Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines will trim its schedule by around 100 flights per day between July 1 and August 7 to minimize disruptions and shore up network resilience. The cutbacks will primarily impact flights around the US and Latin America. Delta made the announcement on Thursday as it prepares for a busy summer of flying and follows a series of schedule adjustments covering the upcoming holiday weekend and the month of June.

Coping with demand is posing some challenges for Delta Air Lines

Delta says the demand for flights is growing, and that is putting the airline under some pressure. Delta Air Lines says getting back to where they are today has been an enormous feat and not without its challenges. Over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, Delta expects to fly approximately 2.5 million around its network - a 25% increase on last year's numbers. Delta has already trimmed its flights and issued travel waivers for the holiday weekend as bad weather in the US southeast and northeast threatens to disrupt operations.

This week, Delta issued an internal memo that said it would "proactively reduce its schedules" between now and July 1. The airline isn't saying much publicly about the June schedule cuts, but it is getting on the front foot regarding July. Removing 100 flights a day from Delta's schedules equates to a 2% reduction in daily network-wide departures. There are also reports Delta Air Lines will cut planned domestic aircraft hours in July by several percentage points to relieve stress on the network.

Delta Air Lines Airbus A220 Taking Off
Delta Air Lines is the largest operator of the Airbus A220. Photo: Airbus

"More than any time in our history, the various factors currently impacting our operation – weather and air traffic control, vendor staffing, increased COVID case rates contributing to higher-than-planned unscheduled absences in some workgroups – are resulting in an operation that isn't consistently up to the standards Delta has set for the industry in recent years," said Allison Ausband, Delta's Chief Customer Experience Officer, in a statement.

"We deeply appreciate the energy and efforts of our people and the confidence of our customers as we adapt and pivot to ensure we provide the airline-of-choice experience we're so proud to be known for."

Delta Air Lines Airbus A300 Taxiing
The airline has also resumed services to other European destinations in the last few days. Photo: Airbus

Delta isn't the only US-based airline facing operational pressures

Delta's Atlanta hub will be the most impacted by the July cuts. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport will see 1,083 Delta aircraft movements scratched over the month. In July, Detriot's Metropolitan Wayne County Airport will lose nearly 5% of scheduled Delta arrivals and departures (871 flights).

Delta isn't the only airline to trim flights over the summer. Rivals American Airlines and United Airlines have also proactively trimmed their schedules this summer, facing the same problems Delta faces. Smaller carriers such as Alaska Airlines have also cut flights.

Meanwhile, Delta wants those forecast 2.5 million passengers this weekend to be as travel fit as possible. The airline asks passengers to rely on the Delta app for day to day tweaking of bookings; allow plenty of time to navigate airports and security; use Clear or PreCheck if possible; be aware of COVID protocols; and if in doubt, advise there will be plenty of Delta ground staff at airports this weekend to assist.