ATLANTA, July 17, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) today begins service between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Saint-Exupery International Airport in Lyon, France, offering the only nonstop flight between the United States and France's second-largest city. Through the airline's joint venture with Air France, the new Delta flight also connects customers to 40 European destinations via Lyon.
Delta links the United States nonstop to more French cities than any other airline. The Lyon flight complements Delta's existing daily nonstop service between Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport and New York-JFK, Atlanta, Cincinnati and Salt Lake City, and to Nice from New York-JFK. The flight forms part of Delta's growing international network, which now operates more than 450 weekly flights to 47 destinations in 31 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, India and the Middle East -- more than any other airline.
"Our new service to Lyon -- France's second-largest city, a thriving business destination and a growing tourist gateway to the Alps -- strengthens Delta's position as the leading carrier across the Atlantic," said Lee Macenczak, executive vice president -- Sales and Marketing. "Together with our joint venture partner Air France we offer passengers the best travel options between the U.S. and Europe, the Middle East and Africa."
"Not only is this new service between New York and Lyon part and parcel of our global offer with Delta Air Lines in the frame of our joint venture agreement, but it also consolidates the very specific hub system that we have been successfully building in Lyon over the past 10 years," said Jean Claude Cros, Air France's vice president and general manager-USA. "In Lyon we offer quick and convenient connections from and to 40 European cities as well as a premium nonstop flight for our clients of the large Rhone-Alpes and Central Eastern area of France."
Delta's new nonstop service between New York-JFK and Lyon will be operated using a Boeing 757-200 ETOPS aircraft with up to 174 seats in a two-cabin configuration, including 16 seats in Delta's award-winning BusinessElite service and 158 economy class. Delta's BusinessElite service features all-leather sleeper seats, innovative food offerings from celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein and award-winning, original wine selections chosen by Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson. The airline's on-demand personal in-seat entertainment boasts more than 20 first-run and popular classic movies, a variety of TV programs, a broad range of music, and a suite of 12 video games in both classes of service. Economy class customers also benefit from new all-leather economy seats, amenity kits and enhanced food offerings. Flights between New York and Lyon will have English- and French-speaking flight attendants onboard.
Delta customers traveling to Lyon can also take advantage of U.S. Helicopter service, which provides an eight-minute trip between New York-JFK and Manhattan. U.S. Helicopter service is complimentary with Delta's BusinessElite service to and from JFK*, or $159** one way plus taxes and fees. See below for details.
Delta's nonstop service from New York-JFK to Lyon is scheduled as follows:
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Flight Departs Arrives Effective Frequency
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DL174 / New York-JFK Lyon at 7:05 a.m.
AF8987 at 4:30 p.m. (arrives the July 17, 2008 5 x week
following day)
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DL175 / Lyon at New York-JFK
AF8992 9:30a.m. at 12:15 p.m. July 18, 2008 5 x week
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A portion of travel for some itineraries may be operated by Air France.
Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 327 destinations in 62 countries. Delta has added more international capacity than any major U.S. airline during the last two years and is the leader across the Atlantic with flights to 44 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers 609 weekly flights to 62 destinations. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on more than 16,000 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. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 499 worldwide destinations in 105 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
Recently named the "Best Trans-Atlantic Airline" for the third consecutive year by Global Traveler's Reader Survey, recipient of Aviation Week & Space Technology's "2006 Commercial Air Transport Laureate," and named "Airline of the Year for 2005" by Air Transport World, the Air France KLM group operates more than 2,470 daily flights out of Paris and Amsterdam to 242 destinations in 105 countries. Air France currently operates from 15 U.S. gateways and provides service from 125 U.S. cities through code-share agreements with SkyTeam partners Delta, Continental and Northwest Airlines. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.airfrance.us or contact your travel professional.
* Complimentary one-way or round-trip helicopter service is included when purchasing applicable published one-way or round-trip through fares, respectively, as described in the following. Origin or termination point must be JRB or TSS, via JFK, to receive the published through fare. Offer is not valid for point to point fares between JRB or TSS and JFK. Valid for travel through December 31, 2008. All tickets must be purchased, and travel must be completed by December 31, 2008. Offer valid for tickets purchased on or after April 15, 2008. Valid only on nonstop flights between JFK and international destinations when purchasing a qualifying Business Class fare (designated by fare basis code beginning with C, D or J excluding Government/Industry Discounted fares). Round-trip purchase not required. Codeshare flights are eligible when booked as a Delta (DL) flight. Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean destinations are excluded. Additional restrictions apply. Offer is not combinable with complimentary chauffeur service. Offer subject to change without notice.
** The USH nonrefundable fare shown includes Federal Tax of 7.5%. The following fees are not included: Federal segment fees of up to $7.00, September 11th security fee of up to $5.00, and passenger facility charges of up to $4.50.
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