Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines recently announced the decision to expand its international schedule with new and expanded service to different cities in Asia and Europe for spring and summer 2011. In recent times, Delta Air Lines has shifted its focus towards markets with high demand for business travel.
The airline’s most significant expansion will be in Asia, where it has seen revenue growth of more than 50 per cent. The airline has also applied with the US Department of Transportation to begin new routes to Beijing and Guangzhou. In addition, it also plans to expand service to Shanghai and Manila.
Glen Hauenstein, Executive Vice President - Network Planning, Revenue Management and Marketing, Delta Air Lines stated that international business travel demand is the underpinning of the global economic recovery. The new flights to China, London's Heathrow Airport and increased flights to its international alliance partners' gateways at Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol and Guangzhou are cornerstones of the airline's international plan for 2011.
Delta Air Lines recently affirmed that its capacity will increase between one per cent and three per cent in 2011 - consistent with projected global economic growth - and its fleet will end this year with 91 few aircraft than in 2009.
“Delta Air Lines announcement that it has applied for new service between Detroit and Beijing is another significant step in the development of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport as a leading gateway to Asia,” said Robert Ficano, Executive, Wayne County.
Ficano added that this new route, coupled with Delta Air Lines existing service from Detroit to Shanghai and Hong Kong would further strengthen ties between Michigan and China, thus creating new jobs and economic opportunities on both sides of the Pacific.
In addition, services also will be expanded for the peak travel season between Narita and Manila, Philippines, which is one of Asia's leading travel markets. Delta Air Lines will add one new Boeing 757-200 flight between April 5, 2011 and July 15, 2011 to complement its daily year-round Boeing 747-400 service between the two cities.
New or expanded international routes planned for spring and summer 2011 include:
|
Region
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Route
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Effective
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Aircraft
|
Frequency
|
|
Asia
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Tokyo-Narita – Guangzhou, China*
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April 6, 2011
|
Boeing 767-300ER
|
New daily service
|
|
|
Tokyo-Narita – Manila, Philippines
|
April 5-July 15, 2011
|
Boeing 757-200
|
Second daily flight during peak season
|
|
|
Atlanta – Shanghai
|
June 5, 2011
|
Boeing 777-200ER/LR
|
New twice weekly service
|
|
|
Detroit – Beijing*
|
July 1, 2011
|
Boeing 777-200ER
|
New five times weekly service
|
|
Europe
|
Boston – London-Heathrow
|
March 26, 2011
|
Boeing 767-300ER
|
New twice daily service
|
|
|
Miami – London-Heathrow
|
March 26, 2011
|
Boeing 767-300ER
|
New daily service
|
|
|
Boston – Paris-Charles de Gaulle
|
March 26, 2011
|
Boeing 757-200
|
Third daily flight during peak season**
|
|
|
New York-JFK-Paris Charles de Gaulle
|
June 1, 2011
|
Boeing 767-300ER
|
Sixth daily flight during peak season**
|
|
|
Seattle-Amsterdam
|
June 1, 2011
|
Boeing 767-300ER
|
Second daily flight during peak season
|
|
|
Pittsburgh-Paris Charles de Gaulle
|
June 1, 2011
|
Boeing 757-200
|
Expanded from five-times weekly to daily for peak season
|
|
|
New York-JFK – Reykjavík, Iceland*
|
June 2, 2011
|
Boeing 757-200
|
New five times weekly service
|
* Subject to government approval
** Existing flights operated by joint venture partner Air France