FlyinPiker

ATLANTA, Dec. 18, 2008 -- (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Delta Air Lines (NYSEAL - News) 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 Atlanta 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 Daily
at 10:40 p.m.-6:40 a.m. 777-200LR
(two days
later)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
DL16 Sydney at Los Angeles Daily
9:15 a.m.-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 Tue, Thurs, Sun
9 p.m.- 1:20pm 2009 767-300ER
(next day)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
DL234 Sao Paulo Los Angeles Mon, Wed, Fri
at 10:25-7:30 2009 767-300ER
(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.


I know these routes were already announced, but I guess now it's official.

757Driver

Wow. Even if the loads aren't that great for a while, DAL is setting itself up to be a one shop airline which in itself is impressive. Passengers will be able to fly anywhere in the world on DAL.

I'm not sure how a non-merged CAL-UAL will stand up against them, but I'm not liking the odds.

Dashdog

Alright, another Delta thread; and such an interesting one at that. Maybe Delta could just post their press releases directly to APC in the future. That would be awesome. Thanks for posting.

jkengberg

deleted...

acl65pilot

Fact is that many of our brethren use this as their source for company info. In many cases it is more timely and accurate.

Just to think that I did not know about these boards two and a half years ago!

dojetdriver

Well, in one instance at my company we got better information from a DAL press release then we did from our own management.

TCMC17RES

I for one am glad YOU know about these boards now too.

Tomcat

Hey ACL, keep up the good work... You're providing reliable information that we're not really getting anywhere else. I've got to where I rarely go to the DALPA forums anymore.

I also like the fact that there's a healthy contingent of new Delta (Former NWA) pilots on this forum. Looking forward to flying with them in the near future. I hear there's a bunch of guys ready to move into the LAX base. I've only been here since 2000, so I'll be happy to lift gear for any of you!!!

Cheers!

Tomcat

Rogerthat

WOW Tomcat! GREAT POST!
I have been looking for guys with some real vision. TOO much whining and not enough olive branches! Yes, it is true that there are some guys looking at LAX. It is not true that we are all a bunch of Norse Invaders with plans to pillage and plunder. For the most part.....NWA guys are just like DAL guys. Now is the time to come together and go from here. Thanks for your kindness.

DublinFlyer

I've always been very partial to Delta. Growing up in Atlanta, it was Delta that took me everywhere, and it was the Delta pilots and flight attendants that would always wave to me in the terminal as I stopped and looked up to them. I've never stopped looking up to them, and they are the ones who continue to motivate me to work as hard as I do. I'm very glad to see them expanding. They are the best - and one day I hope to work with them too.

Great job Delta! I've been waiting for the SYD announcement for a few years now!