ATLANTA, Oct. 17, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- As part of an expanded partnership announced earlier today by Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) and SkyTeam partner Air France, customers now can book nonstop Delta flights from the United States to three popular airports in England and France where they previously did not have access. The routes are:
* Atlanta to London-Heathrow (once daily, effective March 29, 2008);
* New York-JFK to London-Heathrow (twice daily, effective March 29, 2008);
* New York-JFK to Paris-Orly (four times weekly, effective June 2, 2008); and
* New York-JFK to Lyon (once daily, effective July 15, 2008).
With the new flights, Delta will strengthen its position as the world's largest trans-Atlantic airline and will more conveniently connect customers between Delta and Air France hubs on both sides of the Atlantic. The new flights to London-Heathrow will mark Delta's entry into the world's No. 1 business market and for the first time will connect London-Heathrow nonstop to the world's largest airline hub in Atlanta, bringing new competition and customer choice to a market where access has previously been restricted.
Delta gained the rights to serve London-Heathrow as part of an Open Skies agreement reached last spring between U.S. government and European Union negotiators that moves toward fully deregulating air transportation services in the trans-Atlantic market.
With the addition of flights to Heathrow, Delta will continue to operate seven daily round-trip flights in the London market with three daily flights at Heathrow -- one to Atlanta and two to New York-JFK; and four daily flights at Gatwick -- two to Atlanta; one to Cincinnati; and one to New York-JFK.
Customers flying Delta's newest trans-Atlantic routes will enjoy special low introductory fares for travel booked by Oct. 31, 2007.
Sample one-way fares, based on a round-trip purchase, include:
--------------- ------------ ---------------------
To From One-way fare*
(based on a
round-trip purchase)
--------------- ------------ ---------------------
London-Heathrow Atlanta $299
--------------- ------------ ---------------------
London-Heathrow New York-JFK $199
--------------- ------------ ---------------------
Paris-Orly New York-JFK $449
--------------- ------------ ---------------------
Lyon New York-JFK $449
--------------- ------------ ---------------------
Additional taxes/fees/restrictions apply. See below for more details.
Delta's new flights between the United States London-Heathrow,
Paris-Orly and Lyon are scheduled as follows:
------ --------------- ---------------- -------------- ----------
Flight Departs Arrives Effective Frequency
------ --------------- ---------------- -------------- ----------
178 Atlanta London-Heathrow March 29, 2008 Daily
at 11 p.m. at 12:30 p.m.**
------ --------------- ---------------- -------------- ----------
179 London-Heathrow Atlanta March 30, 2008 Daily
at 1:25 p.m. at 6:05 p.m.
------ --------------- ---------------- -------------- ----------
156 New York-JFK London-Heathrow March 29, 2008 Daily
at 8:55 p.m. at 9:25 a.m.**
------ --------------- ---------------- -------------- ----------
157 London-Heathrow New York-JFK March 30, 2008 Daily
at 5:05 p.m. at 8:10 p.m.
------ --------------- ---------------- -------------- ----------
5 New York-JFK London-Heathrow March 30, 2008 Daily
at 8:05 a.m. at 8:20 p.m.
------ --------------- ---------------- -------------- ----------
6 London-Heathrow New York-JFK March 31, 2008 Daily
at 8:15 a.m. at 11:05 a.m.
------ --------------- ---------------- -------------- ----------
54 New York-JFK Paris-Orly June 2, 2008 Four-times
at 10:35 p.m. at 12:30 p.m.** weekly***
------ --------------- ---------------- -------------- ----------
53 Paris-Orly New York-JFK June 3, 2008 Four-times
at 2:55 p.m. at 5 p.m. weekly***
------ --------------- ---------------- -------------- ----------
174 New York-JFK Lyon July 15, 2008 Daily
at 4:30 p.m. at 7:05 a.m.**
------ --------------- ---------------- -------------- ----------
175 Lyon New York-JFK July 16, 2008 Daily
at 9:30 a.m. at 12:15 p.m.
------ --------------- ---------------- -------------- ----------
** Arrives next day
*** Service operates daily effective July 1, 2008
Delta's new flights in the London market will be operated with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft while flights to Lyon and Orly will be operated with extended-range Boeing 757-200 aircraft. Both the 767 and 757 aircraft will feature Delta's award-winning BusinessElite service, including all-leather seats with 55 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 Delta's planned 2008 international 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 30 new international routes across the Atlantic and by next summer plans to offer service to more than 20 trans-Atlantic destinations where there is no nonstop service offered by a major U.S. carrier.
Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 310 destinations in 54 countries. Since 2005, Delta has added more international capacity than all other major U.S. airlines combined and is the leader across the Atlantic with flights to 36 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers more than 400 weekly flights to 53 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 475 worldwide destinations in 104 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
**** Based on June 2008 OAG
* 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 the fare 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 Oct 31, 2007. See delta.com for online ticket purchase requirements and restrictions. Travel Period: For London-Heathrow, travel may begin Mar 29 through May 15, 2008 and must be completed by Jun 15, 2008; for Lyon, travel may begin Jul 15 through Aug 15, 2008 and must be completed by Sep 15, 2008; for Paris-Orly, travel may begin Jun 2 through Jun 30, 2008 and must be completed by Jul 30, 2008. Blackout Dates: None. Fare Validity: Fares are valid only in the Economy (Coach) cabin via nonstop 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.