ATLANTA, Feb. 16, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Continuing the largest expansion to the Caribbean in its history, Delta Air Lines will expand to three the number of non-stop destinations served on one of the Caribbean's most enchanting islands with the addition of service to Aguadilla and Ponce, Puerto Rico, effective June 1. Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines will operate the new service between Atlanta and Aguadilla four times weekly and between Atlanta and Ponce twice weekly, supplementing Delta's extensive schedule of flights offered daily between San Juan and Atlanta, New York-JFK and Orlando.
"Delta is pleased to expand our customers' options for travel to one of the most preferred island destinations in the Caribbean with the addition of non-stop service between Atlanta and Aguadilla and Ponce," said Bob Cortelyou, Delta's vice president of Network Planning. "Puerto Rico has long been one of our customers' favorite destinations and we are certain that customers will find the welcome as warm and the attractions as enchanting on the island's northwest and southern coasts as they have in San Juan for more than 50 years."
Said Puerto Rico Tourism Company Executive Director Terestella Gonzalez Denton: "The Puerto Rico Tourism Company is delighted with Delta Air Lines' continued commitment to Puerto Rico as a key destination in the Caribbean. New service into Ponce in Puerta Caribe and Aguadilla in Puerta del Sol is in line with our goals to increase air access throughout our island, giving visitors more options to reach the various regions of Puerto Rico. As we encourage travelers to 'Explore Beyond the Shore' in Puerto Rico and continue with our regional branding efforts, it helps to have a partner like Delta to make discovery of new areas convenient."
Located in Puerto Rico's Puerta del Sol region, Aguadilla offers travelers exciting aquatic adventures where world-class surfers head to the sunny beaches to ride some of the best waves in the Caribbean. In the summer, calmer seas provide the perfect environment for snorkeling and scuba diving, and other water activities such as windsurfing and kite surfing.
Ponce is Puerto Rico's second-largest city, boasting a historic district that evokes the feel of a Mediterranean village with red tile roofs and framed balconies. Visitors flock to the city to experience the diverse architectural styles of the 19th century and cruise the shopping areas, where a pedestrian mall hosts a lively street festival.
For a limited time, Delta is offering customers special introductory airfares to encourage a visit to these popular new destinations. Tickets must be purchased by March 8, 2006, and travel must be completed by August 1, 2006. Some blackout dates apply. See below for more details.
Sample one-way introductory airfares (based on a round-trip purchase) between Aguadilla and...
Atlanta $199
Nashville $199
Savannah $199
Los Angeles $269
Cleveland $269
San Francisco $299
Additional taxes/fees/restrictions apply. Fares shown are available
only for purchase on delta.com or from a travel agent. See below
for more details.
Sample one-way introductory airfares (based on a round-trip purchase) between Ponce and...
Fort Lauderdale $107
Tampa $119
Atlanta $139
Denver $139
Minneapolis/St. Paul $149
Las Vegas $169
Additional taxes/fees/restrictions apply. Fares shown are available
only for purchase on delta.com or from a travel agent. See below
for more details.
Delta customers traveling between Puerto Rico and the airline's largest hub in Atlanta will have access to one of the world's most extensive schedule of connecting flights, making it convenient to connect to Puerto Rico from most any corner of the globe. From Atlanta, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer customers non-stop service to 215 worldwide destinations aboard more than 850 daily flights. Delta's new schedules between Atlanta and Aguadilla and Atlanta and Ponce are as follows:
Delta's new non-stop service (a) between Atlanta and Aguadilla, effective June 1:
Flight Departs Arrives Operates
------ ------- ------- --------
4912 Atlanta at 11:05 a.m. Aguadilla at 2:36 p.m. Mon., Thurs.,
Sat., Sun.
4912 Aguadilla at 3:25 p.m. Atlanta at 7:02 p.m. Mon., Thurs.,
Sat., Sun.
(a) Operated by Delta Connection carrier ASA
Delta's new non-stop service(a) between Atlanta and Ponce, effective June 3:
Flight Departs Arrives Operates ------ ------- ------- -------- 4927 Atlanta at 11 a.m. Ponce at 2:38 p.m. Wed., Sat. 4927 Ponce at 3:25 p.m. Atlanta at 7:09 p.m. Wed., Sat. (a) Operated by Delta Connection carrier ASA
Delta's expanded non-stop service between Atlanta and Puerto Rico is the latest in a series of more than 35 new routes to Latin America and the Caribbean added or announced by Delta in the last year as part of the largest international expansion in the airline's history. Within the last 90 days, Delta has completed one of the largest expansions to Latin America and the Caribbean in its history, starting seven new routes since November 2005 alone. New non-stop destinations from the airline's largest hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport included Punta Cana and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Barbados; Managua, Nicaragua; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; and Antigua. Delta also launched non-stop service between Salt Lake City and Puerto Vallarta.
Upcoming new routes include non-stop service between Cincinnati and Los Cabos (Feb. 18); Atlanta and Merida, Mexico (Feb. 26); Atlanta and San Pedro Sula, Honduras (March 1)(b); Atlanta and Roatan, Honduras (March 4)(b); Salt Lake City and Mazatlan, Mexico (March 8)(b); New York-JFK and Puerto Vallarta (March 4); New York-JFK and Acapulco (March 11); Atlanta and Acapulco (April 5)(b); Atlanta and Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa (April 12)(b); Los Angeles and Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa (April 15)(b); and Atlanta and Kingston, Jamaica (June 1)(b).
(b) Routes subject to foreign government approvals.
With extensive ongoing growth to Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers currently offer customers an average of 57 daily flights to 38 destinations in 24 countries in the region. Delta continues to significantly expand its presence across the region, with more than 35 new routes announced, added or applied to serve during the last year. Delta's hub at Atlanta is the fastest growing gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean in the United States and during 2006 Delta will see the largest growth in its history into new markets in Mexico, with service on 17 new routes planned this year. In the first quarter of 2006, Delta and its codeshare partners will offer service between the United States and more than 170 markets in Latin America, the Caribbean and Bermuda. For low fares to many of these destinations and easy online information and booking, customers should go to 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(c), 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.
A portion of travel for some itineraries may be on the Delta Connection carriers: Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Chautauqua, Comair or Shuttle America; or Song, Delta's low-fare service.
(c) Based on July 2006 OAG.
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 21 days prior to departure, but no later than March 8, 2006. See delta.com for online ticket purchase requirements and restrictions. Travel Period: Travel may begin on or after June 1, 2006 and must be completed by August 1, 2006. Blackout Dates: Travel is not permitted June 30 or July 9, 2006. Fare Validity: Fares are valid only in the Economy (Coach) cabin on Delta/Delta Connection carriers and certain codeshare partner flights. Minimum Stay: 1 night. Maximum Stay: August 1, 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. Fees may apply for itinerary changes. Delta may allow you to cancel certain electronic 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 $3.30 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. International fares, including fares for travel to/from Aguadilla and Ponce PR/U.S. Virgin Islands, do not include U.S. International Air Transportation tax of up to $29.00 and U.S. and foreign user, inspection, security or other similarly based charges, fees or taxes of up to $250, depending on itinerary. 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)2006 Delta Air Lines, Inc.
The Delta logo is available at: http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1825.