ATLANTA, Aug. 27, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) today announced it will offer two new direct flights between the United States and Brazil, offering convenient access for customers traveling to the Amazon region and to two of the most popular beach destinations in the Brazilian Northeast.
Beginning Dec. 19, 2008, Delta will offer nonstop service between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Eduardo Gomez International Airport in Manaus. On Dec. 22, Delta will start service between Atlanta and the Fortaleza International Airport via the Guararapes International Airport in Recife.*
This new service increases to 32 the number of weekly flights Delta offers between the United States and five Brazilian destinations.
Delta currently offers daily nonstop service between Atlanta and New York-JFK and Sao Paulo's Guarulhos International Airport, and between Atlanta and Rio de Janeiro's Galeao-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport. Delta recently also announced the addition of a seasonal frequency between Atlanta and Sao Paulo, effective Dec. 20, 2008.
Manaus is the capital of Amazonas, Brazil's largest state and home to the region's main port. It is the starting point for travelers who want to discover the wonders of the tropical rainforest and ecological tourism options along the Rio Negro and Amazon Rivers, the largest in the world.
Recife, the capital of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, is a gateway to famous tropical beaches and world-renowned resorts, and hosts one of the main Carnival festivals of the country.
Fortaleza, the capital of the state of Ceara, lies on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, in the northeast of Brazil, offering 16 miles of urban beaches and an array of tourism, cultural and gastronomic options.
Delta's schedule between Atlanta and Manaus, effective Dec. 19, 2008: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Flight Departs Arrives Frequency Aircraft ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 557 Atlanta at 5 p.m. Manaus at 12:22 a.m. Daily Boeing 737-700 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 558** Manaus at 1:30 a.m. Atlanta at 7:09 a.m. Daily Boeing 737-700 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ** Service begins Dec. 20, 2008 Delta's schedule between Atlanta and Recife-Fortaleza, effective Dec. 21, 2008: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Flight Departs Arrives Frequency Aircraft ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 90 Atlanta at 9:15 p.m. Recife at 8:05 a.m. Tue., Thurs, Boeing Fri. Sun. 757-200 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 90**** Recife at 9:23 a.m. Fortaleza at 10:45 Mon., Wed., Boeing a.m. Fri., Sat. 757-200 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 90**** Fortaleza at 11:45 Atlanta at 6:40 p.m. Mon., Wed., Boeing a.m. Fri., Sat. 757-200 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- **** Service begins Dec. 22, 2008 One-way or round-trip service between Recife and Fortaleza is not permitted. All flights must originate or end in the United States.
To kick off the new service, Delta is offering a special one-way introductory fare of $659*** on the Atlanta-Manaus route, and $599*** on the Atlanta-Recife-Fortaleza route for travel between Jan. 6 and March 27, 2009. Round-trip ticket purchase required. Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 8, 2008. Additional taxes/fees/restrictions/baggage charges may apply. Details are included below.
"These new flights are the result of the recent limited expansion of the bilateral agreement between the governments of the United States and Brazil, which opens the door to new opportunities for tourists as well as new business ventures between the two countries," said Christophe Didier, Delta's vice president of Sales and Government Affairs for Latin America and the Caribbean. "We look forward to continued expansion of this agreement in the future."
Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 312 destinations in 61 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 393 weekly flights to 47 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 500 worldwide destinations in 105 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.
* Subject to foreign government approval.
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* TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Restrictions: Fare shown is available at delta.com. Tickets cost $25 more if purchased from Delta over the phone, or at a Delta ticket counter, and this amount is nonrefundable. Tickets are nontransferable. Seats are limited. Tickets: Fare shown is one-way. Round-trip purchase is required. Tickets must be purchased within 72 hours after reservations are made and no later than September, 8 2008. Travel Period: For all destinations: Travel may begin on or after January 6, 2009 and must be completed by March 27, 2009. Blackout Dates: None. Fare Validity: Fare is valid only in the Economy (Coach) cabin via nonstop flights operated by Delta Air Lines. Minimum Stay: Saturday night. Maximum Stay: All travel must be completed by March 27, 2009. Taxes/Fees: A $3.50 Federal Excise Tax, Passenger Facility Charge(s) of up to $4.50 for each flight segment, and the September 11th Security Fee of up to $2.50 for each flight segment are not included. Fares do not include U.S. International Air Transportation Tax of up to $30.80 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, no fee for 1 checked bag and $50 fee for second checked bag. For all other travel, no fee for 2 checked bags and $200 fee for third checked bag. Allowances subject to size/weight limits. Contact a delta agent or visit delta.com for details. 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. Miscellaneous: Fares, taxes, fees, rules, and offers are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.