Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines, hoping to secure a steady source of discounted jet fuel, announced Monday that it will buy the ConocoPhillips oil refinery in Trainer for the bargain price of $150 million. The nation's second-largest commercial airline says it hopes to reduce its fuel expenses by $300 million a year with the acquisition. Delta spent $11.8 billion on jet fuel in 2011, about 36 percent of its operating expenses. "Acquiring the Trainer refinery is an innovative approach to managing our largest expense," said Richard Anderson, Delta's chief executive officer.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Thursday approved the transfer of pipelines connected with the ConocoPhillips refinery in Trainer, removing an obstacle to the refinery's sale to Delta Air Lines Inc. The PUC approved the late-hour request on a fast track after the companies involved in the sale realized that some pipelines came under the jurisdiction of the utility commission, and that regulatory approval was required. The application was filed on May 25. Commission chairman Robert F. Powelson extolled the PUC's contribution to efforts to assist in the Delaware County refinery's sale, which is being supported with $30 million in grants from the Corbett administration.

Delta Air Lines, which now owns the refinery in Trainer, says Hurricane Sandy delayed the start of its new operation there. Instead of generating a modest profit in the first quarter, the plant will have a $50 million to $60 million loss. The good news: The pipelines are back online, and the distribution outlets "are in check," president Edward Bastian told analysts at Delta's investor day in New York on Wednesday. Production scheduled for 2013 at Delta subsidiary Monroe Energy L.L.C.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - US Airways Group reiterated Wednesday the importance of Philadelphia as a hub airport in the coming merger with American Airlines. Speaking at its 13th annual media day, where executives mingled with reporters to talk about the merger and put a best foot forward on what will be the world's biggest airline, US Airways president Scott Kirby said New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, from which American does a lot of international flying, "is a great point-to-point market" for local fliers traveling between New York and destinations such as London's Heathrow Airport.

Shares of Delta Air Lines rose 5 percent after the carrier said Monday that it expected a second-quarter profit of $75 million to $100 million at its oil refinery in Trainer. Delta also said the current quarter would be the airline's first profitable March quarter since 2000. "Running an oil refinery, much like running an airline, is not for the faint of heart," Delta president Edward Bastian told a JPMorgan conference. He said operational issues kept the refinery at 75 percent capacity in January and February.

IN BUSINESS A13 A long time coming Sunoco saw itself as in need of a change. That strategy led to its pending sale. Delco's good news Delta Air Lines, hoping to secure a steady source of discounted jet fuel, will buy ConocoPhillips oil refinery in Trainer.

The oil refinery in Trainer owned by Delta Air Lines received its first shipment of Bakken crude oil from North Dakota on Feb. 12. The test shipment traveled in more than 100 rail cars to Albany, N.Y., where it was moved to a ship, and transported to Delta's docks in Trainer. "We are still evaluating our crude sourcing options. We don't currently have a facility to off-load from rail at Trainer," Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter said. "If we decide to go ahead fully into the Bakken to get our crude, then we would invest in some rail facilities there, and it would come by rail all the way to the refinery.

Have you ever been on a plane and wondered if your luggage made the flight? Now, US Airways passengers can track their checked bags - in real time - by going to the US Airways website, and typing in bag claim information. US Airways rolled out the service on all flights March 19. It is information the airline already had for internal purposes. Delta Air Lines was the first U.S. carrier to launch real-time baggage tracking. Passengers can go to the Delta website or download a free app to pull up information from the bar code on their bag-claim ticket.

Delta Air Lines on Friday finalized its purchase of the ConocoPhillips refinery in Trainer and will begin to bring back about 400 employees who were laid off last year when the plant was idled. A Delta spokesman said that its subsidiary, Monroe Energy L.L.C., will start a turnaround at the Delaware County refinery after the July 4 holiday with the aim of resuming fuel production this fall. The airline paid $180 million for the plant, with the Corbett administration chipping in $30 million on the condition that Monroe maintain 400 employees for five years.

Delta Air Lines will begin new service between Philadelphia and New York LaGuardia Airport starting Wednesday. It's part of Delta's expansion in New York. The five flights to LaGuardia depart Philadelphia at 6:50 a.m., 10:35 a.m., 2:10 p.m., 4:08 p.m. and 7:48 p.m. Delta already serves JFK airport with three daily flights from Philadelphia. Delta wants "to become the preferred airline in New York" connecting passengers to "key business markets," said senior vice president Gail Grimmett.

Question: I recently booked two tickets through an online travel agency for my husband and me to fly to the Philippines. When I got his ticket, I noticed that "Jr. " was missing from his name. I went back to the site and discovered that there was no space provided where I can put a "Jr. " I called the agency, and a representative told me it was "not a big deal" and that I should not worry about it. They suggested I call Delta Air Lines to give them a "heads-up. " This weekend, I called Delta and asked them about the name issue.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - US Airways Group reiterated Wednesday the importance of Philadelphia as a hub airport in the coming merger with American Airlines. Speaking at its 13th annual media day, where executives mingled with reporters to talk about the merger and put a best foot forward on what will be the world's biggest airline, US Airways president Scott Kirby said New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, from which American does a lot of international flying, "is a great point-to-point market" for local fliers traveling between New York and destinations such as London's Heathrow Airport.

The federal budget ax that is known as the sequester is starting to hurt the airline industry. While flights have not yet been canceled in response to the cuts, and there are not long lines at security screening in airports, including Philadelphia International, US Airways Group and Delta Air Lines said the federal spending cuts reduced March revenue due to fewer last-minute bookings. US Airways said that passenger revenue for each "seat mile" flown was flat in March compared with March 2012.

Have you ever been on a plane and wondered if your luggage made the flight? Now, US Airways passengers can track their checked bags - in real time - by going to the US Airways website, and typing in bag claim information. US Airways rolled out the service on all flights March 19. It is information the airline already had for internal purposes. Delta Air Lines was the first U.S. carrier to launch real-time baggage tracking. Passengers can go to the Delta website or download a free app to pull up information from the bar code on their bag-claim ticket.

Shares of Delta Air Lines rose 5 percent after the carrier said Monday that it expected a second-quarter profit of $75 million to $100 million at its oil refinery in Trainer. Delta also said the current quarter would be the airline's first profitable March quarter since 2000. "Running an oil refinery, much like running an airline, is not for the faint of heart," Delta president Edward Bastian told a JPMorgan conference. He said operational issues kept the refinery at 75 percent capacity in January and February.

The oil refinery in Trainer owned by Delta Air Lines received its first shipment of Bakken crude oil from North Dakota on Feb. 12. The test shipment traveled in more than 100 rail cars to Albany, N.Y., where it was moved to a ship, and transported to Delta's docks in Trainer. "We are still evaluating our crude sourcing options. We don't currently have a facility to off-load from rail at Trainer," Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter said. "If we decide to go ahead fully into the Bakken to get our crude, then we would invest in some rail facilities there, and it would come by rail all the way to the refinery.

Question: I traveled to Europe on a codeshare flight between Delta Air Lines and KLM. Before I left the United States, I carefully checked the size and weight restrictions for my two bags on both the Delta and KLM websites, because I'm an artist and I needed to take rolls of paper with me. I made sure my bags complied. The trip from Portland, Ore., to Copenhagen, Denmark, went off without a hitch; I paid $50 to check a second bag. However, on the flight from Toulouse, France, to Portland, Ore., I had to pay 200 euros for the second bag. When the gate agent saw my second bag, she declared it "too long," she never measured it. Although the flight was on KLM, the airport staff worked for Air France.

Delta Air Lines, which now owns the refinery in Trainer, says Hurricane Sandy delayed the start of its new operation there. Instead of generating a modest profit in the first quarter, the plant will have a $50 million to $60 million loss. The good news: The pipelines are back online, and the distribution outlets "are in check," president Edward Bastian told analysts at Delta's investor day in New York on Wednesday. Production scheduled for 2013 at Delta subsidiary Monroe Energy L.L.C.

US Airways Group Inc. said Monday that Hurricane Sandy hurt October revenue by $30 million, and reduced October profit by $15 million. Philadelphia's dominant airline, transporting nearly 70 percent of air travelers, said that November earnings will be hurt by about $20 million because of the storm. The airline said given the impact on travel in the Northeast total bookings fell by 13 percent in the days leading up to, and after, the storm between Oct. 24 and Nov. 3, compared with the same period last year.

Philadelphia International Airport, which curtailed flights for the superstorm, is back in business. At 1 p.m. Tuesday, Delta Air Lines resumed nine flights in and out of Philadelphia. Lufthansa Airlines landed a 4:30 p.m. jet from Frankfurt, and sent a 6 p.m. return flight to Germany. US Airways Group, which operates 430 daily departures from Philadelphia, planned to resume a normal schedule Wednesday morning. Airport spokeswoman Victoria Lupica confirmed that Delta began flying Tuesday, as did Lufthansa.