Two of America's largest airlines have filed for bankruptcy. Delta and North-West have been experiencing financial problems for a while and have been hit very hard by recent rises in the price of fuel. This report from Guto Harri:

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Delta has been trying to live with large debts in a tough environment where cheaper airlines have been competing for its customers. North-West has found it particularly hard to meet its benefits and pensions obligations and has been wrestling with a bitter strike over the summer. But what's undoubtedly tipped these two major players over the edge is the recent hike in the price of oil, passed onto them as cripplingly expensive jet fuel.

Delta says that applying for what is known as Chapter Eleven protection will help it to address financial challenges and support ongoing efforts to become a simpler, more efficient and cost-effective airline. Both will be hoping to emerge from this with fewer financial commitments and a clearer strategy for surviving in a tough and difficult market.

Guto Harri, BBC News, New York

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airline
aeroplane company

large debts
owing a lot of money to others

meet its benefits and pensions obligations
pay workers their sickness, retirement and other financial entitlements

wrestling with a bitter strike
struggling to deal with a difficult situation when employees refused to work

tipped these two major players over the edge
pushed the two airlines into serious money difficulties

hike
increase

cripplingly expensive jet fuel
aeroplane petrol that costs a lot of money to buy

Chapter Eleven protection
a court ruling that allows companies to stay in business after bankruptcy

address financial challenges
sort out money problems

a simpler, more efficient and cost-effective airline
a more streamlined aeroplane company that performs well without losing money

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