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Shares of Delta Air Lines fell Tuesday after the carrier lowered its forecast for a closely watched revenue metric for the second time in less than a month. Delta said it expects passenger unit revenue to fall about 0.5% in the Q1 ended March 31. The carrier previously projected Q1 passenger unit revenue would be about flat. Prior to that, in January, Delta had said it expected a flat to 2% increase in Q1 passenger unit revenue. Delta blamed slower-than-expected improvement in average fare prices for flights booked at the last minute for the decline in its unit revenue outlook. Delta also said Tuesday it continued to expect an operating margin of 10% to 11% for the quarter and an improvement in unit revenue in the second half of the year that would offset higher fuel and labour costs. <br/>

Alitalia has pre-emptively canceled 60% of its scheduled flights for April 5 in preparation for a 24-hour strike action called by trade unions. The strike action comes following a March 31 meeting that included Alitalia’s incoming president Luigi Gubitosi, Alitalia’s outgoing president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and several Italian govt ministers. Beginning April 6, the parties will begin “nonstop talks” to hammer out a rescue plan for the loss-making airline amenable to the protesting labour unions. A deadline for the deal is set for April 13. Alitalia’s new business restructuring plan calls for 2,000 job cuts, as part of a plan to trim Alitalia’s costs by E1b (US$1.1b) by 2019. Multiple trade unions and professional associations have protested the plan since its announcement and last staged a walkout Feb 23. <br/>