BusinessElite customers become wine connoisseurs, food aficionados
and trivia champions -- all at 35,000 feet
Enhanced international business-class product
supports largest international expansion in Delta's history
ATLANTA, June 14, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Who says business travel has to be all business? For Delta Air Lines' international BusinessElite(r) customers, it's work and play at 35,000 feet. Customers can sit back and relax in newly-enhanced, all-leather sleeper seats, sip one of Delta's award-winning wines, sample the airline's new signature Mile High Mojito by Stirrings, and savor the flavors of Chef Michelle Bernstein's creative dishes -- all while watching first-run films such as Academy Award(r)-winner King Kong on personal in-seat video monitors, boasting state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment.
As part of an aggressive plan to reinvent and reinvigorate Delta's international onboard offerings, the airline is now launching a refurbished business class experience on its fleet of 75 internationally-configured aircraft that is scheduled to be completed by summer 2007. The first four reconfigured Boeing 767-300ER aircraft are currently flying international routes -- including 11 new routes across the Atlantic launched since March -- with four more 767-300ER aircraft scheduled for completion by the end of June. Delta's remaining 67 internationally-configured Boeing 767-300ER, 767-400ER and 777-200ER aircraft will be refitted by next summer.
"We are completely redesigning the international travel experience for our customers -- from more comfortable, all-leather seats and cleaner, brighter cabins to unique BusinessElite offerings including our original, award-winning wine collection, exclusive world-class dining by Chef Michelle Bernstein and industry-leading in-flight entertainment with movies, music and more," said Joanne Smith, Vice President of Marketing for Delta. "Enhanced BusinessElite is one of the many ways we are providing our premium international business class customers with greater value and choice. As we celebrate the largest international expansion in our history, timing could not be better to give our product and our customers an upgrade."
As part of this upgrade, Delta is improving its popular sleeper seat, touting 60 inches of legroom and a wide-angle recline, with higher-rising leg rests and additional cushioning that includes memory foam under the knees for extra support, stylish new leather coverings, better headrests and tray tables, and in-seat laptop power outlets.
Industry-leading, world-class entertainment
Delta also offers customers flying the BusinessElite class the airline's state-of-the-art digital entertainment system, available on demand, which boasts more than 20 first-run and popular classic movies, a variety of TV programs, a broad range of music, and a suite of 12 video games.
For the month of June, customers can peruse Delta's vast collection of movies available, including:
-- Failure to Launch -- Firewall
-- Brokeback Mountain -- The Fugitive
-- Match Point -- Holliday
-- The Pink Panther -- Apollo 13
-- JuneBug -- Big Momma's House 2
-- Tsotsi -- Stuart Little 3
In addition, on-demand TV selections featured include:
-- The Office -- Boston Legal
-- Numb3rs -- CSI
-- Business of Sport -- James Blunt: Live In Concert
-- Two and a Half Men -- ABC News 20/20
-- Ocean Zoo -- Extreme Close Up:
Sarah Jessica Parker
With MP3 programming, customers can create their own music playlists from a selection of more than 1,600 songs, featuring a wide range of artists and genres catered to every taste including:
-- Cecilia Bartoli -- The Rolling Stones -- Mozart
-- Amadou and Mariam -- The Smiths -- Ray Charles
-- Madonna -- U2 -- Dr. John
-- Depeche Mode -- Van Morrison -- Def Leppard
-- Prince -- Baby Einstein -- Dr. Seuss
-- Sada Sat Kaur -- Bebel Gilberto -- Paul McCartney
-- Bob Dylan -- The Flaming Lips -- Marvin Gaye
-- Elvis Presley -- Rihanna -- Ella Fitzgerald and
Louis Armstrong
A suite of video games also serves to captivate with 12 options, including Bejeweled, Chess, Poker, Dynomite, Galaktor, Big Money, an interactive trivia game that allows for a little friendly play among BusinessElite passengers and many more.
A more stylish, refreshing and palate-pleasing travel experience
BusinessElite offers a personalized five-course dining experience catered to each customer's preference and palate, as well as an original, award-winning wine program. Earlier this month, Delta introduced a new personal dining experience on select international flights created exclusively for BusinessElite customers by celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein -- one of America's most prominent female chefs, frequently featured on The Food Network. She will serve as Delta's consulting chef, creating sumptuous appetizers, entrees and side dishes in keeping with her culinary vision and extensive experience as a chef. Bernstein's signature menu is set to debut on all BusinessElite flights in August.
Additionally, BusinessElite customers enjoy refreshing, nature-inspired products in personal amenity kits and in BusinessElite lavatories, complements of LATHER, a personal care company known for creating all-natural body, skincare and aromatherapy products.
This week, Delta and Manhattan's legendary upscale Fifth Avenue retailer, Henri Bendel, kicked off "Delta Jet-Set Summer," a two-week consumer event taking place June 13-26 at Bendels in New York City. The stylish, sophisticated partnership features in-store activities and events designed to celebrate Delta's revitalized BusinessElite onboard amenities and services and the airline's international expansion.
Enhancements add to international experience
Delta's BusinessElite refresh is part of the airline's more comprehensive focus on improving the international travel experience for customers, including offering access to more destinations than ever before. BusinessElite customers receive priority check-in and complimentary access to all Crown Room Clubs and BusinessElite lounges on the day of travel. As part of the BusinessElite refurbishment, Delta has expanded its BusinessElite lounge at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and has upgraded hot food items available in lounges at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
In addition, all international customers can check in using new self-service kiosk technology with passport scanning capability at Delta's Atlanta, Cincinnati and New York-JFK international gateways. Delta is also updating international economy class with all-leather seating and improved lighting to create a more comfortable and consistent travel experience.
BusinessElite is available on most of Delta's intercontinental routes, including flights between the U.S. and Europe, Israel, Japan, India, Chile, Brazil and Argentina. With Delta's significant growth plan in 2006, this summer, the airline will offer the most flights across Europe, India and Israel from the U.S. and is the fastest growing airline in Latin America.
About Delta
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 trans-Atlantic 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.
The Delta logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1825
BusinessElite(r) In-Flight Entertainment Fact Sheet
About BusinessElite In-Flight Entertainment
-- Delta's enhanced BusinessElite seat offers customers a new,
state-of-the-art on-demand digital in-flight entertainment (IFE)
system provided by Panasonic.
-- Now customers flying in Delta's international business class will
enjoy the industry-leading on-demand entertainment formerly featured
on Delta's low-cost service, Song.
-- The system features personal video monitors at each passenger's seat
and boasts a wide variety of offerings including:
-- first-run and popular classic movies,
-- music,
-- TV programming and video games -- all available on demand.
-- Additionally new, in-seat power laptop outlets (110 Volt) allow
BusinessElite customers to conveniently plug in their laptops --
without the need for an adaptor.
-- Beginning fall 2006, nearly 50 Delta Boeing 757 aircraft flying
domestic U.S. long-haul routes will feature the Panasonic system,
including Live TV programming.
-- Live TV currently is not available on international flights.
Entertainment and Communications Details
-- Panasonic's state-of-the-art, eFX digital IFE system features
"on-demand" functionality that allows BusinessElite customers to
conveniently start and stop their TV, movie, audio and video game
offerings -- with the push of a button.
In-Seat Audio and Audio On Demand
-- Hundreds of hours of digital MP3 audio on demand (currently have
1,683 individual song tracks)
-- Create your own personal playlist from library of audio content
-- Boarding / Deplaning music
In-Seat Audio/Video On Demand (AVOD) and Interactive Services
-- Full on-demand video (widescreen monitors)
-- 22 movies currently available
-- 18 short features currently available
-- Delta customized content and interactive Graphic User Interface (GUI)
-- Moving Map application at each seat
-- Single/multi-player games (10 -12 interactive games)
Additional Functionality
-- Standard 110VAC PED power available at each BusinessElite seat
(plus first 10 rows of economy on Boeing 777 aircraft)