Delta Launches New Service To New York, New York!
…. And Links To Las Vegas And San Francisco And Orlando…

Delta becomes only US carrier to operate service to the Southeast and Northeast United States with new service from Dublin and Shannon to New York-JFK

DUBLIN/SHANNON, 16 May 2006 – Delta Air Lines today launches its new daily service between Dublin and Shannon to New York’s John F. Kennedy airport, which will increase Delta’s capacity in the Irish market from seven to twenty-one weekly flights.  This new service will provide customers from Ireland and the US with a convenient link between Dublin and the Southwest of Ireland with the financial capital of America - New York City, as well as onward connections via JFK to destinations throughout North America and beyond.  This new service will operate onboard a Boeing 767-400 aircraft (283 seats). 

Speaking today, Beth Johnston, Delta’s Senior Vice-President Human Resources said:
“We are extremely excited about launching this new flight today and becoming the only US carrier to serve both the Southeast and Northeast United States, providing Irish customers with daily connections to a combined total of 177 destinations via our JFK and Atlanta hubs, more than any other carrier operating to and from Ireland.  This new flight brings added convenience and travel options for business and leisure passengers to connect onto key business destinations such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Baltimore as well as popular leisure destinations including Orlando and Las Vegas.  We would also hope that our expansion here in Ireland will contribute to Tourism Ireland’s target of increasing visitor numbers from the U.S. this year.” 
 
“There are strong historical, cultural and ancestral ties between the Ireland and United States and Delta is proud of its 20-year history in Ireland.  With over 40 per cent of U.S. visitors to Ireland coming from the regions of New York and the Southeast United States, Delta is pleased to help support economic growth by providing a link between Ireland and New York in addition to extra capacity on its Atlanta route. Currently around two-thirds of U.S. visitors to Ireland arrive between the months of May to September and we are responding to customer demand for increased service between Dublin and Shannon and Atlanta during this peak season."

Martin Moroney, Director, Shannon Airport, said:
“Delta’s decision to significantly increase their services this summer is proof that Shannon continues to play a key role in the development of transatlantic passenger traffic to and from Ireland. We are delighted that Delta Air Lines has committed to a dedicated non-stop Shannon – Atlanta service for the summer season and in particular we welcome the commencement of their service to their New York JFK hub. Our twenty-one year partnership has played a vital role in the success of the airport and the economic prosperity of the region.”

From Shannon Airport, Niall Gibbons, Director of Corporate Services, Tourism Ireland said:
Delta’s decision to introduce these additional services is a real vote of confidence in the strength of the Irish tourism market. The North America market is hugely important to the tourism industry here and this additional capacity during the peak season will play an important role in bringing North American visitor numbers back to growth following a softening of the market last year.  Tourism Ireland has set a growth target of 8.5% in 2006 from North America and will be aiming to break the one million mark of visitors to the island of Ireland from this important market.”

Delta’s schedule between Dublin and Shannon to New York-JFK, effective 16 May 2006

Delta is the largest airline serving New York City’s two preferred airports – John F. Kennedy International and New York-LaGuardia. At LaGuardia, Delta is the largest carrier in terms of available seat miles and offers customers the city’s leading Shuttle product to Boston and Washington, D.C. At New York-JFK, Delta operates a major international and domestic hub with plans to offer 164 peak day flights to 69 worldwide destinations by October, including 15 new nonstop destinations in the U.S. and Canada, five new trans-Atlantic destinations and the airline’s first service between South America and New York. With the July 2006 schedule, Delta will offer customers more flights from JFK than any airline in the market, including more destinations to Europe than any other carrier serving JFK

About Delta
Delta Air Lines (Other OTC: DALRQ) 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 flights to 447 destinations in 96 countries on Delta, 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*, 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 nearly 40 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.
*From the U.S., based on July 2006 OAG.

ENDS
16 May 2006