be held on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM and on Wednesday from 10 to 11 AM at Harkins Funeral Home, 600 Main Street, Delta, PA where funeral service will begin at 11AM. Interment in will be in Holly Hill Memorial Gardens, Baltimore, MD. For additional information, please visit: www.harkinsfuneralhome.

WASHINGTON -- Delta Air Lines and other major carriers will lodge their objections today to what they call a federal proposal for "slashing operations" at delay-plagued John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The Federal Aviation Administration has recommended cutting traffic by 20 percent, setting a limit of 80 or 81 flights per hour at the congested hub where 100 takeoffs and landings an hour often occur. "Placing artificial constraints on the country's premier international gateway is not in the best interest of Delta customers," Kent Landers, a Delta spokesman.

On October 12, 2007, WILLIAM JESSOP COWLEY of Bel Air, Maryland. Beloved husband of Martha Ann Strickhouser Cowley. Also survived by a niece, Julie Noble. A Memorial Service will be held at Slateville Presbyterian Church, Ridge Road, Delta, PA on Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 10 A.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Slateville Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 657, Delta, PA 17314 or Harford Hospice, Upper ChesapeakeSt. Joseph Home Care, Inc., 8003 Corporate Drive, Nottingham, MD. 21236

On October 12, 2007, WILLIAM JESSOP COWLEY of Bel Air, Maryland. Beloved husband of Martha Ann Strickhouser Cowley. Also survived by a niece, Julie Noble. A Memorial Service will be held at Slateville Presbyterian Church, Ridge Road, Delta, PA on Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 10 A.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Slateville Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 657, Delta, PA 17314 or Harford Hospice, Upper ChesapeakeSt. Joseph Home Care, Inc., 8003 Corporate Drive, Nottingham, MD. 21236