MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, June 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) is growing its international presence at its Minneapolis-St. Paul hub, with enhanced offerings to Latin America and Europe. The expansion includes:
-- New nonstop service between Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Mexico City International Airport, subject to foreign government approval. The flight will mark the first nonstop service operated by any airline between the two cities. -- The extension of Delta's nonstop flight between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Paris-Charles De Gaulle Airport from seasonal to year-round service. -- The expansion of Delta's nonstop service between Minneapolis-St. Paul and London-Heathrow from five days each week to daily service for winter 2010.(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090202/DELTALOGO )
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"We are excited to expand our worldwide offerings at Minneapolis-St. Paul, an important gateway for Delta," said Bill Lentsch, Delta's senior vice president of Minnesota operations. "Our new service to Mexico City marks an important expansion into Latin America from a major Midwestern hub, providing more travel opportunities to customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul."
In addition to the new Mexico City service, Delta offers nonstop seasonal flights between Minneapolis-St. Paul and six Mexican cities: Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa and Cozumel. Delta also provides nonstop seasonal service from Minneapolis-St. Paul to three Caribbean destinations: Grand Cayman; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Montego Bay, Jamaica.
"Delta's decision to offer new and expanded international air service from Minneapolis-St. Paul is great news for businesses and leisure travelers throughout the region," said Jeff Hamiel, executive director of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns and operates Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. "International air service is extremely important to the area economy, and today's announcement is a welcome indication that Delta aims to maintain a strong international as well as domestic presence at its Minnesota hub."
The new daily flight to Mexico City, which begins Dec. 18, will be operated with 124-seat Airbus A319 aircraft, which are equipped with 16 First class and 108 Economy seats.
"In addition, our Paris and London service this winter means more options for customers traveling between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Europe," Lentsch said.
Delta's service between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Paris will be operated with a Boeing 767-300ER, which offers 36 BusinessElite seats and 180 seats in Economy. Delta's service to London-Heathrow will be operated with a Boeing 767-400ER, which features 40 full flat BusinessElite seats and 205 seats in Economy.
Delta's schedule:
Mexico City Flight Departs Arrives Planned Operations Minneapolis-St. Paul at Mexico City at 2:38 451 10:10 a.m. p.m. Daily --- ----------------------- ------------------- ----- Minneapolis-St. Paul 452 Mexico City at 3:28 p.m. at 7:13 p.m. Daily --- ------------------------ -------------------- ----- Paris Flight Departs Arrives Planned Operations Minneapolis-St. Paul at Paris at 7:25 a.m. 220 3:40 p.m. (next day) Daily --- ----------------------- ------------------ ----- Minneapolis-St. Paul 219 Paris at 10:40 a.m. at 1 p.m. Daily --- ------------------- -------------------- ----- London-Heathrow Flight Departs Arrives Planned Operations Minneapolis-St. Paul at London at 12 p.m. 40 9:35 p.m. (next day) Daily --- ----------------------- ----------------- ----- Minneapolis-St. Paul 41 London at 2:25 p.m. at 5:35 p.m. Daily --- ------------------- -------------------- -----The announcement underscores Delta's commitment to Minneapolis-St. Paul. Delta currently operates more than 500 daily departures from its hub at Minneapolis-St. Paul to 135 destinations worldwide, including nonstop flights to 14 international destinations. The airline also maintains significant support facilities in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and employs more than 12,000 people in Minnesota.
Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With its unsurpassed global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 368 destinations in 66 countries on six continents. Delta employs more than 70,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France KLM. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world's largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 45 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.
SOURCE Delta Air Lines
