ATLANTA, Sept. 23, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) has filed an application with the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to operate daily nonstop service between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Cancun, Mexico. The filing follows the conclusion Wednesday of a new Air Transport Services Agreement between the governments of the United States and Mexico, which made this new service possible. Delta proposes beginning the new flights in mid-December.
"JFK is one of Delta's largest and most important hub cities. The addition of nonstop Cancun service is another important step toward the goal of developing our JFK hub into one of this country's premier international gateways," said Glen Hauenstein, Delta's executive vice president and chief of Network & Revenue Management. "Given the substantial connecting opportunities and local demand for Mexico service at our JFK gateway, this proposed new service would provide customers throughout the eastern United States with enhanced online service to one of the world's most popular leisure destinations."
Delta has recently announced new and expanded service to Mexico in response to customers' preferences for more flights between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean. Beginning March 5, 2006, the carrier will offer service to the island of Cozumel from three destinations: Atlanta, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. Also, on Dec. 1, 2005, the airline will expand its service between Atlanta and Cancun, with two additional daily flights for a total of four daily flights, and will add a third daily flight between Atlanta and Mexico City. With this newest service, Delta will offer customers 20 daily flights to seven destinations in Mexico. In addition to JFK-Cancun, Delta has applied to the DOT for authority to operate service from Atlanta to Merida, from Orlando and Los Angeles to Cancun, and from New York-JFK to Cozumel, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta, and from Cincinnati to Cabo San Lucas.
Delta Air Lines is the world's second-largest airline in terms of passengers carried and the leading U.S. carrier across the Atlantic, offering daily flights to 502 destinations in 88 countries on Delta, Song, Delta Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers and its worldwide partners. Delta's marketing alliances allow customers to earn and redeem frequent flier miles 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.
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