NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2006 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Delta Air Lines - New York City's leading international airline - is rounding out a successful year of international expansion from its New York-JFK hub with the introduction of the city's only nonstop flights to Africa to be operated by a major U.S. carrier. With tonight's addition of nonstop flights to Accra, Ghana, Delta will serve 34 international destinations from JFK, including 14 new international routes added in 2006.
"Delta continues to demonstrate to our customers why we are New York's preferred airline with the addition of more unique international destinations and services from our growing JFK hub," said Glen Hauenstein, executive vice president - Network Planning and Revenue Management. "With 14 new international routes added this year alone, Delta now serves more international destinations from New York than at any time in our history, including nine trans-Atlantic destinations not served on a nonstop basis by any other major U.S. airline."
In addition to this year's growth, Delta also has announced plans to add nonstop flights between New York-JFK and Pisa/Tuscany, Italy*; Bucharest, Romania*; and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, by next summer, bringing to 37 the number of nonstop international destinations from the Big Apple.
Delta's new flights between New York and Ghana will operate four-times weekly and will be operated with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft configured to carry 214 passengers with 35 seats in BusinessElite, Delta's award-winning business class. Customers choosing to fly BusinessElite will enjoy Delta's enhanced service introduced this summer, including more comfortable seats with all-leather coverings, improved leg rests, more durable and comfortable cushioning throughout the seat, and the same 60 inches of legroom that has made BusinessElite a customer favorite. Additionally, BusinessElite customers will enjoy new innovative food offerings designed by celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein, award-winning, original wine selections, and by summer 2007 personal, on-demand in-seat entertainment boasting more than 20 first-run and popular class movies, a variety of TV programs, a broad range of music, and a suite of 12 video games.
Delta's new flights between New York-JFK and Accra are scheduled as follows:
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Flight Departs Arrives Effective Frequency
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DL166 New York-JFK Accra at 8:15 a.m. Dec. 11, Monday,
at 5:15 p.m. 2006 Wednesday,
Thursday,
Saturday
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DL167 Accra at New York-JFK Dec. 12, Tuesday,
9:45 a.m. at 4:15 p.m. 2006 Thursday,
Friday,
Sunday
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As JFK's leading airline, Delta operates nonstop service to more U.S. and international destinations than any other carrier. In total, Delta offer customers 173 peak day flights to 74 worldwide destinations.
To support the continued growth of the JFK hub, Delta is investing more than $20 million in renovations to its Terminal 2 and 3 facilities at JFK. Recently completed refurbishments include the addition of a new, dedicated BusinessElite check-in area in Terminal 2, refreshing facilities in Delta's BusinessElite lounge and Crown Room Clubs, and adding new international check-in kiosks throughout the facility.
Delta Air Lines (Other OTC:DALRQ) offers customers service to more destinations than any global airline with Delta and Delta Connection carrier service to 303 destinations in 52 countries. With more than 50 new international routes added in the last year, Delta is America's fastest growing international airline and is a leader across the Atlantic with flights to 31 trans-Atlantic destinations. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers more than 400 weekly flights to 56 destinations. 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. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 459 worldwide destinations in 97 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
*Service subject to foreign government approval
The Delta logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1825