Delta seeks to protect DCA market

Delta Air Lines has announced a raft of new routes from its Washington National base which will be inauguarted October 30th ahead of LCC Jetblue entering the market.

Delta will begin services from DCA to seven new city markets, to Hartford, Coloumbus, St Louis, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and Miami.

On November 1st Jetblue will begin new services to three city pairs. Washington national is currently domianted by legacy carriers with the following carriers the leding five in terms of seat share

• US Airways 121,321 weekly seats
• Delta 53,944
• American Airlines 37,015
• United Airlines 14,568
• Continental 11,739

The leading LCC at DCA is currently AirTran which operates routes from Atlanta, Orlando, Milwaukee and Fort Myers.