Delta and American end a deal to carry each other’s passengers

Two of the world’s largest airlines have ended a financial agreement that allows them to transfer passengers onto each other’s flights during emergencies, such as storms or hurricanes.

Delta Airlines and American Airlines last week announced the end to their “interline agreement,” a contract to pay each other an agreed-upon price for carrying each other’s passengers under special circumstances.

Such agreements exist between most major carriers so that airlines can put stranded passengers on a competitor’s flight and get reimbursed for the cost.

Delta blamed the breakup on American, saying American was sending five passengers to Delta for every one flier that Delta sends to American.

“At that rate, the industry agreement was no longer mutually beneficial,” said Eric Phillips, Delta’s senior vice president for revenue management.

A computer glitch forced American Airlines to temporarily ground hundreds of flights Thursday. Still, airline spokesman Casey Norton said the disagreement shouldn’t have a major effect on fliers because American still has interline agreements with other competitors.

“We’ll find other ways to take care of this,” he said.

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