Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Delta Requests DOT Authority to Offer Service Between New York-JFK and Buenos Aires

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced it filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for permission to start new nonstop service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Pending DOT approval, Delta currently plans to offer five flights weekly from December to April and four flights per week during the rest of the year, with the possibility of increasing frequencies depending on demand. If approved, the new flight will begin in December of this year and will complement Delta’s current daily nonstop service between Buenos Aires and Atlanta.

“Developing JFK as a major Delta hub is paramount for the success of our international expansion strategy, and reaching the Americas from New York is an important part of this equation,” said Christophe Didier, Delta’s vice president of Sales and Government Affairs for Latin America and the Caribbean. “JFK is key to our continuous growth in Latin America, especially in a market such as Buenos Aires, a destination that currently lacks sufficient nonstop service to New York City at a time when demand for travel on this route is high.”

Delta offers year-round and seasonal service to Latin America and the Caribbean from eight U.S. airports, mostly from Atlanta and Los Angeles. From JFK, the airline flies to 18 destinations, including San Juan, Puerto Rico; Mexico City, Mexico*; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Panama City, Panama; San Jose and Liberia, Costa Rica; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Georgetown, Guyana; in addition to Jamaica, the Bahamas, and several islands in the Antilles. Later this year, Delta also will start nonstop service between JFK and Bogotá, Colombia.

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