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Delta takes $120m Hurricane Irma hit

Delta Air Lines faces a $120 million hit from flight disruption caused by Hurricane Irma alone.

Hurricanes Irma and Maria affected operations last month across the Caribbean and south-eastern US.

Hurricane Irma “significantly affected” operations with 2,200 flights cancelled on September 7-12 at airports in Florida, the Caribbean and Georgia, including the carrier’s Atlanta hub.

This negatively affected results by approximately $120 million, the airline disclosed while reporting its operating performance for September.

This came despite Delta carrying 14.7 million passengers across its global network in the month.

The airline added 12,000 additional seats across Florida and the Caribbean to assist evacuation efforts related to Hurricane Irma.

Fares were capped for flights to and from hurricane-affected areas before, during and after the storm for itineraries throughout the US.

Waivers were provided for passengers transiting more than 40 destinations where flights were affected by hurricanes and baggage fees were suspended for people travelling to or from affected cities.

The airline contributed an additional $1.75 million specific to hurricane relief to the American Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society, and British, Dutch and French Red Cross organisations.

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