Delta Delays Launch of New Flights Between Scotland and US

THE launch of new direct flights between Scotland and the United States has been delayed for a month because the airline is short of planes.

Delta Airlines will not begin daily services between Edinburgh and its home base of Atlanta until 6 June because work to reconfigure the seating on its Boeing 767 aircraft will not be completed in time for the original launch date of early May.

A spokeswoman for the airline insisted it was "very pleased" with advanced bookings on the route, and said passengers with tickets for travel in May would be accommodated on alternative airlines.

The route has been widely welcomed as a boost for tourism and Scotland's business community. It could bring tens of thousands of extra visitors every year.

Delta also announced yesterday that the contract for ground-handling - including check-in and baggage delivery - had been awarded to Penauille Servisair, which already handles the carrier's SkyTeam partner, Air France-KLM. Penauille Servisair said the contract could create new jobs. "We are conducting a review of our staffing at Edinburgh in light of this," a spokesman said.

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