Delta Receives U.S. DOT Approval to Begin Flights Between Atlanta and Africa in December
Flights to Dakar, Senegal, with continuing direct service to Johannesburg, South Africa, now available for sale to customers


© 2006 PRIMEZONE

ATLANTA, Feb. 28, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delta Air Lines -- the United States' fastest growing major international airline -- has received the necessary U.S. government approvals to begin flights between the world's largest airline hub in Atlanta and the burgeoning South African city of Johannesburg, with an intermediate stop in Dakar, Senegal, effective Dec. 4, 2006. Beginning today, customers can purchase tickets for these new flights at delta.com and through other ticketing channels.

"We are delighted that the U.S. Department of Transportation has acted so quickly to grant Delta's request to connect the business capital of the Southeastern United States with the business capital of South Africa via our flagship international hub in Atlanta," said Glen Hauenstein, Delta's executive vice president of Network Planning and Revenue Management. "We are grateful to our customers and civic supporters for their role in voicing support for this historic new route and we look forward to welcoming customers from around the world to and from Africa as we inaugurate service in December."

With the new service, Delta will become the only major U.S. airline to offer non-stop service between Africa and the United States and the first airline to offer non-stop service between Atlanta and Senegal on the West African coast. The new service, subject to certain foreign government approvals, will operate as follows:



Flight Departs Arrives
34 Atlanta at 3:55 p.m. Dakar at 5:15 a.m. (next day)
34 Dakar at 6:30 a.m. Johannesburg at 4:30 p.m.
35 Johannesburg at 6:50 p.m. Dakar at 1:50 a.m. (next day)
35 Dakar at 3:05 a.m. Atlanta at 7:25 a.m.
The new service also marks the first time since 1997 that Delta has entered a new continent from Atlanta and expands to more than 60 the number of international destinations that Delta plans to serve from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport by December -- up from the approximately 14 international destinations offered 10 years ago. Thanks to this continued expansion, Delta customers traveling to or from Africa via Atlanta will have convenient connecting opportunities to more than 140 North American cities.

Delta will operate its new service to Africa with Boeing 777 aircraft featuring 50 Business Class and 218 Economy Class seats. Customers flying to or from Africa in Delta's award-winning BusinessElite cabin will enjoy access to the airline's personalized dining service, which allows them to enjoy award-winning wines and cuisine at anytime during the flight when it's most convenient for them. Additionally, beginning later this year, Delta will provide customers with a more comfortable and entertaining international BusinessElite experience offering all-leather seats and state-of-the-art digital technology.

Delta Air Lines (Other OTCALRQ) is one of the world's fastest growing international carriers with more than 50 new international routes added or announced in the last year. Delta offers daily flights to 503 destinations in 94 countries on Delta, Song, Delta Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers and its worldwide partners. In summer 2006, Delta plans to offer customers more destinations and departures between the U.S., Europe, India and Israel than any global airline(1), including service on 11 new transatlantic routes from its Atlanta and New York-JFK hubs. Delta also is a major carrier to Mexico, South and Central America and the Caribbean, with more than 35 routes announced, added or applied to serve since Jan. 1, 2005. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on more than 14,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.

Kathi,
Any idea what these flights are going to cost? Has SAA reacted yet to the competition?

R

The new service, subject to certain foreign government approvals

Nothing yet .....

You know what this means ....


Byebye SAA !!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:
You know what this means ....


Byebye SAA !!!!

I hope Delta isn't going to use the same cattle car configuration as SAA.

Kathi,

What would you estimate the probability of Delta surviving? Loaded question I know, but I'm hesitent to book a ticket as far in advance as is required to go to Africa given thier current status. Additionally, I don't think a Delta ticket is covereable with trip insurance right now. I hate the Airbus as much as anybody but...

Thanks for posting these notices.

Cheers

Delta or SAA is like asking if you want to hunt buff with a .45-70 or a push feed remington.

Has anyone ever used their Delta Frequent Flyer miles to go to Johannesburg, and how many miles does it take for a free one?

It takes 80,000 Skymiles roundtrip, coach class.

A business class seat is 120,000 miles and worth it.

Unfortunately - at least on SAA - they were a bit hard to get as I think SAA only allowed for one frequent flyer seat in Business Class on each flight. Hopefully Delta will be a bit better.

Another option is to use SkyMiles to book with other Delta parterns (Northwest/KLM??) through Europe. Don't know if seat availability is any better.

Phil

A downside to this flight to South Africa is that it arrives at 4:30 in the afternoon, which if you're heading on to other countries, will probably require an overnight stay in Johannesburg, and hence, the firearms hassle.

I booked three business class seats thsi June through Delta/KLM to Capetown. 120,000 miles each seat. I also booked three tickets with a couple stops through SA on SAA for 20,000 miles each.

Does anyone know if NWA and Delta will allow the combining of air miles? I have 40K on NWA and 20K on Delta. Id like to buy my coach ticket and upgrade using miles to business class for my trip in 07

Hugh

The problem with that schedule is a 1630 arrival in Johannesburg practically forces you to overnight. In my case anyway, I'd miss the connecting flight to Bulawayo and if there is something I DO NOT want to do, is mess with firearms in RSA. jorge

quote:

Originally posted by Tembo:
I hope Delta isn't going to use the same cattle car configuration as SAA.

"Delta will operate its new service to Africa with Boeing 777 aircraft featuring 50 Business Class and 218 Economy Class seats."

Boeing 777 -- YES!!!!!!!!! Byebye Airbus A340!!!



http://www.boeing.com/commercial/777family/

-Bob F.

Maybe Kathi can reserve all the bulkhead seats for the next two years!

I wonder when they will start booking. I checked yesterday and they are still booking with SAA. I look forward to using Delta even if it will be harder to use the American Express rewards.

This certainly isn't any good for those of us flying this year. Bleagh!