NEW YORK, April 18, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Delta Air Lines -- America's fastest growing international airline -- will offer customers a second daily nonstop flight between the United States and Israel with service between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Tel Aviv, effective March 10, 2008*. The new flight builds on Delta's successful launch of nonstop flights between Atlanta and Tel Aviv in 2006 and will position Delta as the only U.S. airline to offer customers nonstop service from two U.S. gateways to Israel.
"Delta has been extremely successful in the Israel market since the launch of our nonstop service from Atlanta last spring and we are pleased to further connect Israel to our growing global network with new connections from New York-JFK," said Frank Jahangir, Delta's staff vice president -- Sales and Affairs for Europe, Middle East and Africa. "Tel Aviv is the sixth largest market across the Atlantic and it is a natural fit for our customers to have access to this growing and dynamic market from our two largest trans-Atlantic gateways. Over the past year, our Atlanta service has gone from strength to strength, with average load factors of around 80 percent and more than 150,000 passengers flying this route, reflecting strong customer demand."
Delta also expects to accommodate a large volume of local traffic on the New York-Tel Aviv route given the strong commercial and community ties between New York and Israel. The new service will offer many additional travel options for business and leisure passengers. Through JFK, customers will benefit from convenient connections from more than 40 business and leisure destinations throughout the United States including key business destinations such as Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington D.C. and leisure destinations such as Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Las Vegas and Seattle.
The new daily nonstop service between JFK and Tel Aviv will be operated with international widebody aircraft featuring Delta's refurbished business and economy class products. The Boeing 767-300ER aircraft will fly from New York, complementing Delta's existing Boeing 777-200ER daily service from Atlanta. On both routes, customers can enjoy Delta's award-winning BusinessElite service featuring all-leather sleeper seats with 60 inches of legroom, innovative food offerings designed by celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein -- including award-winning, original wine selections, and industry-leading, on-demand personal in-seat entertainment boasting 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. Economy class customers also will notice recent improvements on Delta, including new all-leather economy seats, enhanced food offerings and a complimentary cocktail with each meal.
Additionally, on all flights between the United States and Israel, Delta customers will enjoy full kosher menu options and the service of Hebrew-speaking flight attendants.
Flights are available for sale to customers beginning today at delta.com and other ticketing channels and are scheduled as follows:
Delta's new daily nonstop service between JFK and Tel Aviv:
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Flight Departs Arrives Effective
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86 New York-JFK Tel Aviv March 10,
at 9:10 p.m. at 1:55 p.m. 2008
(next day)
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87 Tel Aviv New York-JFK March 12,
at 12:20 a.m. at 7 a.m. 2008
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Delta's new nonstop service between JFK and Tel Aviv is the latest in a series of new routes that have boosted Delta to operate the most departures to the most destinations from New York-JFK. Recent expansion has included new nonstop service from New York-JFK to London-Gatwick; Accra, Ghana; and Mumbai, India, in addition to a significant expansion of service from JFK to key markets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Delta also has announced plans to add nonstop flights between New York-JFK and Portland, Oregon (effective April 19); Pisa/Tuscany, Italy (effective May 31); Bucharest, Romania (effective June 5); and Denver, Colo. (effective July 1).
To support the continued growth of the JFK hub, Delta has invested more than $40 million in renovations to its Terminal 2 and 3 facilities at JFK. Recently completed refurbishments to 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 307 destinations in 52 countries. With more than 60 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 600 weekly flights to 58 destinations. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on nearly 15,000 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 456 worldwide destinations in 100 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
The Delta Air Lines, Inc. logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1825
*Subject to foreign government approval
A portion of travel for some itineraries may be operated by Delta Connection carriers Comair and Shuttle America.