ATLANTA, Feb. 22, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Delta Air Lines will continue its industry-leading growth in Africa with the addition of daily nonstop flights between the world's largest airline hub in Atlanta and Africa's fast-growing commercial center of Lagos, Nigeria, effective Dec. 3, 2007*. The new flights will be the only scheduled nonstop service offered by a major airline between the United States and Nigeria and will offer customers three to six hours in time savings versus existing one-stop connections via Europe.
The new Atlanta-Lagos route builds on the success of more than 50 new international routes added in the last year as part of an ambitious transformation of Delta's route system that aims to further diversify customer choice with more nonstop flights to Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe. In December, Delta became the only major U.S. carrier to offer flights to Africa with the introduction of service between New York-JFK and Accra, Ghana and between Atlanta and Johannesburg, South Africa via Dakar, Senegal. In November, Delta opened the world's only nonstop route between New York-JFK and Mumbai, India. And most recently, Delta filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation for the authority to fly nonstop from Atlanta to Shanghai, China, beginning in 2008.
"Delta's new service to Nigeria is another example of our airline's spirit of innovation and commitment to creating time savings and value for customers," said Jim Whitehurst, chief operating officer. "The recent launches of new flights to Accra, Ghana and Johannesburg, South Africa have proven to be very popular with Delta customers and we are pleased to extend the same service and time advantages to customers traveling between Nigeria and the Americas."
Added Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, "Delta continues to be a leader in attracting more trade, tourism and international investment to Atlanta and our region through robust route development and growth. It is no small feat that in the last year Delta has added more than 20 new international routes from Atlanta and has made this the busiest year ever for international traffic at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. I applaud Delta for its continued commitment to increasing Atlanta's international linkages and am pleased to partner with our hometown airline once again as they open a new corridor of commerce between Hartsfield-Jackson and one of our proud sister cities."
Delta will operate the new flights between Atlanta and Lagos with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft in a two-class configuration featuring BusinessElite, Delta's award-winning business class service. Customers choosing to fly BusinessElite will enjoy Delta's recently enhanced service, including more comfortable seats with all-leather coverings, improved leg rests and more comfortable cushioning throughout the seat; enhanced in-seat entertainment featuring 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; and the same 60 inches of legroom that has made BusinessElite a customer favorite.
Flights between Atlanta and Lagos will be available for sale to customers today at delta.com and via other ticketing channels and are scheduled as follows:
Flight Departs Arrives Effective Frequency
50 Atlanta at Lagos at Dec. 3, Daily
4:25 p.m. 9:25 a.m.** 2007
57 Lagos at Atlanta at Dec. 4, Daily
11:25 a.m. 6:20 p.m. 2007
**Arrives next day
Delta's flagship hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's largest airline hub. Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer nearly 1,000 peak-day departures to 243 nonstop destinations from Atlanta - more nonstop flights and destinations than any airline hub in the world. Delta's Atlanta hub is one of the fastest growing international gateways in the United States, with more than 20 new international markets added in the last year. Atlanta is the home of Delta's largest international hub with flights to 72 international destinations in 45 countries.
Delta Air Lines (Other OTC:DALRQ) offers customers service to more destinations than any global airline with Delta and Delta Connection carrier service to 304 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 nearly 600 weekly flights to 58 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 453 worldwide destinations in 97 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
The Delta logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1825
*Subject to foreign government approval