Delta Trying to Increase International Revenues

ATLANTA (AP) -- Delta Air Lines Inc., which is operating under protection of the federal bankruptcy rules, is launching new nonstop routes to several European destinations to try to increase the percentage of its overall revenue that comes from international business.

The Atlanta-based airline's goal is to earn 35 percent of its revenues from international routes by 2007, said Glen Hauenstein, the airline's chief of network and revenue management. Roughly 20 percent of Delta's revenue now comes from international flights and the other 80 percent from domestic flights.

The shift would make Delta comparable with most competitors, who Hauenstein said derive 60 percent to 75 percent of their revenues from domestic flights and the rest from international flights.

''International you face a lot less competition, and these are some of the fastest growing traffic and revenue pools in the world,'' Hauenstein said.

The comments came as Delta prepared to announce Tuesday nonstop flights from Atlanta to Edinburgh, Scotland; to Nice, France; to Venice, Italy, and to Athens, Greece as well as New York to Budapest, Hungary; to Dublin/Shannon, Ireland; to Manchester, England, and to Kiev, Ukraine.

All of the flights are expected to begin in May, except the Kiev flight, which is expected to begin June 5 subject to foreign government approval.

The United States' third-largest carrier, which earlier this month announced new nonstop service to Tel Aviv, Israel, has said it would make international travel a bigger part of its operations after filing for bankruptcy Sept. 14.

Delta has announced 50 new international destinations this year.

Hauenstein said Delta's goal is to become a more balanced airline, and has no plans to merge with another airline.

''This has nothing to do with any type of merger,'' Hauenstein said. ''We are managing Delta for Delta. We have had no conversations about mergers. The bankruptcy court allows us to fix ourselves, and anything else is a long way off.''

He added, ''There are many possibilities out there. I know the U.S. government is working at the rules of ownership. We have no plans and have not been in talks.''