DELTA Air Lines, which bills itself the world’s fastest growing international airline, becomes the second US carrier to fly into the Gulf, after United Airlines launched its Kuwait-Washington DC service.
The new connection between Dubai and Atlanta, the world’s largest hub, is to be launched May 31.
The new five-times-a-week flight builds upon the success of Delta’s international expansion in 2006 and supports the carrier’s continued growth to some of the world’s fastest growing economies in the Middle East and Asia.
Said Delta CEO Gerald Grinstein, “The new service will offer many important new travel options for business and leisure customers between Dubai and the US, along with multiple opportun-ities for freight forwarders and cargo shippers. From Atlanta, customers will benefit from convenient onward conne-ctions to more than 150 business and leisure destinations throughout the US.”
Between Dubai and Atlanta, Delta will operate using Boeing 777-200ER aircraft seating up to 268 passengers with 50 seats in BusinessElite, Delta’s award-winning business class. Customers choosing this class on the route will enjoy Delta’s enhanced service, including more comfortable seats with all-leather coverings, improved leg rests, more durable and comfortable cushioning throughout the seat, and 60 inches of legroom, said Grinstein.
Additionally, BusinessElite customers will enjoy new innovative food offerings designed by celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein, original wine selections, and on-demand personal in-seat entertainment with more than 20 movies, a variety of TV programmes, a broad range of music, and a suite of 12 video games.
Other new routes from Atlanta are to Prague, Vienna and Seoul; from New York-JFK to Pisa/Florence and Bucharest (all effective mid-2006). All flights are subject to foreign approval.
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The announcement follows a statement by the US ambassador to the UAE, Michele J Sison, who told media recently that several US airlines have shown interest in launching flights to the UAE in view of the dazzling success of the country’s civil aviation. The US Federal Aviation Administration had developed an “excellent partnership” with UAE civilian aviation authorities, she said. A delegation from US consulates in the region, including the UAE, Kuwait and Jordan, will visit Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago and New York to promote trade relations with the Middle East.