Delta Air Lines Installs New Route Planning System

The Kiehl Hendrickson Group (KHG) announced that it has successfully completed the installation and implementation of its airline flight network analysis system, PLANET, at Delta Air Lines' world headquarters in Atlanta. The PLANET System uses state-of-the-art technology to quickly forecast the market share, revenue and profitability consequences arising from assumed changes in airline flight networks, demand conditions, competitive structure and other market dynamics.

The software system will improve Delta's capability to model the economic implications of route expansion plans, flight scheduling alternatives, code-sharing alliance scenarios, hub re-design options, the impact of competitor actions, and a variety of other resource allocation strategies. Doug Blissit, Delta's vice president of Network Analysis, said, "We are constantly seeking the best available decision support tools to help us manage Delta's growth efficiently and effectively. The PLANET System is a solution that moves us forward in our ability to perform fast, insightful network analysis."

KHG's president, Steve Hendrickson, added, "Due to the vast scope of modern airline networks, with increasing complexity stemming from widespread multi-carrier code sharing arrangements and other forms of alliance, today's successful airline managers place a premium on the capabilities of their network analysis systems. PLANET provides Delta with a proven airline profitability model that will be useful for predicting the 'what-ifs' of the future, allowing them to formulate appropriate strategies today. We are extremely pleased that Delta has selected our product and welcome them into our growing community of PLANET users."

The PLANET System is an airline economic analysis software package developed by the Kiehl Hendrickson Group (KHG). KHG, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., is a highly specialized firm that has provided software, consulting and related services to the commercial aviation industry since 1992. In addition to Delta, KHG has previously installed PLANET for such customers as Trans World Airlines (TWA), ComAir, Frontier Airlines, Atlantic Coast Airlines, Bombardier Aerospace, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and others. For further information, please contact Mark Gempler at 952-853-0070.

Contact Mark Gempler of Kiehl Hendrickson Group, 952-853-0070, www.khgroup.com.