AIRLINES

Delta Denies Plan to Launch Discount Airline: The Atlanta-based carrier said that in talks with its pilots’ union it is exploring a low-cost operation for short-haul flights to 100-seat markets. Earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported that the carrier may start up a separate no-frills unit to compete with Atlanta-based ValuJet Airlines Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co. of Dallas. Delta’s stock closed off 37.5 cents at $75.125 on the New York Stock Exchange. ValuJet fell $2.75 to $32.375 on Nasdaq. Atlantic Southeast Airlines Inc., a short haul carrier 23% owned by Delta, closed off $1.25 at $25.50 on Nasdaq.