Delta Customers to Benefit from International Expansion Plans into Mexico

Delta requests DOT authority to provide customers flights on eight new routes


ATLANTA, Oct. 4, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Customers flying on Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) will have access to more cities in Mexico as part of Delta's ongoing transformation plan, which includes increased international service. The airline has filed applications with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to operate nonstop service on eight new routes between the United States and Mexico. The routes, which are proposed to begin in February and March 2006, cover Mexico from the Yucatan Peninsula to the Mexican Riviera and include:



 Atlanta -- Acapulco
 Atlanta -- Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa
 Boston -- Cancun
 Cincinnati -- Cancun
  (to be operated by Delta Connection carrier Comair)
 Los Angeles -- Cabo San Lucas
 Los Angeles -- Puerto Vallarta
 Los Angeles -- Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa
 Washington (Dulles) -- Cancun

Combined with other pending route applications and recently announced service, Delta plans to increase service to Mexico by 124 percent by April 2006, as compared to April 2005. This growth would solidly position Delta as the third-largest U.S. carrier to Mexico in terms of available seats.

"Delta continues to respond to customers' demand for new or expanded service to some of the fastest growing regions of Mexico. If approved, we will offer customers the first non-stop service between our largest hub in Atlanta and Acapulco, and we will welcome another new locale -- Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa -- to the ever-expanding roster of Delta destinations in Mexico," said James Sarvis, Delta's director-Latin American and Caribbean Region. "Mexico is an important part of our strategy to grow international choices for our customers and will be an increasingly integral part of Delta's North American route network."

Recently announced or proposed new Delta service between the U.S. & Mexico



 U.S. hub/gateway    Mexican destination        Effective
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 Atlanta             Acapulco                   Pending DOT approval
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Cancun (two additional     Dec. 1, 2005
                      daily flights)  
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Cozumel (expanded to       March 6, 2006
                      daily)
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Mazatlan (operated         March 8, 2006
                      by Delta Connection 
                      carrier Shuttle 
                      America) 
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Merida                     Pending DOT approval
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Mexico City (one           Dec. 1, 2005
                      additional daily 
                      flight)                  
                     ------------------------------------------------                     
                     Puerto Vallarta            Dec. 15, 2005
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa         Pending DOT approval
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 Boston              Cancun                     Pending DOT approval
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 Cincinnati          Cabo San Lucas             Pending DOT approval
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Cancun (to be operated     Pending DOT approval 
                      by Delta Connection 
                      carrier Comair)
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 Los Angeles         Cabo San Lucas             Pending DOT approval
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Cancun                     Pending DOT approval
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Cozumel                    March 11, 2006
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Puerto Vallarta            Pending DOT approval
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa         Pending DOT approval
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 New York-JFK        Cabo San Lucas             Pending DOT approval
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Cancun                     Pending DOT approval
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Cozumel                    Pending DOT approval
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Acapulco                   Pending DOT approval
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Puerto Vallarta            Pending DOT approval
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 Orlando             Cancun                     Pending DOT approval
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 Salt Lake City      Puerto Vallarta            Nov. 1, 2006
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Mazatlan (operated         March 8, 2006
                      by Delta Connection  
                      carrier Shuttle 
                      America)
                     ------------------------------------------------
                     Cozumel                    March 10, 2006
 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 Washington          Cancun                     Pending DOT approval
  (Dulles)    
 --------------------------------------------------------------------

With this newest service, Delta plans to offer customers 41 flights to 11 destinations in Mexico once all DOT approvals are obtained.

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.

The Delta logo is available at: http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1825



            

Contact Data