Delta to serve Senegal, S. Africa

[WorldTraveler]

Press Release Source: Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Delta Air Lines Announces Service between Atlanta and Africa
Thursday February 9, 10:00 am ET
Customers will enjoy service to Johannesburg, South Africa; Dakar, Senegal this December, given required government approvals




Delta to be only U.S. airline to operate scheduled service
between the United States and Africa

ATLANTA, Feb. 9, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delta Air Lines -- the United States' fastest growing international carrier -- today announced that it is seeking the necessary government approvals to become the only U.S. airline to operate scheduled service between the United States and Africa. In a filing with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Delta is requesting government approvals to begin the first ever Delta-operated service between the world's largest airline hub in Atlanta and the burgeoning South African city of Johannesburg, with an intermediate stop in Dakar, Senegal, effective in December 2006.

In a press conference held today at The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum in Atlanta, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young joined other Georgia business and civic leaders to applaud Delta's efforts to connect Atlanta -- the seventh-largest home to South African-born residents of the United States -- the business capital of South Africa.

``I am proud that Delta has decided to initiate service to South Africa and become the only U.S. carrier to serve the continent,'' Young said. ``Delta's service between Atlanta and South Africa promises to be one of the most successful routes on the planet due to the reach and convenience of Delta's Atlanta hub. I look forward to flying Atlanta's hometown airline non-stop to Africa.''

Added Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, ``For many years, Delta Air Lines has been a faithful supporter of the city's efforts to raise its stature as a best in class, global city. Through the strategic partnerships and direct flight routes to international destinations in Asia, Europe, North, South and Central America originating from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Delta has helped foster the city's international, economic and cultural ties and has expanded Atlanta's access to the world.''

With the new service, Delta will enter a new continent for the first time since its historic expansion into South America in 1997 and will grow to offer customers more than 60 international destinations from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport by December - up more than 50 from the number of destinations offered just 10 years ago. Delta customers traveling to or from Africa via Atlanta will have convenient connecting opportunities to more than 140 North American cities.

``Delta's new service to Africa will mark many firsts for our hometown of Atlanta and for our customers, including the first non-stop service between Atlanta and Senegal on the West African coast, and the first Delta-operated service from Atlanta to Johannesburg,'' said Jim Whitehurst, Delta's chief operating officer. ``We encourage our customers to make their support for Delta's first service to Africa known to help ensure a speedy approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation for this historic new route.'' Delta's proposed service between Atlanta and Johannesburg via Dakar will be available for sale to customers as soon as Delta receives required approvals from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Delta plans to offer daily service to Africa with the Boeing 777 aircraft featuring 50 Business Class and 218 Economy Class seats. Customers flying to or from Africa in Delta's award-winning BusinessElite cabin would enjoy access to the airline's personalized dining service, which allows them to enjoy award-winning wines and cuisine at anytime during the flight when it's most convenient for them. Additionally, beginning later this year, Delta will provide customers with a more comfortable and entertaining international BusinessElite experience offering all-leather seats and state-of-the-art digital technology.

``As evidenced by our recent growth in most every corner of the globe, Delta is making decisive moves to establish itself not only as the U.S. airline of choice but as a global leader,'' Whitehurst said. ``We intend to offer customers service to more worldwide destinations than any other airline and to distinguish our service with a mix of style and hospitality that is being defined by our enhanced product and network offerings. We look forward to introducing our customers to a series of product enhancements this year such refreshed BusinessElite seats, refurbished Economy class cabins, a new domestic long-haul product featuring live TV, and more stylish uniforms that will redefine Delta to our customers around the globe.''

Delta's proposed service to Africa is the latest in series of more than 50 new international routes added or announced by Delta in the last year as part of the largest international expansion in the airline's history. During 2006 Delta will offer more flights between the United States and destinations across Europe, India and Israel than any other airline; will continue to be one of the fastest growing carrier to destinations across Latin America and the Caribbean, with more than 35 destinations added or announced since 2005; and will be the only U.S. carrier to offer customers service to nine unique destinations across the Atlantic: Kiev, Ukraine; Moscow, Russia; Istanbul, Turkey; Budapest, Hungary; Athens, Greece; Nice, France; Stuttgart, Germany; Mumbai, India (via Paris); and Chennai, India (via Paris), in addition to proposed service to Dakar, Senegal and Johannesburg, South Africa.

Separately, Delta also announced today that it has received U.S. Department of Transportation approval to add non-stop flights between Atlanta and a seventh country in South America with new daily service between Atlanta and Quito, Ecuador, with continuing service to Quayaquil. The new service, subject to Ecuadorian government approval, will begin on June 8 and will expand to 14 the number of capital cities served by Delta throughout South and Central America.

For more information about Delta's new international routes or to book tickets, visit delta.com.

Delta Air Lines (Other OTCALRQ.PK - News) is one of the world's fastest growing international carriers with more than 50 new international routes added or announced in the last year. Delta offers daily flights to 503 destinations in 94 countries on Delta, Song, Delta Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers and its worldwide partners. In summer 2006, Delta plans to offer customers more destinations and departures between the U.S., Europe, India and Israel than any global airline, including service on 11 new transatlantic routes from its Atlanta and New York-JFK hubs. Delta also is a major carrier to Mexico, South and Central America and the Caribbean, with more than 35 routes announced, added or applied to serve since Jan. 1, 2005. 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. 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



Contact:
Delta Air Lines
Corporate Communications
404-715-2554


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Delta Air Lines, Inc.

 

[whlinder]

DL joins the prestigious 5 continents club

Did I just read where you referred to United as prestigious?



I thought DL only had a handful of 777s, 8 IIRC. Is that enough to run ATL-NRT, ATL-DKR-JNB, and ATL-TLV?

 

[DLFlyer31]

I thought DL only had a handful of 777s, 8 IIRC. Is that enough to run ATL-NRT, ATL-DKR-JNB, and ATL-TLV?

Easily. The three routes combined will need 5-6 777's depending on how the scheduling is done, so DL will have no problem.

 

[WorldTraveler]

And DL still has the aircraft to fly ATL-PEK (Beijing) when/if it's awarded.

Any carrier that flies to 5 continents is not the homebody that some have made DL out to be. No one including me has eve4 said that UA doesn't have a tremendous portfolio. With 100 transoceanic capable aircraft, there are many opportunities DL can pursue even with just 8 777s.

There have been rumors that DL will order aircraft as it leaves bankruptcy (it still has 4 or 5 777s on order plus a couple dozen 737-800s.) I'm betting they will convert the 777s to the 777-200LR which could fly from ATL and JFK to just about anywhere nonstop. ok... ATL-Singapore MIGHT be beyond the range of a 777-200LR or any existing aircraft...

 

[TechBoy]

I thought DL only had a handful of 777s, 8 IIRC. Is that enough to run ATL-NRT, ATL-DKR-JNB, and ATL-TLV?

They have enough for the current schedule and if they open a couple of 777 routes, they can always substitute 764s on the JNB run.

 

[WorldTraveler]

There are significant payload restrictions from JNB due to the altitude. DL probably chose to fly the 777 because it can operate w/ a full load to Dakar; based on tables on Boeing.com, it's doubtful that either version of the 767 could operate w/ a full payload during S. African summer.

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

There are significant payload restrictions from JNB due to the altitude. DL probably chose to fly the 777 because it can operate w/ a full load to Dakar; based on tables on Boeing.com, it's doubtful that either version of the 767 could operate w/ a full payload during S. African summer.

==========================================================

WT,

DL is building an Impressive SA route system.(More than I thought)
Will DL have a more extensive South/central american route system than CO, or UA when they start up Equador ?

I believe the 777-200LR Worldliner can operate any worldwide(Major) city pairs, Except JFK/SYD,ATL/SYD,perhaps(not) MIA/SYD.

Probably why Quantas has'nt done so already.

It(777-200LR) WILL(barely) make ORD/SYD.


NH/BB's

 

[DLFlyer31]

==========================================================

Will DL have a more extensive South/central american route system than CO, or UA when they start up Equador ?

NH/BB's

DL has already passed UA in South/Central America. And according to DL management, they expect to surpass CO this summer.

 

[WorldTraveler]

DL already has more flights to deep S. America than CO and expects to pass CO for all of Latin America this year.

I did fail to mention Australia in my 777-200 range but I guess I didn't realistically think that DL would be trying to fly ATL to the S. Pacific with any aircraft. DL has enough of a presence at LAX for Australia service if they wanted to fly there but I don't see that as real high on this wish list.... but I could be wrong. Maybe DL wants to be the 1st 6 continent US airline.

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

I think I read somewhere, that WHEN Boeing or Airbus build a model capable of JFK/SYD, that it will be a "20" flight !!!

OF COURSE, Quantas WILL be the FIRST to fly that route !!

NH/BB's

 

[B.O.B.]

DL better start looking at some new 777's or some other widebody that has the distance. They're running out of 777's. With only 7 or 8 of them, they can't add to much more long range flying.

 

[MAH4546]

DL better start looking at some new 777's or some other widebody that has the distance. They're running out of 777's. With only 7 or 8 of them, they can't add to much more long range flying.

If worse comes to worse, both ATL-TLV and ATL-DKR-JNB are easily doable with 763s.

 

[WorldTraveler]

TLVATL is a 13 ¼ hour flight on a 777 and you can add on at least another 30 minutes at 767 speeds – way beyond the range of a 767. Besides, I do not know of any US airline that has lay flat crew rest facilities on a 767. While the FAA may not require it, I think it would be a public relations disaster for DL to get into a battle to remove lay flat crew rest facilities on their long-haul fleet.

The number of 777s in the fleet is not a measure of DL’s long-haul potential. AA has, what about 50 777s, and half of them are used to Europe while another one-fourth are used to S. America – all routes which DL’s 767-300s and 400s could do. While DL hasn’t released the configuration for its 767-400s, CO’s 764s have 240 seats on them, more seats than AA has on its 777s and it is very possible that DL will manage to put more seats on their 764s than CO given DL’s need to turn the ship around quickly.

I think DL has marked out its plan for its current fleet of 777s but you will see them making moves to acquire other aircraft as they come out of bankruptcy that will allow them to move into ultra long-haul international markets as well as increase their long-haul flying. The 763 and -4 conversions just buy them some breathing room and the opportunity to try out some markets in anticipation of new aircraft that could be served nonstop with new aircraft.

 

[FWAAA]

TLVATL is a 13 ¼ hour flight on a 777 and you can add on at least another 30 minutes at 767 speeds – way beyond the range of a 767. Besides, I do not know of any US airline that has lay flat crew rest facilities on a 767. While the FAA may not require it, I think it would be a public relations disaster for DL to get into a battle to remove lay flat crew rest facilities on their long-haul fleet.

I disagree; according to Boeing, ATL-TLV is within the capabilities of a 767-300ER, which is 5594 nm; the max range of the 763 is 6105 nm, so it's possible. Dunno what kind of weight penalty would be paid - perhaps it wouldn't be economical. But it's not "way beyond the range" of a 763.

The real shame about DL and its 777s is the militant attitude of the DALPA and the inflexible DL managment attitude re: long-haul flying and crew rest. Recall those days of alleged ATL-NRT nonstops that turned back and stopped at PDX due to "crew fatigue?"

 

[WorldTraveler]

Agree that it's not beyond the technical capabilities of the 767-300ER although there would be no cargo carrying capability - which isn't a good idea on an int'l route, particularly one where DL doesn't have another alternative routing to carry cargo.

The real issue is the crew rest facilities but I think it's safe to say that nothing is going to change there unless DL succeeds at throwing out the whole contract and then gets what it wants - which might be crew rest stools sitting out on the wings.