ATLANTA, June 12, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delta Air Lines has received U.S. Department of Transportation approval to offer customers nonstop flights between its largest hub in Atlanta and the picturesque Mexican destination of Leon/Guanajuato effective Dec. 1. The new daily flight, which will be operated by Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines using 70-seat jets(a), and is still subject to foreign government approval, will supplement existing service from Atlanta to 10 other cities in Mexico, including new nonstop Delta service launched in the last year to Acapulco, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Merida and Puerto Vallarta.
"During 2006 Delta has become the fastest growing U.S. airline to Mexico, and we are pleased to offer our customers service to Leon/Guanajuato as the latest addition in our growing international route system," said Bob Cortelyou, vice president -- Network Planning. "Delta is the only airline to operate non-stop service between Atlanta and Mexico with an extensive schedule of flights that continues to advance the interests of business and tourism between the Southeastern United States and Mexico."
Delta is the market leader to Mexico from the Southeastern United States with 118 weekly flights to 11 destinations planned from the Atlanta hub this December. Year over year, this growth represents an 83 percent increase in the number of destinations served from Atlanta.
Customers traveling to the Bajio region of Mexico will discover historic colonial cities such as San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato that feature Spanish baroque architecture and art from as early as the 16th century, as well as convenient access to the business center of Leon.
Service to Leon/Guanajuato is scheduled as follows:
Delta's schedule between Atlanta and Leon/Guanajuato, Mexico, effective Dec. 1, 2006(a):
Flight Departs Arrives Carrier Aircraft
4097 Atlanta at 5:15 p.m. Leon/Guanajuato ASA CRJ700
at 8 p.m.
4096(b) Leon/Guanajuato Atlanta at ASA CRJ700
at 8:20 a.m. 12:40 p.m.
(b) Flight begins Dec. 2, 2006
Delta's planned expansion into Mexico is the latest in a series of more than 40 new routes added or announced to Latin American and the Caribbean in the last year as part of the largest international expansion in Delta's history. In recent months, Delta has begun service to new nonstop destinations including Acapulco, Merida, and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Mexico, and San Pedro Sula and Roatan, Honduras from Atlanta; Los Cabos, Mexico from Cincinnati; Mazatlan, Mexico from Salt Lake City; Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco, Mexico from New York JFK; and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo from Los Angeles.
Delta Air Lines (Other OTC:DALRQ) is one of the world's fastest growing international carriers with more than 50 new international routes added in the last year. Delta offers flights to 460 destinations in 97 countries on Delta, Delta Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers and its worldwide partners. As the world's leading carrier between the United States and Europe, Delta offers customers more weekly flights between the United States and destinations across Europe, India and Israel than any other global airline, including service on 11 new transatlantic routes launched since March. Delta also is a major carrier to Mexico, South and Central America and the Caribbean, with nearly 40 new routes announced in the last year. 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 and Shuttle America or codeshare partner AeroMexico.
The Delta logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1825
(a) Service between Atlanta and Leon subject to foreign government approval.