DELTA, the third-largest US carrier, plans to launch a low-cost airline aimed at challenging budget airlines serving the Northeast and Florida markets. Delta said it would spend USD65m to launch the new airline, dubbed Song. The start-up is scheduled on 15 April. Song will compete directly with budget carriers Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways, which have been siphoning away business from the major airlines. By October, Song is expected to provide 144 daily flights using a fleet of Boeing 757s, initially serving the Northeast and Florida, including Boston, Massachusetts, New York, and the Florida cities of Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. The single-class coach service will offer 24 channels of live satellite television, personal video monitors at each seat, MP3 audio programming that lets passengers create their own play lists, pay-per-view video and interactive passenger games. Delta aims to reduce the cost of the new airline by maximizing utilisation of its planes and avoiding use of congested ”hub” airports. http://www.delta.com