ATLANTA, May 21, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) tonight will become the only U.S. airline to operate service nonstop to the heart of Austria with new flights between the world's largest airline hub in Atlanta and Austria's capital of Vienna. The flight is the second of 14 new international routes to be launched by Delta this summer as part of the airline's ongoing international expansion.
"Delta customers continue to respond enthusiastically to our international growth and we look forward to welcoming more customers than ever before aboard international flights this summer," said Glen Hauenstein, Delta's executive vice president - Network Planning and Revenue Management.
With the new service, Delta strengthens its position as the leading U.S. carrier to Central and Eastern Europe, building on existing routes to Budapest, Kiev, Moscow, and Prague, and new service to Bucharest (effective June 5).
Delta will operate the new service using Boeing 767-300ER aircraft seating up to 214 passengers and featuring Delta's refurbished business and economy class service. 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 benefit from new all-leather economy seats, amenity kits, enhanced food offerings and a complimentary cocktail with each meal.
Delta's new nonstop service between Atlanta and Vienna is scheduled as follows:
Flight Departs Arrives Effective Frequency
-------- --------- ---------- ------------- -----------
Vienna at
40 Atlanta at 10:05 a.m. Five times
6:20 p.m. (next day) May 21, 2007 weekly
-------- ---------- ---------- ------------- -----------
41 Vienna at Atlanta at Five times
12:10 p.m. 5:20 p.m. May 22, 2007 weekly
-------- ----------- ---------- ------------- -----------
The new route also offers multiple opportunities for freight forwarders and cargo shippers who can more quickly connect goods between Vienna and destinations around the world via Delta's burgeoning Atlanta hub. The strength of Austria's export industry as well as the country's geographic position makes Vienna a natural cargo hub for freight shipments from points across Central and Eastern Europe.
"Delta continues to lead the way for our customers into new and emerging destinations where no other major U.S. carrier offers nonstop flights," Hauenstein continued. "From Moscow to Mumbai to Johannesburg and now to Vienna, Delta customers continue to benefit from the convenience and renowned service of nonstop Delta flights between our largest U.S. gateways and most every region of the globe."
Other new international routes scheduled to begin this summer include Atlanta to Dubai (effective May 31); New York-JFK to Pisa (effective May 31); Atlanta to Seoul (effective June 4); New York-JFK to Bucharest (effective June 5); New York-JFK to Montego Bay* (effective June 9); and Los Angeles to Belize City (effective June 10).
Delta Air Lines offers customers service to more destinations than any global airline with Delta and Delta Connection carrier service to 311 destinations in 52 countries. With more than 60 new international routes added in the last year, Delta is adding international flights at a faster rate than any other major U.S. airline and is a leader across the Atlantic with flights to 32 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 462 worldwide destinations in 98 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
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*Subject to foreign government approval