This is a very common tactic by most US airlines - apply for, then get a route. Then delay and stall tactics. The DOT should say, "Operate the route or we will give it to another airline."
Well they could do that, but then it just goes into the pool of 28 weekly rights that are sitting between US and China because no other airline wants them......no point in the DOT no giving Delta a year here, if someone wanted the right all they would have to do is object to it and the DOT would A) give Delta a year or say no, start ATL-PVG in sept 2010 or we pull the rights and give them to who objected. Like i said, no one will because they could just ask for rights from the pool.