NEW YORK (Reuters) --Delta Air Lines will test a single class of service with extra perks on two routes heavily flown by business travelers, as it experiments with ways to woo higher-paying frequent fliers and turn its losses into profits.
Delta, the No. 3 U.S. airline, will offer one class of service starting Tuesday until January 31 on flights that run between its hometown of Atlanta and Houston's Hobby Airport or Kansas City.
Regardless of whether passengers are traveling for business or leisure, they'll be offered free coffee and newspapers and a broader range of snacks, along with better in-flight television shows and extra frequent flier miles.
Delta will use Boeing 737-800 aircraft for the test flights. The aircraft, which were pulled into Delta's mainline fleet from its shuttle service earlier this year, have already been equipped with leather seats, extended legroom, and outlets for laptops at each seat.
Delta, which recently reported a $164 million third-quarter net loss, did not immediately provide information on how much the new service could cost.
U.S. airlines have suffered mightily from a steep drop-off in higher-fare business travel, as companies keep a tight leash on costs and search more diligently for lower fares.
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