Delta Airlines 2003 Annual Report Download - page 9

Table of Contents
Our international codesharing agreements enable us to market and sell seats to an expanded number of international destinations. Under codesharing
arrangements, we and the foreign carriers publish our respective airline designator codes on a single flight operation, thereby allowing us and the foreign
carrier to offer joint service with one aircraft rather than operating separate services with two aircraft. These arrangements typically allow us to sell seats on
the foreign carrier's aircraft that are marketed under our "DL" designator code and permit the foreign airline to sell seats on our aircraft that are marketed
under the foreign carrier's two-letter designator code. As of March 1, 2004, we have codeshare arrangements in effect with Aerolitoral, Aeromexico, Air
France (and certain of Air France's affiliated carriers operating flights beyond Paris), Air Jamaica, Alitalia, Avianca, British European, China Airlines, China
Southern, CSA Czech Airlines, El Al Israel Airlines, Korean Air, Royal Air Maroc and South African Airways.
Delta, Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines and Korean Air are members of the SkyTeam international airline alliance. SkyTeam links
the route networks of the member airlines, providing opportunities for increased connecting traffic while offering enhanced customer service through mutual
codesharing arrangements, reciprocal frequent flyer and lounge programs and coordinated cargo operations. In 2002, we, our European SkyTeam partners and
Korean Air received limited antitrust immunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT"). The grant of antitrust immunity enables us and our
immunized partners to offer a more integrated route network, and develop common sales, marketing and discount programs for customers.
Delta Connection Program. The Delta Connection program is our regional carrier service, which feeds traffic to our route system through contracts with
regional air carriers that operate flights serving passengers primarily in small and medium-sized cities. The program enables us to increase the number of
flights in certain locations, to better match capacity with demand and to preserve our presence in smaller markets. Our Delta Connection network operates the
largest number of regional jets in the United States.
We have contractual arrangements with six regional carriers to operate regional jet and turboprop aircraft using our "DL" code. ASA and Comair are our
wholly-owned subsidiaries, which operate all of their flights under our code. We also have agreements with Atlantic Coast Airlines ("ACA"), SkyWest
Airlines, Inc. ("SkyWest"), Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. ("Chautauqua") and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. ("Eagle"), which operate some of their flights using
our code. For information regarding our agreements with ACA, SkyWest and Chautauqua, see Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Our contract with Eagle, which is limited to certain flights operated to and from the Los Angeles International Airport, as well as a portion of our SkyWest
agreement, are structured as revenue proration agreements. These prorate arrangements establish a fixed dollar or percentage division of revenues for tickets
sold to passengers traveling on connecting flight itineraries.
Delta Shuttle. The Delta Shuttle is our high frequency service targeted to Northeast business travelers. It provides nonstop, hourly service between New
York - LaGuardia Airport
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