Delta Air Lines Receives Approval for First Flights Between Detroit Hub and South America

DETROIT, May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced it has received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to operate twice-weekly service between its Detroit Metropolitan Airport hub and Sao Paulo, Brazil. The new service, which will begin Oct. 21, is currently available for purchase at delta.com and other ticketing channels.

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"We are gratified the Department of Transportation quickly approved our proposal to link Sao Paulo, South America's largest business market, with our Detroit hub," said Andrea Fischer Newman, senior vice president – Government Affairs. "Our new service to Brazil will strengthen the airport's importance as a leading international gateway."

To celebrate the new service, Delta is offering special introductory fares* starting at $449 each way (based on round-trip purchase) on flights between Detroit and Sao Paulo. Availability at these fares is limited, and tickets must be purchased by May 24 for travel between Oct. 21 and Dec. 10, 2010.  Additional taxes, fees, restrictions and baggage charges may apply.  Additional details are included below*.

Delta's schedule between Detroit and Sao Paulo starting Oct. 21:

*Effective Oct. 22, 2010

Delta will operate the flights using 216-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with 35 seats in BusinessElite and 181 seats in Economy Class. Delta's award-winning BusinessElite service features new bedding with a full-size pillow and quilted duvet comforter, Chef Michelle Bernstein's cuisine featuring larger entree portions and Sommelier Andrea Robinson's upgraded wine program. BusinessElite customers also enjoy a full-menu pre-departure beverage service, PC power and state-of-the-art, on-demand entertainment system, priority check-in and baggage claim.  Delta is in the process of upgrading all of its international widebody aircraft, including the 767-300ER, to include full flat bed seats in BusinessElite.

The new Detroit service will create a second competitive gateway to Brazil from the Midwest region and build on Delta's continued expansion in the Detroit market, which includes new nonstop service to Hong Kong and Seoul-Incheon beginning in June. Delta also has an application pending with the DOT for nonstop service between Detroit and Haneda Airport in Tokyo. The new routes have been enabled by Delta's merger with Northwest Airlines, which was completed last year.

Delta also has a pending application with the DOT to expand service to daily between Detroit and Sao Paul in the future as additional frequencies become available.  

Delta serves 138 destinations from its Detroit hub, including 16 international destinations. Delta customers flying at Detroit Metropolitan Airport enjoy service at the state-of-the-art, 120-gate terminal designed specifically for international connections. Detroit's airport was recently ranked No. 1 among large airports in overall customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates.

Between Brazil and the United States, Delta currently offers more than 30 nonstop weekly flights.  This includes service between Atlanta and Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza, and Manaus; and service between New York-JFK and Sao Paulo.  In December, Delta became the first and only U.S. airline to offer nonstop service from the United States to Brazil's capital city, with flights between Atlanta and Brasilia.

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 367 destinations in 66 countries on six continents. Delta employs more than 70,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of nearly 800 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 16,000 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 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.

*Terms and Conditions: Fare shown available at delta.com. Tickets cost $20 more if purchased from Delta over the phone, $35 more at a Delta ticket counter or ticket office, and these amounts are nonrefundable. Tickets are non-transferable. Seats are limited. Tickets: Fare shown is one-way. Round-trip purchase is required. Tickets must be purchased 24 hours after reservations are made, but no later than May 24, 2010.Travel Period: Travel may begin on or after October 21 through December 10, 2010 and must be completed by December 17, 2010; Blackout Dates: None Fare Validity: Fares are valid in the Economy (Coach) cabin via non-stop flights only. Fares shown are valid Monday through Friday, while higher fares apply for travel Saturday through Saturday.  Minimum Stay: Saturday night. Maximum Stay: 1 month or December 17, 2010, whichever is earlier. Cancellations/Refunds/Changes: Tickets are nonrefundable except in accordance with Delta's cancellation policy. Fees may apply for downgrades/reissues and itinerary changes. Contact a Delta agent or visit delta.com for details. Taxes/Fees: Federal Excise tax of $3.70, Passenger Facility Charge(s) of up to $4.50, and the September 11th Security Fee of up to $2.50 for each flight segment are not included. For travel to/from Hawaii/Alaska, U.S. International Air Transportation Tax of up to $16.20 is not included. International fares do not include U.S. International Air Transportation Tax of up to $32.20 and U.S. and foreign user, inspection, security or other similarly based charges, fees or taxes of up to $299 depending on itinerary. Taxes and fees must be paid when the ticket is purchased. Baggage Charges: For travel within the United States/PR/U.S. Virgin Islands and to/from Canada, $23 USD/CAD* fee for 1 checked bag and $32 USD/CAD* fee for second checked bag when bags are prepaid during online check-in at delta.com. There is a $2 USD/CAD surcharge for the first bag, $3 USD/CAD for the second bag, when checking in via ticket counter, kiosk, or curbside. For all other travel, no fee for 2 checked bags (50 USD/CAD/EUR fee for travel to/from Europe for second checked bag when bags are prepaid during online check-in at delta.com, 55 USD/CAD/EUR fee for second bag when checking in via ticket counter, kiosk, or curbside) and 200 USD/CAD/EUR fee for third checked bag. Allowances are subject to size/weight limits.  Contact a Delta agent for details.  SkyMiles Partner Offers: Partner offers subject to the terms and conditions of each individual offer. Partners subject to change. All SkyMiles program rules apply. To review the rules, please visit delta.com/memberguide. Miscellaneous: Fares, taxes, fees, rules, and offers are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines