Reuters reports that Delta has sought bids to operate up to 143 regional jets for its Delta Connection service. Delta’s press release on the subject can be found here
Commuter or regional airlines are smaller airlines that operate under contract to larger ones, using the larger carrier distribution network to sell its seats, while the larger carrier uses the smaller to expand to cities it could not serve itself.
Comair, Delta’s own subsidiary, is one of the airlines they are looking to outsource flights from. Considering their recent labor issues, and their strike threats, it is not a surprise that they have been added to the list.
The removal of Comair, based at Cincinnatti/Northern Kentucky airport, could mean a further downsizing of Delta’s presence there, a move that has been predicted by many industry analysts.