 Delta insists many of its problems are outside its control |
Troubled US airline Delta ran up losses of more than $1.1bn (�635m) in the first six weeks after it applied for bankruptcy in September. The company sought protection from its creditors as debts, soaring jet fuel costs and its high wage bill combined to leave it perilously short of cash.
It is now asking the bankruptcy courts to rip up its contract with its pilots.
During the same period Northwest - also in Chapter 11 bankruptcy - said it made a loss of $346m.
Out of balance
Both airlines had filed for bankruptcy on 14 September, the latest in a string of US airlines to fall victim to spiralling costs and the onslaught of more successful low-cost carriers.
Delta says it wants to find annual savings of some $3bn - $325m of which it hopes to gain from cutting pilots' pay and benefits.
The pilots' union has already agreed to about $1bn in annual cuts in 2004, and now says it will not agree to more than $90m a year over four years.
The airline's huge loss is largely the result of exceptional items associated with its bankruptcy reorganisation.
Even so, its revenues of $1.95bn for the six weeks to the end of October are eclipsed by its spending of $2.61bn - most of which went on fuel, wages and interest on its debts.
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