DELTA TO PULL OUT OF ATLANTIC EXCELLENCE ALLIANCE

   Delta Air Lines will end its longtime Atlantic Excellence Alliance with
Swissair, Austrian Airlines and Belgian carrier Sabena at the end of the
year.
   The move, widely expected since Delta teamed with Swissair rival Air
France this summer, frees Delta, Air France and AeroMexico to build a
global alliance to rival the Star Alliance, oneworld and the
KLM/Alitalia/Northwest Airlines team.
   Delta said it negotiated with Swissair, Austrian and Sabena to join its
alliance with Air France, but no agreement could be reached. Austrian
Airlines’ parent company recently announced plans to join the Star
Alliance, which is anchored by United Airlines and Lufthansa German
Airlines.
   Atlantic Excellence members have agreed to honor existing travel agency and corporate sales agreements through Dec. 31. Codeshare flights will end Aug. 5 next year.