Sky -- the Delta Air Lines in-flight magazine -- rounds up the usual suspects for a flattering 36-page (not 45-, as local boosters had hoped) profile of the Triangle.

It's part of the July magazine issue (which has somebody named Ralph Lauren on the cover and the Triangle on p. 93). It won't show up in your Delta passenger cabin until July 1. Advance copies were released at a media event Friday at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (in the same Terminal 2 where Delta once announced thrilling plans, later canceled, for an RDU-to-Paris flight).

There is a recap of the history of Research Triangle Park and the three universities that founded it, plus a respectful nod to N.C. Central University too. There are big blurbs of pride from

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Delta Air Lines said today that it would resume non-stop flights from Raleigh-Durham International to Los Angeles in June.

The airline also plans to add three daily non-stop flights to Baltimore (BWI) beginning Sept. 7.

Delta will resume its seasonal service to Los Angeles on June 9. The flights will operate five days a week, departing RDU at 7:50 p.m. and arriving at LAX at 10:07 p.m.

The return flight departs LAX at 11 p.m. and arrives at RDU at 6:52 a.m.
 
Delta also said today that it would discontinue service to Albany and Providence on Sept. 8.

Delta launched once daily non-stop service to those cities earlier this spring.
 
With the changes, Delta will offer 57 flights from RDU to 16 cities on its peak operating days.

The Durham Bulls won't ditch their team bus.

Just in time for next week's season-opening games, the minor league baseball team announced today that Delta Air Lines will be their official airline for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

The partnership reinforces Delta's interest in the Raleigh-Durham market, said airline vice president Jeff Robertson.

Delta will install advertising on signs and scoreboards at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, and airline employees at RDU will wear Bulls hats and logos.

Delta Air Lines continues to expand service at Raleigh-Durham International Airport with daily nonstop flights to Albany, N.Y., and Providence, R.I., on April 11.

The carrier also plans to resume service to Los Angeles on May 5, providing daily nonstop flights to a key West Coast destination. Delta stopped the RDU-LA service in November, and officials said that restarting it would depend on the economy and other trends. More than 250,000 passengers a year travel between RDU and Los Angeles.

RDU officials are eager to see airlines add more nonstop service, especially to the West Coast. Economic developers say that's an important tool when they recruit new business to this region.

A recent consultant's report for RDU showed that Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego were among the key markets not served by nonstop flights. Passengers can reach almost anywhere from RDU, but some cities require making connections, which can add hassle and time.

Delta Air Lines will start daily non-stop flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Albany and Providence, starting April 11. In May, RDU says, Delta will resume its on-again, off-again non-stops to Los Angeles.

What RDU calls "seasonal" service to LAX will start May 5 with Thursday, Friday and Sunday non-stop flights. A full daily schedule starts June 9. 

Delta stopped RDU-LAX nonstops in early 2008, resumed them last June, and halted the service in November.

The addition of Providence and Albany brings to 18 the number of markets with non-stop service from RDU. ... [MORE]

Delta Air Lines' on-again, off-again service between the Triangle and Los Angeles is off, again.

The carrier, which resumed once-daily nonstop flights between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and LA in June, will stop it as of Nov. 28.

"With virtually every route, we monitor passenger demand for it," said Delta spokesman Paul R. Skrbec. "It's a reflection of the demand for the route. Our expecation is that come springtime, the demand will come back."

But it's uncertain whether Delta will restart the service, or when.

Delta Air Lines continues to beef up its service from Raleigh-Durham International, with plans to add nonstop flights to five new destinations in November.

The carrier announced today that it will add service to Hartford, Conn.; Columbus, Ohio; Orlando and Tampa, Fla.; and St. Louis on Nov. 1. It's also adding more daily departures to Minneapolis/St. Paul, Boston and New York.

Economic developers say that increasing the number of nonstop destinations from RDU is a key tool for attracting new business to this region. Delta's move also means more choices for passengers.

Reality show wannabes, American Idol hopefuls, Lakers fanatics and movie moguls now have a faster way to La-La land.

Delta Air Lines' nonstop service between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Los Angeles resumes tonight.

Economic developers and RDU officials have said that direct flights to the West Coast are important in attracting new businesses to this region. More than 250,000 passengers a year travel between RDU and Los Angeles.

Delta Air Lines, one of the busiest carriers at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, is raising its baggage fees.

The move by the world's largest airline could spur competitors into similar actions, and mean yet another financial hit for fliers.

Delta is increasing the fee for the first bag by $8 to $23. A second bag will go up by $7 to $32.

And those fees are if you pay in advance while checking in online. At the airport, you'll pay $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second.

The new fees are for domestic travel beginning Tuesday on tickets purchased on or after Jan. 5. Tickets purchased before then, regardless of when the travel begins, are subject to the current fees – $15 for the first bag and $25 for the second.

The nation's major airlines began adding extra fees when fuel prices surged in 2008. Southwest Airlines now touts its "bags fly free" policy in its advertising.