Delta today filed an application with the DOT to offer daily nonstop service between Seattle and Shanghai, effective June 17, 2013. The proposed new flight will be Delta's second route between Seattle and China, following Beijing service which began in 2010.


Delta plans to operate the Shanghai flight with 208-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring 36 full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite, 29 seats in Economy Comfort and 143 Economy class seats. The aircraft features in-flight entertainment in every seat throughout the aircraft.

In addition, Delta filed an application this summer to begin nonstop service between Seattle and Haneda Airport in Tokyo. DOT is currently considering Delta's Seattle-Haneda application along with competing Haneda requests by other carriers. The proposed Seattle-Haneda flight would complement Delta's existing service between Seattle and Narita Airport in Tokyo.

The Haneda flight would be operated with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, and would begin service March 31, 2013.

The proposed Shanghai and Tokyo-Haneda flights add to Delta's growing Asian gateway in Seattle. The airline also operates nonstop service to Beijing, Tokyo-Narita and Osaka, Japan.

In addition, Delta offers nonstop service to Paris and Amsterdam from Seattle. By next summer the airline will operate more than 40 daily flights to 15 destinations worldwide from Seattle.

The partnership between Delta and Alaska is a major factor in enabling Delta to operate international flights from Seattle. The new Haneda service, for example, will benefit from easy connections to 55 U.S. cities on Delta and Alaska's domestic networks.

Delta also announced it will deploy its flagship Boeing 747-400 aircraft on flights between Seattle and Tokyo-Narita.

The 376-seat aircraft features 48 full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite, 42 Economy Comfort seats and 286 economy seats, and has been retrofitted to feature significant upgrades in its onboard experience, including individual in-flight entertainment in every seat throughout the aircraft, expanded overhead bins and other amenities.

Delta will be the only U.S. passenger airline operating the iconic Boeing 747 in Seattle. Dubbed the "Queen of the Skies," the 747 is one of the world's most recognizable aircraft due to the graceful curve of its upper deck.

The aircraft will begin flying the Tokyo route on June 1, 2013.

In addition to bringing the 747 to Seattle, Delta will deploy Boeing 767-300 jets with fully upgraded interiors on flights to Paris, Beijing and Osaka, Japan, effective Oct. 28. Those aircraft feature the same in-flight amenities as the Boeing 747, including full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite, expanded overhead bin space and individual in-flight entertainment throughout the aircraft.

Delta will add a fifth daily nonstop flight between Seattle and New York-JFK, effective June 1, 2013. In addition to providing convenient service and an additional option for New York-bound travelers, the flight offers another opportunity for connections to international flights via Delta's hub at JFK.

From JFK, Delta flies to more than 40 international destinations in Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia on a seasonal and year-round basis.
In addition, Delta is upgrading its Seattle-JFK flights to offer its BusinessElite service in June 2013, matching what the airline offers on trans-continental flight from Los Angeles and San Francisco to New York. Delta's BusinessElite service provides an accelerated and streamlined trip with shorter lines, early boarding and priority baggage service, as well as comfortable seats, world-class dining, state-of-the-art entertainment and complimentary access to more than 50 Delta Sky Club locations and 150 partner lounges worldwide.

Delta's upgraded Seattle-New York service will be operated with Boeing 757-200ER and Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.

The international expansion and customer enhancements in Seattle are driven by a strategic partnership between Delta and Alaska that benefits customers of both carriers and creates more competition and travel options for consumers in the Pacific Northwest region.

Under an extensive codesharing agreement, Delta customers can access more than 50 markets beyond Seattle via Alaska's domestic hub, while Alaska customers in the Pacific Northwest have access to more than 60 domestic Delta destinations, including extensive options over Delta's Atlanta and Minneapolis-St. Paul hubs.

The two carriers review connecting flight schedules and make timing adjustments to shorten passenger connection times. And customers of both carriers enjoy reciprocal access to Delta's Sky Club and Alaska's Board Room airport lounges, as well as reciprocal frequent flier benefits.

From its Seattle hub, Alaska provides service to more than 70 cities throughout North America. Delta, meanwhile, offers international service from Seattle to five cities: Amsterdam, Paris, Tokyo, Beijing and Osaka, Japan.

More than 200,000 international passengers connected between Alaska and Delta flights during the past year.

"Our partnership combines Delta's industry-leading international network and Alaska's hub in Seattle, creating more travel choices and competition in one of the nation's most important markets," Anderson said. "It's another example of innovative thinking that exemplifies how both Delta and Alaska do business every day."