Delta Air Lines, Inc. is banking on its rate as being an on-time airline that beats its rivals to entice business fliers to fly with them, according to a report from Bloomberg.
The airline even promises to award travel credits to business fliers if it fails to deliver on-time travel reliably than its rivals American Airlines and United Airlines.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's February issue of its Air Travel Consumer Report has shown that Delta Air Lines ranked third in 2014, behind only Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines, in overall of carriers arriving on time.
Delta Air Lines arrived at its destination on time, on 83.7 percent of its flights in the 12 months that ended on December 2014.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's report identifies flights as "on time" if it operated in less than 15 minutes after the scheduled time shown in the carriers' Computerized Reservations Systems (CRS).
Bloomberg adds that Delta Air Lines is capitalizing on this rating to pitch its new program to its corporate clients around the world.
They are banking on their operational success to woo customers to choose their airline.
Bloomberg adds that the move is a novelty to an industry that usually wins its corporate clients with airfare discounts and flight selections.
Delta Air Lines is convincing clients that their punctuality will be saving them time and money.
Bob Somers, vice president of Delta Air Lines' Global Sales, told Bloomberg during an interview that the airline has been focusing in operational success because it can't be copied.
"We've been focused on relentless operational success because any carrier could replicate anything we do whether it be seats or food or Sky Clubs, but they can't replicate our performance," he said.
Bloomberg adds that Delta Air Lines would offer travel credits of $1,000 up to $250,000 to business with a contract if American or United would beat Delta's on-time and completion rates for a year.
The airline adds that those who suffer the most delays and cancelations would receive the biggest payouts.
Forbes adds that, though the offer looks enticing, details of the program shows that Delta Air Lines is unlikely to pay anything.
The airline must trail both American and United in the rankings and it also excludes international regional flights into the account.
However, Forbes still adds that there is still plenty of value in Delta Air Lines campaign.
The airline's offer of on-time flight performance could drive up the number of on-time flights by other airlines and facilitate more connections, a result that few traveling passengers would ever complain about.
