Delta cuts first quarter losses

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Delta Air Lines has made a first quarter loss of $794m (£546m) compared to a $6.39bn loss a year before.

It said in a statement a strict year-on-year comparison could not be taken after it had acquired Northwest Airlines in October last year.

Delta said it had been hit hard by the weak global economy in the first three months of the year.

The airline said from 1 July it would institute a $50 fee to check a second bag onto an international flight.

The Atlanta-based firm, which already charges fees for the first and second checked bags on domestic flights, expects to generate more than $100m a year from the new fee.

The latest data showed revenue was up 40% from $4.77bn to $6.68bn in the first three months of the year, but again the new number has been skewed by Delta's purchase of Northwest Airlines in October 2008 for $2.8bn.

After the merger with Northwest last year, Delta said it expected to generate annual revenue of more than $35bn, and would employ about 75,000 staff.

Its flights serve customers in 66 countries and more than 375 cities.