Song (airline)
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| Founded | 2003 | ||||||
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| Hubs | JFK Int'l Airport Orlando Int'l Airport | ||||||
| Focus cities | Logan International Airport Ft. Lauderdale Int'l Airport | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Skymiles | ||||||
| Alliance | SkyTeam | ||||||
| Fleet size | 48 | ||||||
| Destinations | 14 | ||||||
| Parent company | Delta Air Lines Inc. | ||||||
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia | ||||||
| Key people | Joanne Smith | ||||||
| Website | http://www.flysong.com | ||||||
Song was a low-cost airline brand owned and operated by Delta Air Lines.
Song's main focus was on tourist traffic between the northeastern United States and Florida, a market where it competed with JetBlue Airways. It also operated flights between Florida and the West Coast, and from the Northeast to the west coast.
Song's aircraft were fitted with leather seats and free personal entertainment system at every seat, with audio MP3 programmable selections, trivia games that can be played against other passengers, a flight tracker, and satellite television (provided by the DISH Network). Song offered free beverages, but charged for meals and liquor. Both indulgent brand-name snack boxes and healthy organic meals were offered. They also had a semi-secret feature that you can ask for the safety instructions to be "sung" in different ways.
The airline operated more than 200 flights a day and carried over ten million passengers.
Song's last flight took off on April 30, 2006. Service shifted to mainline Delta on May 1, 2006.
History
Before Song began service on April 15, 2003 as a low-cost Delta brand, the airline engaged in a long-term branding strategy that identified a particular strata of hip, style conscious professional women as their target market. Portions of this branding process are documented in the 2004Frontline [1] episode,"The Persuaders" [2] and in the episode's additional materials[3]. The branding process was headed by Andy Spade, husband to Kate Spade[4] and has been referred to as an example of corporate culture taken too far, along with Mary Kay Cosmetics[5].
On October 28, 2005, Delta announced plans to incorporate Song's aircraft into Delta's mainline domestic long haul operation beginning in May 2006. In the meantime, the 48 Boeing 757-200 airplanes will be converted to include 26 first class seats and repainted with Delta colors. The eradication of the widely-popular airline was seen by aviation analysts as a move to reduce costs and emerge from bankruptcy. However, the satellite TV service offered on Song will be eventually be offered on ALL Delta service on flights longer than 1750 miles. Unfortunately, the 33 inches of seat pitch, enjoyed on the All-Coach Song 757's, will be reduced to 31 inches once the First Class retrofit is complete.
Song was officially removed from future Delta schedules on February 25, 2006. Song's final flight was #2056 from Las Vegas McCarran International Airport to Orlando International Airport, which departed at 11:48 pm on April 30, 2006.
Fleet
Song's fleet consisted of 48 Boeing 757 narrowbody aircraft, fitted in a 199 seat, all-economy class more-legroom configuration and painted in a lime-green livery. Song aircraft also carried onboard satellite television equipment for passenger entertainment, unlike mainline Delta aircraft. However, once the Song fleet is incorporated back into Delta (after May 1st, 2006), the satellite television equipment will eventually be carried on all Delta flights longer than 1750 miles.
In March 2006, Song's average fleet age was 11.2 years old.
Destinations
The following destinations were operated when Song merged operations back into Delta.
United States
Caribbean
Former Destinations
The following destinations were discontinued prior to the merging of operations.