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June 28, 2007

Delta cancels some flights to RI, rest of northeast

ATLANTA -- Delta Air Lines Inc. canceled about 200 flights to and from several northeastern airports Thursday to minimize delays caused by heavy thunderstorms forecast across the region.

Atlanta-based Delta said it made an early call to cancel the flights in hopes of giving at least 12-hours notice to affected passengers via automated e-mail and cell phone messages or calls from reservations staff. Passengers could ask for refunds or switch to other flights for no additional fees.

The airline said flights were canceled in New York; Newark, N.J.; Hartford, Conn.; Providence, Boston; Washington; Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Joe Kolshak, Delta's executive vice president for operations, said the canceled flights made up about a third of Delta's departures and arrivals in the Northeast Thursday.

He said Delta trimmed the flights after the Federal Aviation Administration alerted airlines Thursday it would slow air traffic in the region because of forecasts of heavy rain and lightning.

Kolshak said the leaner schedule would reduce delays among the remaining Delta flights.

"While it does inconvenience some people, the goal is to minimize the impact to as few people as possible," he said.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 6:24 PM | Permalink

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