ATLANTA, Nov. 14, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delta Air Lines will offer customers new nonstop flights between Atlanta and McAllen, Texas, effective Feb. 16, 2006, with twice-daily service between the two growing business centers. The new service, which will be operated by Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA), supports Delta's ongoing transformation strategy to add more flights to key business destinations from its hubs and focus cities and brings to nine the number of new domestic business destinations added from Atlanta since September.
"Our new service to McAllen results from the city's close ties to the multitude of manufacturing centers in southern Texas and northern Mexico, increasing the need for customers from around the globe to visit and do business in this growing region," said Bob Cortelyou, Delta's vice president of Network Planning. "This fall and winter we are continuing our strategic growth plan to offer more service from Atlanta and our other hubs to the places where our customers do business."
Delta's hub at Atlanta -- America's gateway to the world -- will provide convenient access to McAllen from more than 220 cities across North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.
"We are very excited about Delta Air Lines joining our team at the McAllen International Airport," said McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez. "With more than a million people in south Texas and more than five million people in northern Mexico, McAllen has become the regional provider for excellent air service for our entire area."
For a limited time, Delta is offering customers special introductory airfares that translate to a great deal. Tickets must be purchased by Nov. 29, 2005, and travel must be completed by April 6, 2006.
Sample one-way introductory airfares
(based on a round-trip purchase) between McAllen and...
---------------------------------------------------
Atlanta $134
---------------------------------------------------
Norfolk, Va. $149
---------------------------------------------------
Jacksonville, Fla. $134
---------------------------------------------------
Charleston, S.C. $149
---------------------------------------------------
Huntsville, Ala. $149
---------------------------------------------------
Columbia, S.C. $149
---------------------------------------------------
Roanoke, Va. $149
---------------------------------------------------
Richmond, Va. $149
---------------------------------------------------
Additional taxes/fees/restrictions apply. Fares shown are available
only for purchase on delta.com or from a travel agent. See below for
more details.
McAllen is the eighth fastest growing city in the United States and the fastest growing by percentage in the state of Texas, according to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau report. The region's economy is supported by a number of "maquiladoras," or cross-border manufacturing and distribution partnerships, including such well-known firms as Bissell, Black & Decker, LG Electronics, Maytag and Panasonic.
Delta's new non-stop service(a) between Atlanta and McAllen, Texas, effective Feb. 16, 2006. -------- ----------------------- ----------------------- Flight Departs Arrives -------- ----------------------- ----------------------- 4414(b) McAllen at 6:30 a.m. Atlanta at 10 a.m. -------- ----------------------- ----------------------- 4384 McAllen at 1:15 p.m. Atlanta at 4:45 p.m. -------- ----------------------- ----------------------- 4384 Atlanta at 10:45 a.m. McAllen at 12:42 p.m. -------- ----------------------- ----------------------- 4401 Atlanta at 7:45 p.m. McAllen at 9:42 p.m. -------- ----------------------- ----------------------- (a) Service operated by Delta Connection carrier ASA (b) Flight begins Feb. 17, 2006
McAllen is the latest in a growing line-up of new business destinations served by Delta from Atlanta. Since September, Delta has begun or will start nonstop service between Atlanta and eight new business destinations: Lansing, Mich. (Sept. 1); Kalamazoo, Mich. (Sept. 9); Moline, Ill. (Oct. 1); and these routes on Dec. 1, Bloomington, Ill.; Burlington, Vt.; Green Bay, Wis.; Madison, Wis. and Springfield, Mo.
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 92 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.
A portion of travel for some itineraries may be on the Delta Connection carriers: Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines, Comair, Freedom Airlines, Shuttle America, and SkyWest; codeshare partners Alaska Airlines, American Eagle, Continental Airlines, ExpressJet, Horizon Air, Mesaba, Northwest Airlines, and Pinnacle Airlines; Song, Delta's low-fare service.
Restrictions: Fares shown are available for purchase only on delta.com or from your travel agent. Tickets cost $10 more if purchased from Delta over the telephone or $15 more if purchased at an airport or city ticket office, and these amounts are nonrefundable. Travel agents may impose an additional service charge for ticketing. Tickets are non-transferable. Seats are limited and fares may not be available on all flights or in all markets. Tickets: Fares shown are one-way. Round-trip purchase is required. Tickets must be purchased at least 14 days prior to departure, but no later than Nov. 29, 2005. See delta.com for online ticket purchase requirements and restrictions. Travel Period: Travel may begin on or after Feb. 16, 2006 and must be completed by April 6, 2006. Blackout Dates: Travel is not permitted Feb. 17, 18, 20, 25, or 26, 2006. Fare Validity: Fares are valid in the Economy (Coach) cabin on Delta/Delta Connection carriers and Song flights only. Minimum Stay: One night. Maximum Stay: April 6, 2006. Cancellations/Refunds/Changes: Fares are nonrefundable. Delta may permit you to apply a portion of the fare value to future travel upon payment of applicable fees and fare difference, otherwise the ticket will have no value. Delta may allow you to cancel certain tickets until midnight of the day after purchase (or midnight of the departure date of the first flight, whichever comes first) without penalty if purchased at the time of reservation directly from Delta. Contact a Delta agent or visit delta.com for details. Taxes/Fees: Fares do not include a $3.20 Federal Excise Tax which will be imposed on each flight segment in the passenger's ticketed itinerary. A flight segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. Fares do not include Passenger Facility Charge(s) of up to $18.00, depending on itinerary or September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 per round-trip. These taxes and fees are the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time the ticket is purchased. Miscellaneous: Fares and rules are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. (C) 2005 Delta Air Lines, Inc.