Delta Announces Tokyo-Haneda Flight Schedules

ATLANTA, July 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced flight schedules for new daily, year-round flights between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Detroit and Los Angeles.  The new flights, which begin Jan. 29, 2011, will be available for sale to customers beginning Saturday, July 17 at delta.com and through other ticketing channels.  Flights are scheduled as follows, subject to government approval:

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100416/CL87496LOGO )

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100416/CL87496LOGO )

*Arrives next day

**Arrives previous day

The new service becomes available for sale following a recent U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) decision giving Delta's global alliance – SkyTeam – its first opportunity to compete across the Pacific from Haneda.

"No U.S. airline has invested more in Tokyo and service into Haneda airport is a logical addition to the three airports Delta already serves across Japan," said Glen Hauenstein, Delta's executive vice president – Network Planning and Revenue Management.  "Customers on both sides of the Pacific will benefit as Delta and SkyTeam strengthen competition at Haneda and continue to expand global connections to Japan with new service at Haneda complementing our hub at Narita."

From Detroit, new service to Haneda will boost Delta's Eastern U.S. gateway to Asia, building on recently added flights to Seoul and Hong Kong, expanded service to Shanghai and long-standing flights to Tokyo-Narita and Nagoya. Delta's hub at Detroit, featuring a state-of-the-art 121-gate terminal designed for international connections, will provide one-stop service to Haneda for customers in 106 U.S. cities.

"Delta demonstrates their confidence in Detroit Metro with the continued expansion of Asian routes, specifically to Tokyo-Haneda, continuing to position the Detroit Metropolitan area as an international gateway," said Wayne County Executive Robert A. Ficano. "This addition will be a collective boost for Delta's Eastern gateway to Asia and for Southeast Michigan."

From Los Angeles, Delta will serve the largest mainland U.S.-Tokyo market, as well as provide one-stop service for customers in 21 U.S. cities.

Said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa: "I am very proud that the U.S. DOT chose Los Angeles as the U.S. West Coast gateway for this much sought-after, new route.  Delta's new nonstop route between LAX and Tokyo-Haneda will increase competition and enhance customer benefits on flights between the U.S. and Haneda, as well as strengthen business, tourism and cultural ties with one of the most desirable cities in Asia."

In addition to Haneda, Delta will continue to offer daily trans-Pacific service from Los Angeles to Tokyo-Narita, Sydney, Australia and Tahiti (operated by joint venture partner Air France).

All Delta flights between the United States and Haneda will operate using 403-seat Boeing 747-400 aircraft.  These aircraft feature 65 seats in BusinessElite and 338 seats in Economy. Customers on all Haneda flights will have the opportunity to experience Delta's award-winning BusinessElite service, including innovative food offerings from celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein and original wine selections chosen by Delta's Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson. BusinessElite also features on-demand personal in-seat entertainment boasting more than 20 first-run and popular classic movies, a variety of TV programs, music titles and a suite of video games.

As previously announced, Delta will invest $1 billion, or about $300 million per year, through mid-2013 to improve the customer experience in the air and on the ground. The product investment includes installing full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite on approximately 90 trans-Ocean aircraft and adding in-seat audio and video on demand in Economy Class on widebody aircraft that do not feature this service today.  The 747-400 fleet flying to Haneda will receive both enhancements.

Delta is the No.1 U.S. airline operating in the Japan market. Delta operates nonstop flights from its Asian hub at the Tokyo-Narita Airport to nine U.S. mainland gateways, three beach resorts – Hawaii, Guam and Saipan – and 10 destinations in Asia.  Delta also operates daily flights from Osaka's Kansai International Airport and Nagoya's Centrair Airport.  Delta recently announced plans to add new service between Nagoya and Honolulu and between Tokyo-Narita and the Pacific island of Palau, both effective in December, pending government approvals.

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 369 destinations in 67 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, 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 and Alitalia. 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