Enhanced Onboard Services Shows Delta's Commitment to Become the Best U.S. Carrier in Latin America

USA - English

• Latin America - español

ATLANTA, March 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced a series of onboard service enhancements as part of its continued growth strategy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Delta also announced increased flight frequencies between three popular Caribbean destinations and New York -JFK.

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Customers on Delta's Latin American flights will enjoy the following service enhancements:

• Elegant new meals in the BusinessElite cabin inspired by South American cuisine and designed by renowned international chef Michelle Bernstein, who has an Argentinean heritage
• Chilean Chardonnay and Syrah wines selected by Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson featured in the International Economy Cabin on flights to Latin American destinations
• Desserts reflecting regional preferences such as Dulce de Leche on flights from Argentina
• The Brazilian soft drink Kuat will be offered in all flights from Brazil

"Delta approached Michelle Bernstein last fall to develop a menu for the BusinessElite cabin that gave our customers a sample of the flavors from the regions they are visiting," said Nicolas Ferri, Delta's vice president of Latin America and the Caribbean. "It is always a special challenge to develop gourmet meals to be served at a high-altitude because the palate perceives flavors differently than on the ground, and this was one of the challenges Chef Bernstein embraced."

For Bernstein, the menu is a reflection of her heritage and passion for food. "Nothing makes me more proud than to cook from the culture and history of my family in Argentina," Chef Bernstein said. "I hope you enjoy this menu as much as I enjoyed the memories making it."

Michelle Bernstein's menu will be featured in the premium cabin on all southbound flights in Latin American routes where Business Elite services are provided. The menus will be rotated every month for three months and will feature meals such as:

• Mixed Grill Parilla with Chimichurri Sauce Parsley Potatoes and Broccolini with Citrus
• Braised Beef Short Ribs with Chimichurri Sauce, Creamy Cheese Polenta and Asparagus

Meals in the International Economy Cabin also have been redesigned with regional flare and include:

• Roasted Chicken Breast with Chimichurri, Butter Potato Gratin and Carrots with Roasted Corn
• Grilled Chicken Breast with Port Wine Sauce, Mashed Pumpkin and Haricot Verts

"Building a better airline and becoming the preferred U.S. carrier in Latin America is achieved by design," said Ferri. "These enhancements to onboard services reflect that design and Delta's commitment to quality and comfort of its passengers."

This month Delta announced increases in its daily flight frequency between New York – JFK and San Juan, Puerto Rico with three daily flights, and between New York-JFK, Santiago de Caballeros and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with two daily flights.

Delta also will offer music from top Latin American performers as customers board. Juanes and Andrea Echeverri, two internationally acclaimed Colombian singers will be featured during the month of April leading an all-star group of artists. Juanes is a leading rock star who has won Grammy and Latin Grammy awards and sold over 12 million albums. 

On March 1, Delta also launched Despegando, an eight-page section in SKY Magazine. The March edition features Colombian actress Sofía Vergara, highlights places to discover, explores style and inspiration and offers travel advice and celebrity interviews among other features tailored to Delta's Spanish-speaking customers.

Delta Air Lines is working towards becoming the best U.S. carrier in Latin America and the Caribbean. As part of that goal, Delta has established a long-term exclusive alliance with GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes investing more than US $100 million in GOL. Likewise, Delta has invested more than US $65 million in Aeromexico as part of a long-term exclusive commercial alliance and entered a code sharing agreement with Aerolíneas Argentinas solidifying its footprint in Latin America. Delta provides service in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, to 32 countries and 54 destinations in the region offering more than 1,000 weekly flights between Latin America and Spanish-speaking Delta customers can receive assistance in Spanish on Twitter through @DeltaAssist_ES which provides real-time, on-the-go travel assistance from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST.

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. During the past year, Delta was named domestic "Airline of the Year" by the readers of Travel Weekly magazine, was named the "Top Tech-Friendly U.S. Airline" by PCWorld magazine for its innovation in technology and won the Business Travel News Annual Airline Survey. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 343 destinations in 62 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs 80,000 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-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, a world-class airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Delta is investing more than $2 billion through 2013 in airport facilities and global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines