ATLANTA, Sept. 21, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delta Air Lines' (NYSE:DAL) customers will enjoy increased non-stop access to regional business destinations, new point-to-point flying in key Northeast business markets, and expanded international service to Mexico as part of the airline's ongoing transformation to be more efficient and customer-focused. The changes, which begin as early as Dec. 1, support previously announced plans to strengthen Delta's domestic hubs and grow international schedules this winter.
"The ongoing transformation of our network responds to customers' preferences for increased non-stop access to growing business destinations and expands Delta's presence on popular international routes," said Glen Hauenstein, executive vice president and chief of network and revenue management. "This winter's changes, coupled with previous moves like right-sizing capacity at Cincinnati and de-hubbing service at Dallas/Fort Worth, represent the aggressive steps Delta is taking to increase the productivity and efficiency of our airline while at the same time improving service for customers."
Increased non-stop service to regional business destinations
By December, Delta will expand service between its Atlanta and Salt Lake City hubs and key regional business destinations with new non-stop flights to 20 markets. In addition to previously announced service to destinations such as Bloomington and Moline, Ill., new non-stop routes from Atlanta will include Madison and Green Bay, Wis., Burlington, Vt., and Springfield, Mo. These new flights will be effective Dec. 1 and operated by Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines.
Meanwhile, from Salt Lake City, Delta and Delta Connection carrier Shuttle America will add non-stop service to another five destinations in addition to four destinations previously announced. The new destinations include Cleveland, Ohio and Memphis, Tenn. (effective Nov. 1); Nashville, Tenn. and Hartford, Conn. (effective Dec. 1) and new Saturday-only service to New York's LaGuardia Airport (effective Dec. 3).
New point-to-point choices in the Northeast
Also in December, Delta customers in the Northeastern United States will gain non-stop access between two of the region's most popular business destinations -- Boston and Baltimore -- with six daily round-trip flights operated by Delta Connection carrier Comair. The new flights, effective Dec. 1, add to the already-extensive non-stop service Delta offers between Boston and cities across the Northeast, including Delta's popular Shuttle service to New York-LaGuardia and non-stop service to 15 destinations operated by Delta Connection carriers Comair and Chautauqua, including the only non-stop service to Fredericton and Halifax, Canada.
Expanded international service
As previously announced, Delta's winter schedule will add to customers' choices for travel around the globe with new or expanded service to 41 international destinations.
In Mexico, Delta will continue its expansion with new or expanded non-stop flights between Cozumel and Atlanta, Cozumel and Los Angeles, and Cozumel and Salt Lake City -- all effective March 5, 2006; and will expand service between Atlanta and Mexico City, and Atlanta and Cancun, beginning Dec. 1. With this expansion, Delta will offer customers 20 daily flights to seven destinations in Mexico. In addition, Delta has applied to the Department of Transportation for authority to operate service from Atlanta to Merida, from Orlando and Los Angeles to Cancun, and from New York-JFK to Cozumel, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta, and from Cincinnati to Cabo San Lucas.
Delta's ongoing international expansion adds to the dozens of new international routes introduced or announced since Jan. 1, 2005, including New York (JFK) to Chennai, India (via Paris); New York (JFK) to Berlin, Germany; Atlanta to Moscow; New York (JFK) and Atlanta to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Atlanta to Barbados; Salt Lake City to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Atlanta to Dusseldorf, Germany.
This growth supports Delta's overall network strategy to expand international service in response to increased customer demand and maintains Delta's position as the No.1 U.S. carrier across the Atlantic and as a leading carrier to Latin America and the Caribbean.
Delta Air Lines is the world's second-largest airline in terms of passengers carried and the leading U.S. carrier across the Atlantic, offering daily flights to 502 destinations in 88 countries on Delta, Song, Delta Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers and its worldwide partners. Delta's marketing alliances allow customers to earn and redeem frequent flier miles on more than 14,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
A portion of travel for some itineraries may be on the Delta Connection carriers: Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Chautauqua, Comair, Freedom Airlines, Shuttle America, and SkyWest; codeshare partners Alaska Airlines, American Eagle, Continental Airlines, and Northwest Airlines, Song, Delta's low-fare service; SkyTeam partner: Aeromexico; or other Delta codeshare partner Aerolitoral.
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