A funny thing happened today as I was rewriting and editing this week’s PBB. A note came in from a reader asking me if I had heard any of the online chatter concerning a build-up by Delta Air Lines out of LAX.

No, I hadn’t, since I’d had my head in my, er, computer keyboard pretty much nonstop all day. (The last week of Acute Airlines Earnings Euphoria, thank god.)

Well, guess what?

The new routes were included in Lehman Brothers’ capacity report this morning, and this afternoon the additions to the tapes were confirmed.

Seems like Delta decided to just dump the new routes with no fanfare whatsoever. But they are in there.

According to Lehman,

“Delta added a number of Los Angeles markets this week, which given the tentative nature of schedules bears watching, in our opinion. Effective in December, Delta adds service to Las Vegas (twice daily) as well as international service to Guatemala City, Le Paz (Mexico) and Liberia (Costa Rica). Further, Delta added a number of markets in January and beyond, including twice daily service from Los Angeles to Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento as well as a number of Latin markets. Current schedules for February 2007 and beyond show Delta scheduling an average of 60 daily departures to 32 destinations, including 18 domestic destinations.”

I’m not sure what my response here is. Maybe “wonderment” would be a good choice. “Shock” would be a bit too strong. “Perplexed” could work.