passenger capacity over the winter season.

A spokeswoman for Delta Airlines -- which flies to Bermuda from Boston and Atlanta -- asked fed up customers to bear with the carrier, currently using smaller-than-normal aircraft on its routes due to plane shortages.

She said: "We have downsized for the winter -- but we will resume using the larger aircraft on March 2.'' She was speaking last week after Delta was criticised for pulling the large Boeing 767 planes off the Bermuda run and replace them with smaller 757s -- the first time the airline has cut its off-season capacity.

A US-based Bermudian businessman, who depends on Delta to ship fresh fish to the Island, slammed the move.

And Jim Anthony predicted some businesses could be crippled over the winter period because of the severe shortage of freight space on 757s -- and sky-high cargo charges.

He claimed that some fresh freight destined for Bermuda was rotting on the tarmac in Atlanta because of lack of space.

He said the new planes could not accept container cargo and used the more expensive loose freight charges -- pushing up the rates to more than double the previous 35 cents a pound levy.

The Delta spokeswoman confirmed: "The 757 does not have the cargo lift or capacity of the 767.

"We have had a lot of customers in the same situation. We did our utmost to try and hang onto the larger aircraft,'' she said. "We have a tremendous shortage of aircraft at the moment. It's not the only reason, but we are short of planes.

"We also have to consider the load factors -- there is no huge demand for the larger aircraft during the winter.'' The spokeswoman denied claims that 25 tourists had been booted off a Delta flight from Atlanta due to overbooking.

She said: "A flight may be overbooked by 20 or so, but we still end up with seats available. We didn't have that many people inconvenienced.'' And she said a larger aircraft was put on the Atlanta route on Friday and Saturday to avoid passengers being stranded.

Delta defends smaller planes The spokeswoman also denied that higher landing charges for the bigger aircraft influenced Delta's decision to put smaller planes on the Bermuda run.

And she added: "It's working in terms of passengers -- but the freight business is not good at all.

"Our customers are very loyal to us and we'd like to take care of them, We're hoping we won't have to inconvenience them again at any time in the future.'' The airline has also gained some support from another Bermudian company.

Jim Butterfield, managing director of wholesalers Butterfield and Vallis, said: "I don't know what the answer is.

"I would hope that someone could put together some sort of air freighter to deal with the problem but it's a very vexing question because if a freighter was set up it would only pay for itself for a very short time.

"I know nothing about running an airline but it's a difficult one for Delta if they don't have the passengers.

"With some perishables, we're ordering early and bringing them in by boat but it's causing a lot of disruptions. We are getting things in in bits and pieces but we can't rely on any list.''