Delta to be only U.S. airline to operate scheduled service
between the United States and Africa
ATLANTA, Feb. 9, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delta Air Lines -- the United States' fastest growing international carrier -- today announced that it is seeking the necessary government approvals to become the only U.S. airline to operate scheduled service between the United States and Africa. In a filing with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Delta is requesting government approvals to begin the first ever Delta-operated service between the world's largest airline hub in Atlanta and the burgeoning South African city of Johannesburg, with an intermediate stop in Dakar, Senegal, effective in December 2006.
In a press conference held today at The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum in Atlanta, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young joined other Georgia business and civic leaders to applaud Delta's efforts to connect Atlanta -- the seventh-largest home to South African-born residents of the United States -- the business capital of South Africa.
"I am proud that Delta has decided to initiate service to South Africa and become the only U.S. carrier to serve the continent," Young said. "Delta's service between Atlanta and South Africa promises to be one of the most successful routes on the planet due to the reach and convenience of Delta's Atlanta hub. I look forward to flying Atlanta's hometown airline non-stop to Africa."
Added Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, "For many years, Delta Air Lines has been a faithful supporter of the city's efforts to raise its stature as a best in class, global city. Through the strategic partnerships and direct flight routes to international destinations in Asia, Europe, North, South and Central America originating from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Delta has helped foster the city's international, economic and cultural ties and has expanded Atlanta's access to the world."
With the new service, Delta will enter a new continent for the first time since its historic expansion into South America in 1997 and will grow to offer customers more than 60 international destinations from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport by December - up more than 50 from the number of destinations offered just 10 years ago. Delta customers traveling to or from Africa via Atlanta will have convenient connecting opportunities to more than 140 North American cities.
"Delta's new service to Africa will mark many firsts for our hometown of Atlanta and for our customers, including the first non-stop service between Atlanta and Senegal on the West African coast, and the first Delta-operated service from Atlanta to Johannesburg," said Jim Whitehurst, Delta's chief operating officer. "We encourage our customers to make their support for Delta's first service to Africa known to help ensure a speedy approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation for this historic new route." Delta's proposed service between Atlanta and Johannesburg via Dakar will be available for sale to customers as soon as Delta receives required approvals from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Delta plans to offer daily service to Africa with the Boeing 777 aircraft featuring 50 Business Class and 218 Economy Class seats. Customers flying to or from Africa in Delta's award-winning BusinessElite cabin would enjoy access to the airline's personalized dining service, which allows them to enjoy award-winning wines and cuisine at anytime during the flight when it's most convenient for them. Additionally, beginning later this year, Delta will provide customers with a more comfortable and entertaining international BusinessElite experience offering all-leather seats and state-of-the-art digital technology.
"As evidenced by our recent growth in most every corner of the globe, Delta is making decisive moves to establish itself not only as the U.S. airline of choice but as a global leader," Whitehurst said. "We intend to offer customers service to more worldwide destinations than any other airline and to distinguish our service with a mix of style and hospitality that is being defined by our enhanced product and network offerings. We look forward to introducing our customers to a series of product enhancements this year such refreshed BusinessElite seats, refurbished Economy class cabins, a new domestic long-haul product featuring live TV, and more stylish uniforms that will redefine Delta to our customers around the globe."
Delta's proposed service to Africa is the latest in series of more than 50 new international routes added or announced by Delta in the last year as part of the largest international expansion in the airline's history. During 2006 Delta will offer more flights between the United States and destinations across Europe, India and Israel than any other airline; will continue to be one of the fastest growing carrier to destinations across Latin America and the Caribbean, with more than 35 destinations added or announced since 2005; and will be the only U.S. carrier to offer customers service to nine unique destinations across the Atlantic: Kiev, Ukraine; Moscow, Russia; Istanbul, Turkey; Budapest, Hungary; Athens, Greece; Nice, France; Stuttgart, Germany; Mumbai, India (via Paris); and Chennai, India (via Paris), in addition to proposed service to Dakar, Senegal and Johannesburg, South Africa.
Separately, Delta also announced today that it has received U.S. Department of Transportation approval to add non-stop flights between Atlanta and a seventh country in South America with new daily service between Atlanta and Quito, Ecuador, with continuing service to Quayaquil. The new service, subject to Ecuadorian government approval, will begin on June 8 and will expand to 14 the number of capital cities served by Delta throughout South and Central America.
For more information about Delta's new international routes or to book tickets, visit delta.com.
Delta Air Lines (Other OTC:DALRQ) is one of the world's fastest growing international carriers with more than 50 new international routes added or announced in the last year. Delta offers daily flights to 503 destinations in 94 countries on Delta, Song, Delta Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers and its worldwide partners. In summer 2006, Delta plans to offer customers more destinations and departures between the U.S., Europe, India and Israel than any global airline, including service on 11 new transatlantic routes from its Atlanta and New York-JFK hubs. Delta also is a major carrier to Mexico, South and Central America and the Caribbean, with more than 35 routes announced, added or applied to serve since Jan. 1, 2005. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles 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.
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