Enhanced marketing alliance with Alaska Air Group enables Delta's
L.A. expansion with improved connections for customers across the
West Coast
Delta to become only U.S. airline to fly to six continents
ATLANTA, Dec. 18, 2008 -- (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) will strengthen its gateway at Los Angeles International Airport in 2009 with the addition of its first-ever daily nonstop service between Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia* effective July 1; three-times weekly service between Los Angeles and Sao Paulo, Brazil* beginning May 21; and increased service between Los Angeles and New York-JFK starting March 2.
Delta's growth at Los Angeles is supported by the recently announced expanded marketing agreement between Delta and Alaska Air Group that will make the two companies preferred partners on the West Coast and bolster connectivity at Los Angeles. The agreement will make Sydney, Sao Paulo, as well as Delta's existing international flights to Latin America, Tokyo-Narita**, Seoul-Inchon**, Guangzhou**, Amsterdam**, Paris-Charles De Gaulle** and other U.S. destinations more accessible to travelers from points throughout the West Coast via easy connections with Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. Delta and its Northwest Airlines subsidiary together with Alaska and Horizon offer customers daily connections to approximately 45 nonstop destinations to, from and through Los Angeles.
With the addition of Sydney, Delta will become the only U.S. airline to fly to six continents, enhancing its position as the premier global airline.
"Delta's strategy of expanding our reach to select destinations while demonstrating capacity discipline in light of tough worldwide economic conditions continues to work and is paying off for our customers," said Glen Hauenstein, Delta's executive vice president, Network Planning and Revenue Management. "Los Angeles is a critical gateway in our global network and today's announcement, coupled with Delta's enhanced alliance with Alaska Air Group, gives us the ability to support demand for air travel in key global economies."
Beginning in March, Delta also will increase nonstop service between Los Angeles and New York-JFK from seven to eight daily flights to improve connections for New York and Northeast customers on long-haul international flights via Los Angeles. Additionally, Delta customers in the Southeastern U.S. will benefit from same-plane service between Atlanta and Sydney via LA.
Delta's new service between Los Angeles and Sydney will operate as
follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Flight Departs Arrives Effective Equipment Frequency
---------------------------------------------------------------------
DL17 Los Angeles Sydney at July 1, Boeing Daily
at 10:40 p.m. 6:40 a.m. 2009 777-200LR
(two days
later)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
DL16 Sydney at Los Angeles July 3, Boeing Daily
9:15 a.m. at 6 a.m. 2009 777-200LR
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Delta's new service between Los Angeles and Sao Paulo will operate as
follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Flight Departs Arrives Effective Equipment Frequency
---------------------------------------------------------------------
DL233 Los Angeles Sao Paulo May 21, Boeing Tue.,
at 9 p.m. at 1:20 2009 767-300ER Thurs.,
p.m. Sun.
(next day)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
DL234 Sao Paulo Los Angeles May 22, Boeing Mon., Wed.,
at 10:25 at 7:30 2009 767-300ER Fri.
p.m. a.m.
(next day)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Customers flying Delta's award-winning BusinessElite service Boeing 777-200LR aircraft between Los Angeles and Sydney or on Boeing 767-300ER aircraft between Los Angeles and Sao Paulo will enjoy Delta on Demand featuring first-run and popular classic movies, music, TV programming and video games -- all available on demand; a five-course menu offering culinary creations by celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein; a reinvented wine program by Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson featuring wines from around the world; full-size pillows and duvets; and in-seat power outlets that allow customers to recharge their laptops.
Additionally, passengers traveling in BusinessElite on the new Boeing 777-200LR will enjoy fully horizontal personal sleeper suites, next-generation, more comfortable seats in coach, and Delta on Demand entertainment system on larger screens at every seat.
To celebrate the new international routes, Delta is offering special one-way introductory fares of $499*** from Los Angeles to Sydney for travel between July 1 and Sept. 21, 2009. Tickets must be purchased by Jan. 12, 2009. Also, from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo, customers may purchase fares of $449*** for travel between May 31 and July 31, 2009. Tickets must be purchased by Jan. 5, 2009. Round-trip ticket purchase required. Additional taxes/fees/restrictions/baggage charges may apply. Details are included below.
Delta's new flights between Los Angeles and Sydney, Los Angeles and Sao Paulo, as well as increased service to New York-JFK, are available for booking now at delta.com.
About Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines is the world's largest airline. From its hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita, Delta, its Northwest Airlines subsidiary and Delta Connection carriers offer service to more than 376 destinations worldwide in 66 countries and serve more than 170 million passengers each year. Delta's marketing alliances allow customers to earn and redeem either SkyMiles or WorldPerks on more than 16,000 daily flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta and its 75,000 worldwide employees are reshaping the aviation industry as the only U.S. airline to offer a full global network. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.
The Delta Air Lines, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1825
* Subject to foreign government approval.
** Service may be operated by SkyTeam partners KLM, Air France, Korean Air, China Southern or Delta's Northwest Airlines subsidiary.
*** TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Restrictions: Fares shown are available at delta.com. Tickets cost $20 more if purchased from Delta over the phone, $35 more at a Delta ticket counter or ticket office, and these amounts are nonrefundable. Tickets are nontransferable. Seats are limited. Tickets: Fare shown is one-way; round trip purchase is required. Tickets must be purchased within 72 hours after reservations are made and no later than January 12, 2009 for travel to Sydney and no later than January 5, 2009, for travel to Sao Paulo. Travel Period: Travel to Sydney may begin on or after July 1, 2009 and must be completed by September 21, 2009. Travel to Sao Paulo may begin on/after May 31, 2009 and must be completed by July 31, 2009. 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: 30 days for travel to Sydney; none for travel to Sao Paulo. Taxes/Fees: Federal Excise Tax of $3.50 ($3.60 for tickets purchased on or after 1/1/09), Passenger Facility Charge(s) of up to $4.50, and the September 11th Security Fee of up to $2.50 for each flight segment are not included. International fares do not include U.S. International Air Transportation Tax of up to $30.80 ($32.20 for tickets purchased on or after 1/1/09) and U.S. and foreign user, inspection, security or other similarly based charges, fees or taxes of up to $299, depending on itinerary. Taxes and fees must be paid when the ticket is purchased. Baggage Charges: For travel within the United States/PR/U.S. Virgin Islands, $15 for 1 checked bag and $25 for second checked bag. For all other travel, no fee for 2 checked bags and $200 fee for third checked bag. Allowances subject to size/weight limits. Contact a delta agent or visit delta.com for details. Cancellations/Refunds/Changes: Tickets are nonrefundable except in accordance with Delta's cancellation policy. Fees may apply for downgrades/reissues and itinerary changes. Contact a Delta agent or visit delta.com for details. Miscellaneous: Fares, taxes, fees, rules, and offers are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.