Summer 2008 schedule offers convenient connections to Europe, Africa
and Middle East for 80 percent of U.S. flyers, including multiple
routes not served by any other major U.S. airline
Expansion enabled by redesigned JFK schedule that aims to reduce
congestion, rush hour delays
NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) -- the largest global carrier at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport -- is introducing a redesigned schedule for summer 2008 that accommodates growing customer demand at JFK while taking steps to reduce airport congestion and delays.
Delta plans to offer increased choice on 14 new international routes* -- including nine destinations not served by any other U.S. major airline from JFK -- and will offer customers improved on-time reliability by reducing the number of Delta flights operating during peak hours.
The efficiencies of the new schedule will allow Delta to offer customers a total of 204 daily departures to 93 destinations from New York-JFK by June 2008, including:
-- Nine new trans-Atlantic routes with nonstop service between JFK and:
Tel Aviv, Israel (effective March 10)*; Edinburgh, Scotland
(effective May 1); Dakar, Senegal (effective June 2)*; Nairobi,
Kenya (via Dakar) (effective June 2)*; Cairo, Egypt (effective June 4)
*; Malaga, Spain (effective June 4)*; Amman, Jordan (effective June 5)
*; and Lagos, Nigeria (effective June 9)*; and, subject to DOT
approval, Cape Town, South Africa (via Dakar) (effective June 3)*.
In conjunction with today's announcement, Delta is applying to the
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for authority to add the
only direct service operated by a U.S. carrier to Cape Town.
-- Five new Latin America routes with nonstop service between JFK and
Panama City, Panama (effective Dec. 13); Guatemala City, Guatemala
(effective Dec. 14); Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (effective
Dec. 20)*; San Jose, Costa Rica (effective Feb. 15)*; and Liberia,
Costa Rica (effective Feb. 16)*.
With the summer 2008 schedule, more than 80 percent of all U.S. airline customers will have access to Delta's extensive network of destinations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East via JFK.
"In 2008, we will further demonstrate our commitment to diversifying the choices we offer our customers by redeploying domestic assets to international markets where demand is outpacing growth," said Delta CEO Richard Anderson. "Our expansion in New York will build on the value Delta customers already enjoy with daily nonstop service to five continents from JFK, but will also meet this growing demand with a strategic plan to help alleviate chronic delays and congestion before another peak-summer travel season.
"As New York City's most international carrier, we are proud to take a leadership position in redesigning our JFK schedule to allow for significant growth of international routes while helping to reduce congestion at peak times by more evenly scheduling Delta flights throughout the day," Anderson continued.
Reducing congestion and delays
As part of its plan to address congestion and delays at JFK, Delta will make the following changes before summer 2008:
-- Metering its use of airport resources by reducing average hourly
departures by 6 percent during the most congested hours;
-- Decreasing departures during JFK's afternoon 'rush hour' by shifting
short-haul trans-Atlantic flights to a third bank of international
departures after 7 p.m.;
-- Optimizing connecting times to increase transit time for JFK
customers to enhance overall baggage performance and schedule
reliability;
-- Increasing the number of Delta flights operated with larger
two-class jets. Of the 204 daily departures at JFK planned for
2008, 65 percent will be operated with larger two-class aircraft
seating between 70 and 270 passengers - up from 43 percent in summer
2007; and
-- Eliminating all Delta flights at JFK operated with turboprop aircraft.
Together, these changes will reduce Delta's demands on limited airspace and airport resources until a comprehensive redesign of the New York airspace is funded by the federal government. Delta's redesign will offer a more than 20 percent increase in available seat miles by summer 2008, with only 11 more daily departures.
Delta's plan to improve customer choice and reduce delays at JFK complements the airline's ongoing work with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to reduce aviation congestion in New York.
"New routes between JFK and cities around the world help bolster New York's position as a premiere tourist destination and a global center for business," said Daniel L. Doctoroff, New York City's Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding. "There's no better place with which to connect growing global markets than New York City, and I commend Delta for finding ways to do it while at the same time taking steps to reduce airport congestion."
Added William DeCota, director of aviation for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: "New York's global competitiveness depends upon business travelers having easy access to key global destinations. Delta's new flights will help facilitate commerce and tourism, to the benefit of residents and visitors to the New York-New Jersey region."
Increasing fleet flexibility
Delta's expanded service from JFK will be operated with a mix of Boeing 737-800, 757-200 and 767-300ER aircraft, with 737s and 757s serving Latin America and 757s and 767s flying across the Atlantic.
The airline's 2008 expansion will be aided by the introduction of 15 additional Boeing 757-200 aircraft featuring the same award-winning BusinessElite service offered on Delta's widebody international fleet, including all-leather seats with 60 inches of legroom; innovative in-flight dining designed by celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein and celebrity sommelier Andrea Robinson; and on-demand personal in-seat entertainment systems in both Business and Economy class boasting more than 20 first-run and popular movies, a variety of TV programs, a broad range of music and a suite of 12 video games.
With the introduction of 757s in trans-Atlantic service, Boeing 767-300s serving short-haul routes will be freed up to serve long-haul destinations in Africa and the Middle East.
Additionally, Delta will upgrade its existing nonstop service between New York-JFK and Mumbai, India to operate with new Boeing 777-LR aircraft by summer 2008. The aircraft will offer Mumbai customers the added comfort of fully horizontal lie flat seats in the BusinessElite cabin and added cargo capabilities for shippers and freight forwarders.
Enhancing customer service
With the new schedule, Delta customers can expect improved service on the ground at JFK with more international-capable self-service kiosks, personalized customer service offered by additional "Red Coats" throughout the terminal, continued improvements to Crown Room Clubs and BusinessElite lounges, complimentary helicopter service between Manhattan and JFK for eligible BusinessElite customers, and improved airport concessions - including recently opened "Bonfire Steakhouse" by celebrity chef Todd English, "Bonfire Bar" by Todd English, Balducci's Food Lover's Market, The French Meadow Bakery and Cafe, and Legend's Sports Bar.
Since 2006, Delta has invested more than $50 million in facility improvements at JFK, re-introduced the famed Delta Red Coats and built a major international and domestic hub with 187 peak-day departures serving 82 destinations, including nonstop service to 35 international destinations.
Delta plans additional terminal improvements at JFK to support its 2008 schedule, including improving the immigrations and customs re-check facility with more security checkpoint lanes; expanding the Economy class check-in area at Terminal 3 with more check-in positions and kiosks to complement Delta's recently opened exclusive BusinessElite, First Class and Medallion check-in facility at Terminal 2; and improving airport concessions throughout Terminal 3.
With Delta's planned 2008 expansion, the airline will remain the world's largest airline across the Atlantic with more flights, departures and available seat miles than any other global airline**. Since summer 2005, Delta has added or announced more than 25 new international routes across the Atlantic and by next summer plans to offer service to 20 trans-Atlantic destinations where there is no nonstop service offered by a major U.S. carrier.
To celebrate the new service, Delta is offering special low introductory fares on its new routes to invite customers to try its newest destinations. Customers should act fast, however, as these discounted fares must be purchased no later than Oct. 10, 2007. Sample one-way fares, based on a round-trip purchase, include:
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From To One-way fare*
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New York-JFK Cairo, Egypt $539
------------ -------------- ----------------
Lagos, Nigeria $539
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Malaga, Spain $599
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Amman, Jordan $689
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Dakar, Senegal $799
-------------- ----------------
Nairobi, Kenya $859
-------------- ----------------
* Additional taxes/fees/restrictions apply. Fares will be $20 higher
if purchased from Delta over the telephone, or at an airport or
city ticket office. See below for details.
About Delta
Delta offers more daily departures from New York City's two preferred airports combined -- JFK and LaGuardia -- than any other carrier. At LaGuardia, Delta operates the city's leading Shuttle product to Boston and Washington, D.C., in addition to nonstop Delta and Delta Connection carrier service to 25 other destinations. At New York-JFK -- Delta's second-largest international gateway -- the airline currently offers 181 peak-day departures to 77 worldwide destinations, including nonstop service to 33 international destinations.
Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 315 destinations in 54 countries. Since 2005, Delta has added more international capacity than all other major U.S. airlines combined and is a leader across the Atlantic with flights to 36 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers nearly 400 weekly flights to 54 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 477 worldwide destinations in 103 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.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1825
* Subject to foreign government approval
** Based on June 2008 OAG
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Restrictions: Fares shown are available for purchase at delta.com. Tickets cost $20 more if purchased from Delta over the telephone, or at an airport or city ticket office, and this amount is nonrefundable. Travel agents may impose an additional service charge for ticketing. Tickets are nontransferable. Seats are limited and fares may not be available on all flights. Tickets: Fares shown are one-way. Round-trip purchase is required. Tickets must be purchased within 72 hours after reservations are made and no later than October 10, 2007. See delta.com for online ticket purchase requirements and restrictions. Travel Period: For Dakar and Nairobi, travel may begin June 2 through July 2, 2008 and must be completed by August 2, 2008; for Cairo and Malaga, travel may begin June 4 through July 4, 2008 and must be completed by August 4, 2008; for Amman, travel may begin June 5 through July 5, 2008 and must be completed by August 5, 2008; for Lagos, travel may begin June 9 through July 9, 2008 and must be completed by August 9, 2008. Blackout Dates: None. Fare Validity: Fares are valid only in the Economy (Coach) cabin via nonstop/direct flights operated by Delta Air Lines. Minimum Stay: Saturday night. Maximum Stay: 1 month. Taxes/Fees: Fares do not include a $3.40 Federal Excise Tax, Passenger Facility Charge(s) of up to $4.50 for each flight segment, or the September 11th Security Fee of up to $2.50 for each flight segment. A flight segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. International fares do not include U.S. International Air Transportation Tax of up to $30.20 and U.S. and foreign user, inspection, security or other similarly based charges, fees or taxes of up to $280, depending on itinerary. These taxes and fees are the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time the ticket is purchased. Cancellations/Refunds/Changes: Fares are nonrefundable. Delta may permit you to apply a portion of the fare value to future travel upon payment of applicable fees and fare difference; otherwise, the ticket will have no value. Fees may apply for downgrades/reissues and itinerary changes. Delta may allow you to cancel certain electronic tickets until midnight of the day after purchase (or midnight of the departure date of the first flight, whichever comes first) without penalty if purchased at the time of reservation directly from Delta. Contact a Delta agent or visit delta.com for details. Miscellaneous: Fares and rules are subject to change without notice. Offers subject to change and void where prohibited by law. It is the responsibility of the passenger to be in possession of all necessary documentation (e.g., valid passport, visa where applicable) at the time of departure from origin. Delta reserves the right to deny boarding to passengers without the proper documentation. Other restrictions may apply.
Statements in this news release that are not historical facts, including statements regarding our estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections or strategies for the future, may be "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections and strategies reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the cost of aircraft fuel; the impact that our indebtedness will have on our financial and operating activities and our ability to incur additional debt; the restrictions that financial covenants in our financing agreements will have on our financial and business operations; labor issues; interruptions or disruptions in service at one of our hub airports; our increasing dependence on technology in our operations; our ability to retain management and key employees; the ability of our credit card processors to take significant holdbacks in certain circumstances; the effects of terrorist attacks; and competitive conditions in the airline industry. Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties that could cause differences between actual results and forward-looking statements is contained in Delta's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007. Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on Delta's forward-looking statements, which represent Delta's views only as of Sept. 26, 2007, and which Delta has no current intention to update.
NOTE TO BROADCAST MEDIA: B-roll of Delta's New York City operations is available for download via the following Web site: http://mediaport.nmedia.com