BATON ROUGE, La., Oct. 17, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delta Air Lines will give another economic boost to communities both rebuilding and growing in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by expanding flights between the heart of the Gulf Coast and two of the nation's largest business and government centers. Beginning Dec. 1, Delta Connection carrier Comair will add new daily flights between Louisiana's capital of Baton Rouge and New York's LaGuardia Airport and between Reagan Washington National Airport and New Orleans. Additionally, Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines will begin new service between Baton Rouge and Washington-Reagan.
Delta also is responding to increased demand in the Baton Rouge market by maintaining service with larger MD-88 aircraft and by beginning previously announced daily non-stop flights between Orlando and Baton Rouge, effective Nov. 1. Additionally on Nov. 1, Delta will resume daily non-stop service between Orlando, Fla., and New Orleans, with all Orlando service being offered by Delta Connection carrier Freedom Airlines.
"New Orleans and Baton Rouge both were significantly impacted by the two recent hurricanes but in vastly different ways," said Bob Cortelyou, vice president-Network Planning. "New Orleans is slowly rebuilding after the destruction it has endured, and Baton Rouge is experiencing sudden growth from an influx of new residents and businesses. Delta is supporting both of these communities, whose citizens we have served for more than 60 years, as they re-emerge economically in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita."
To make it easier for customers to travel on these new routes, for a limited time Delta is offering special low introductory fares of $99 each way, based on a roundtrip purchase, in these new markets. Additional taxes/fees/restrictions apply. Fares are available for purchase only on delta.com or from a travel agent and must be purchased by Nov. 1, 2005. See below for more details.
Delta's new daily service between Baton Rouge and New York-LaGuardia effective Dec. 1(a):
Flight Departs Arrives 4953 New York-LaGuardia at 3:40 p.m. Baton Rouge at 6 p.m. 4953 Baton Rouge at 6:30 p.m. New York-LaGuardia at 10:25 p.m. (a)Operated by Delta Connection carrier Comair
Delta's new daily service between Baton Rouge and Reagan Washington National effective Dec. 1(b):
Flight Departs Arrives 4449 Baton Rouge at 8:35 a.m. Washington, D.C. at 12 noon 4449 Washington, D.C. at 1 p.m. Baton Rouge at 2:50 p.m. (b)Operated by Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines
Delta's new daily service between New Orleans and Reagan Washington National effective Dec. 1(c):
Flight Departs Arrives 5453 Washington, D.C. at 7 a.m. New Orleans at 8:40 a.m. 5457 New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. Washington, D.C. at 10:05 p.m. (c)Operated by Delta Connection carrier Comair
Delta maintains a proud history in the Gulf Coast region and continues to play a key role in supporting economic rebuilding across the region. Delta traces its roots to Louisiana in 1929 with the beginning of passenger service at Monroe, La., and has served Baton Rouge and New Orleans since 1943. Today, Delta offers customers 32 daily flights to six Louisiana cities: Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport.
After the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, Delta was in the forefront of airlines providing relief flights for the residents of New Orleans and the surrounding communities. Delta was among the first to restore service to the cities all along the Gulf Coast affected by the storm; Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles(r) members donated more than 93 million miles to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army through the airline's SkyWish(tm) program; and Delta partnered with relief agencies to operate flights into and out of the region to remove evacuees from the wake of both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
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 506 destinations in 91 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.
All travel will be on the Delta Connection carriers: Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) and Comair.
Restrictions: Fares shown are available for purchase only on delta.com or from your travel agent. Tickets cost $10 more if purchased from Delta over the telephone or $15 more if purchased at an airport or city ticket office, and these amounts are nonrefundable. Travel agents may impose an additional service charge for ticketing. Tickets are non-transferable. Seats are limited and fares may not be available on all flights or in all markets. Tickets: Fares shown are one-way. Round-trip purchase is required. Tickets must be purchased at least 14 days prior to departure, but no later than November 1, 2005. See delta.com for online ticket purchase requirements and restrictions. Travel Period: Travel may begin on/after Dec. 1, 2005 and must be completed by Feb. 14, 2006. Blackout Dates: Travel is not permitted on Dec. 21-24, or Dec. 29-31, 2005 or Jan. 1, 2, 13, or 16, 2006. Fare Validity: Fares are valid in the Economy (Coach) cabin only on nonstop ASA or Comair flights. Minimum Stay: For departures from point of origin Sunday through Thursday, a three-night minimum stay is required. For departure from point of origin Friday or Saturday, a Saturday night stay is required. Maximum Stay: Feb. 14, 2006. Cancellations/Refunds/Changes: Fares are nonrefundable. Delta may permit you to apply a portion of the fare value to future travel upon payment of applicable fees and fare difference, otherwise the ticket will have no value. Delta may allow you to cancel certain tickets until midnight of the day after purchase (or midnight of the departure date of the first flight, whichever comes first) without penalty if purchased at the time of reservation directly from Delta. Contact a Delta agent or visit delta.com for details. Taxes/Fees: Fares do not include a $3.20 Federal Excise Tax which will be imposed on each flight segment in the passenger's ticketed itinerary. A flight segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. Fares do not include Passenger Facility Charge(s) of up to $18.00, depending on itinerary or September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 per round-trip. These taxes and fees are the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time the ticket is purchased. Miscellaneous: Fares and rules are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. (c) 2005 Delta Air Lines, Inc.
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