Travel Roundup: Delta Cuts, Thai Airport Siege Ends, United Needs Cash and More

Delta says more flight and job cuts — Delta Air Lines Inc. president, Ed Bastian, said Delta will cut flight capacity to 8 percent and talked about job cuts at an investors meeting Tuesday. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport can expect to see a 13 percent cut, or 40 flights a day, from the carrier. Delta’s regional carrier, Comair, will be laying off 150 pilots next year because of the flight cuts. Northwest also eliminated 2,500 jobs from its payroll. The cuts are part of “sustained profitability” and saving jobs, executives said. Delta said it will end this year with about $5.6 billion in cash. [Source: Cincinnati Enquirer]

Prime minister ousted, Thai airport siege ends– Anti-government protestors left Thailand’s main airport Wednesday after a court decision found that Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawar’s party, as well as two other political groups, were guilty of fraud in the country’s 2007 elections. The eight-day blockade stranded about 230,000 tourists, but airlines began to land early Wednesday. [Source: Reuters, Toronto Star]

UAL Corp. sells shares to raise money — Cash-strapped UAL Corp., United Airlines’ parent company, reported in a regulatory filing that it intends to sell up to $200 million in new shares to raise money for “general corporate purposes.”  The money could be used to balance out fuel-hedging losses because gas prices dropped significantly from heights earlier this fall. [Source: Chicago Tribune]

AeroMexico expands to Denver — AeroMexico will launch service between Mexico City and Denver in March, an airport official said Tuesday. The Mexican carrier adds Denver International Airport to its growing list of U.S. cities which includes Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Seattle. The new daily, nonstop flights will feature Boeing 737 jets and begin March 2. [Source: Denver Post]