Delta Airlines 2003 Annual Report Download - page 13

Table of Contents
Possible Legislation or DOT Regulation
A number of Congressional bills and proposed DOT regulations have been considered in recent years to address airline competition issues. Some of these
proposals would require large airlines with major operations at certain airports to divest or make available to other airlines slots, gates, facilities and other
assets at those airports. Other measures would limit the service or pricing responses of major carriers that appear to target new entrant airlines. In addition,
concerns about airport congestion issues have caused the DOT and FAA to consider various proposals for access to certain airports, including "congestion-
based" landing fees and programs that would withdraw slots from existing carriers and reallocate those slots (either by lottery or auction) to the highest bidder
or to carriers with little or no current presence at such airports. These proposals, if enacted, could negatively impact our existing services and our ability to
respond to competitive actions by other airlines.
Worldspan
In June 2003, we sold our equity interest in WORLDSPAN, L.P., which operates and markets a computer reservation system for the travel industry. For
additional information concerning this sale, see Note 17 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Orbitz
Orbitz, Inc. ("Orbitz") operates an online travel agency that offers travel services to consumers and business customers via the Internet. During December
2003, Orbitz completed its initial public offering and the founding airlines of Orbitz, including us, sold a portion of their Orbitz shares. As of March 1, 2004,
we owned approximately 13% of Orbitz. American, Continental, Northwest and United also hold ownership interests in Orbitz. For additional information
concerning our sale of a portion of our interest in Orbitz, see Note 17 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Consumers use online travel agents for making reservations and purchasing airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars and travel-related products. The three
largest online travel agents in the United States are Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz. Online travel agents compete with one another, with airline websites,
with traditional travel agents and with other travel service providers for travel-related reservations and bookings.
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