This is new, delay due to "DAL REQUESTED"
 

According to the map on fly.faa.gov, "due to DAL requested, departure traffic destined to ATL is subject to a ground delay program. Click for more info." Wonder how AirTran feels about that?!

That means it affects DL aircraft only...so Airtran could care less.

They did this a few weeks ago as well.

Basically, it's DL's way of saying "using our dispatchers to delay 43049823 flights at the same time won't work so we'll make the government delay them for us!"

And, it gives DL the fig leaf of claiming that because it is an FAA delay, DL is not responsible for any missed connections, etc.

this is not cool DL :o

Another Possibility
 

And perhaps this is an attempt to better align flights and crews to avoid missed connections or long waits on the tarmac.

yeah remember this:
http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2009...f/tab/article/

I felt a bit vindicated today. My connection today in AMS was bungled by what the Delta customer service rep told me was "ATC delays." I said to her that I didn't think it fair that when the FAA says "DAL Requested" as the cause for a ground stop, that I should be delayed. As I'm flying to EBB, I would have next been able to get there two days late. Finally the rep came back and confirmed a seat on British Airways so I'll get to where I need to go. But this business of faulty explanations really has me bothered.

Most of the time the GA/Res agent doesnt' see DAL requested. They only see delay, mx/wx/atc.

This really is a bad issue DL needs to fix.

I have seen other carriers do the same...

At IAH or EWR, you will sometimes see a ground stop "COA + BTA only" or "COA only" or "BTA only"

BTA = ExpressJet

For a full overview, checkout: http://www.fly.faa.gov/ois/

When I toured the DAL ramp tower at CVG, they were actually using the above page as one of their monitoring tools.