We hope you have enjoyed our Force for Global Good team’s takeover of the Delta Blog over the past few days. Our employees – both Delta and Delta employees from Northwest – and our SkyMiles guest have enjoyed updating you about their experience building houses for Habitat for Humanity in Casablanca, Chile. Continue to check here and at our official Flickr photostream for more updates, pictures, and stories as the team returns from Santiago this week. And let us know if there’s anything we missed. Delta employees support several builds for Habitat each year and would love your feedback about what you liked reading or may want to find out more about.
Today, Delta also announced fifteen new international routes for 2009 and to celebrate, we are offering special fares for travel on these new flights. Read our official press release for details and check out a complete list of all of our new service. And while you’re there, don’t forget to visit our Holiday Flights on Sale page.
Which new route are you most excited about? Most surprised by? Let us know!
Katie
Delta Blog
November 12th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I was on the inaugural SLC-CDG flight earlier this year and enjoyed the preflight festivities quite a bit! I look forward to being on the inaugural SLC-NRT flight next year.
November 12th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
My family enjoyed our direct flight from SLC to CDG this July, however, I would not consider flying Delta beyond Europe. With the ever declining service on Delta and other Domestic carriers from the US, it’s a stark difference between Lufthansa and the world class service on Emirates or Singapore to Asia and Africa. It is really disappointing to schlep back on the Domestic bus and be treated like a number back to the States. The fares are comparable so why fly Domestic Carriers (Delta)? You’re going to have to offer something special to pick up that business. I’m not seeing it and Delta domestic travel is deteriorating on a daily basis.
November 12th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Although I’m excited about Delta “spreading their wings”, especially to Asia (I have to fly NWA frequently to get there making me a Platinum 2x this year), you forgot to mention the other news: that DL is cutting service at CVG by 12% while still promising that it will be a hub. See http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-11-12-delta-cincinnati_N.htm?csp=34 . Before the merger, we were told “CVG will stay a hub and the merger might even mean more international service.” Now, it seems what the analysts have been saying may be true – DL will downsize CVG as much as possible, maybe even giving us the dreaded “focus city” status. Article says that seasonal Rome may be cut next year.
I don’t understand the reasoning behind PIT->CDG or RDU->CDG. They are not even hubs or focus cities. Why not restore the “CVG->CDG daily double” that was popular earlier this decade?
And why not CVG->NRT? CVG currently has no flights to Asia, but Toyota and other Japanese companies have a sizeable presence in the region, plus our other multinational HQs like P&G. We’ve got 4 (now underutilized) runways, weather is seldom a problem, and the airport is easy to get around. Why not offer your international travelers a less congested connection?
November 13th, 2008 at 11:40 am
MastaHanky: That’s great! If you have pictures from the inaugural I would encourage you to upload them our official Flickr group for everyone to see. Enjoy the Salt Lake City to Tokyo inaugural!
Lori: It’s good to hear that your family has been able to take advantage of our direct flight from Salt Lake City to Paris. Thank you for your feedback. We are working hard to improve our service both on the ground and in air, so stay tuned here at the Delta Blog in the coming weeks and months – we’ll give you the latest updates and behind the scenes info, from onboard offerings to airport enhancements.
cincyworldtraveler: Everything that we’re hearing from our leadership team states that Cincinnati will remain a hub for Delta. To quote Glen Hauenstein, Delta’s Executive Vice President of Network Planning and Revenue Management in the USA Today article referenced: “…Delta is now reaffirming its commitment to the Cincinnati hub through the summer season of next year and then we’ll take another barometer reading on how the economy is doing. This is the foundation to build upon, and I think the biggest (profit) improvement in all of Delta next year is going to be Cincinnati.” In this morning’s Wall Street Journal, Mr. Hauenstein also gives insight into the reasoning behind our new international routes: “We’re challenged by the economic background but also see opportunities to find new places to fly to… A fleet our size is always going to have some routes that perform better than others. As economic and market dynamics shift, the key is to know how to reposition them.” You can read more from the Wall Street Journal article here for more information.
November 13th, 2008 at 11:45 am
You misspelled one of your newly-announced destinations: the standard spelling (in English) is Gothenburg, Sweden and not Gothenberg as in your press release and schedule. I recommend your issue corrections to maintain your credibility.
November 13th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
This one seems to have slipped below the radar (no pun intended). Service from New York-JFK to Bucharest, Romania (OTP), having been originally shut earlier this year, is to resume effective June 1, 2009, operating as DL 134/135 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Aircraft type is Boeing 767-300ER.
November 13th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
TravelPro: I have passed along the correct information to our Corporate Communications department. Thank you very much for letting us know!
Chris W.: Thanks for the update! I’ve always wanted to check out Bucharest.
November 13th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Can I ask if the lie-flat seats are being rolled out on the new routes? There was a Delta press release about 18 months ago making a big deal about lie-flat seats and how they would be installed by end of 2008. But I haven’t seen it yet – only one little blurb that the new 777-200LR has them on the flight to India.
I hate to admit it, but I’ve moved most of my transatlantic flights to LH for that reason (enough that I’m now *G this year). The food and amenities on DL Business Elite have vastly improved in the past year. I brag to people about the excellent crab cakes that I had on a DL flight from CVG->FRA – people don’t believe me (please integrate this aspect with NWA as soon as possible – their biz food is not much better than DL Economy). The DL seats are the Achilles’ heel – I just can’t sleep very well in them. And when I have to go straight to work on arrival, sleep is very important. The new DL pillows and duvet are very comfy, but the cradle seat kills your back. To be a competitive global airline, DL needs to play catch up with the Euro and Asian rivals. Most have a lie-flat product. NWA has really been the only domestic option with this feature, but for my needs, it’s not worth a double-connection when LH offers a single connection at same price.
Good WSJ article. Even though I’m not happy about the CVG situation, hopefully these new moves make DL stronger and more profitable which will theoretically trickle down to CVG.
November 13th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
cincyworldtraveler: Great question! Chris knows most about our lie-flat seat deployments through the end of the year – check out last week’s post “Full Flats Forthcoming” for the most up to date information. I agree with you regarding Chef Michelle Bernstein’s Delta International BusinessElite menus. You can find out more information about Michelle in Sabrina’s blog post congratulating her on the “Best Chef of the South” honor from this year’s James Beard Foundation Awards!
November 13th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
OK, here comes a suggestion from me, and like usual it isn’t that simple. I have been thinking about this for about 24 hours and feel that what I have to say is crucial for Delta’s success on the JFK-NRT market.
Unlike most of Delta’s new routes, JFK-NRT is unique in the sense that Delta is not leading but following. American, ANA, and JAL all operate nonstop flights on this route. Both the Oneworld Alliance (JAL) and Star Alliance (ANA) have huge hubs at NRT. At NRT, Delta will now represent the Sky Team Alliance.
Now, at the moment, Delta is planning on operating a 2-class 777-200ER on the JFK-NRT route, competing with 3 other airlines. DELTA, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY TYPE OF PROFIT ON THIS ROUTE, IN MY OPINION, THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN COMPETE WITH THESE OTHER AIRLINES WITH YOUR CURRENT 777 CABIN. ANA and JAL both offer 4 classes on their airplanes as well as fantastic food and service. AA has 3 classes. Delta, you don’t even have fully reclining seats.
Before you initiate this route, I feel you must do the following:
Take the 777′s to your workshop, keep everything in the last 3rd of the aircraft, install new premium economy and lie flat business seats in the center section, and come out with a fantastic first class product for the front. That’s the only way that you’re going to steal passengers from AA, JAL, and ANA. You have to remember: All of these airline have IFE, food, and more connections through NRT than you guys have.
Based on the fact that JAL has turned 2 747′s daily between JFK-NRT to 1 daily 777 with an occasional second 747, it is evident that the demand for seats on this route is going down. Therefore, the only way for you guys to get a full flight on this route is to steal passengers from these other carriers. Your current product will not do that. Remember, this is not ATL-DXB.
November 13th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Totally agree with the last post. Would love to see DL come out with a world leading first class product, at least on the transpacific routes. Look to SQ for inspiration – they’ve got one of the best.
November 13th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Two more transpacific routes to suggest (don’t know if they are possible non-stop, maybe with 777LR?):
JFK or ATL to Sydney – may be possible under new US/AUS open skies?
JFK or ATL to Manila – to my knowledge, there is currently no non-stop service to MNL from the eastern US. Everything has to stop in Japan. Planes always seem full of Filipino workers/families and businesspeople in the front.
November 14th, 2008 at 4:03 am
Skymiler brings up some good points about the need for a high-end First Class product.
I think where he misses the “big picture” is that unlike JL, NH and even AA and UA…DL has a highly successful hub at JFK where customers from all over the eastern seaboard, Latin America and South America will be able to connect.
The O&D traffic is important, but DL will not have to rely solely on that to sustain this route. They will have plenty of feed to make this route to Japan a success!
And with the 5th freedom rights from the merger with NWA, Tokyo will be an even more important hub providing single carrier connections to cities all across Asia.
So Skymiler, although you bring up some good points about DL in relation to JL and NH’s service, those carriers have to rely on mostly local traffic which is why this route is not so profitable for them.
November 14th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I am so looking forward to be flying DL from GOT-JFK. Göteborg(swedish spelling) Gotheburg( english) is my base (used to be in the airline industry) hehe..Its about time a US carrier like DL, that has a high level of customer service and reputation, came to a city in Sweden that has been off the map for years..Alot of customers fly DL from here but with a connection in AMS or CDG…Alot of use are eager for the big day….
Flyiboy
November 14th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Just a quite question I forgot to ask…I did not see if these flights are seasonal or yearly ?..
Thanks
Flyiboy
November 15th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
DTWRedTail,
I have to disagree with you. In my opinion, the fact that more passengers traveling on Delta’s JFK-NRT MAY be connecting passengers instead of O&D passengers does not give Delta the excuse to have a below average, out dated product. Even the passengers who do not originate their travels at JFK still have a choice of airlines. They can connect through IAD on UA and fly ANA or UA to NRT, ORD and fly JAL or AA to NRT, EWR and fly CO to NRT, DFW and fly AA, ETC. If Delta wants passengers to connect through JFK and fly with them to NRT, or simply fly O&D between JFK and NRT, a competitive product is crucial.
If this was a JFK to Africa route or even a JFK-Europe route I would not be concerned, but it’s not. This is New York to Tokyo we’re talking about! In the past few years every airline flying JFK-NRT has changed their cabin to have beds and at least 3 classes. Delta is not going to do well using a product that has barely changed since the late 90′s.
December 1st, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Skymiler, cincyworldtraveler, and DTWRedTail – Thank you so much for your suggestions and discussion. I will pass along these suggestions to the appropriate contacts.
Flyiboy, great question! The New York-JFK to Zurich, Switzerland route will be seasonal, but all the other routes are showing as yearly. Hope this helps!
December 13th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
SkyMiler, I wasn’t making excuses for DL on the JFK/NRT route. You came out and said it won’t be profitable because airlines X, Y and Z are not profitable.
I was simply explaining how DL will be able to build on its successful JFK hub and make the flight profitable.
December 13th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Yo is there any chance you guys might fly somewhere in the former Yugoslavia (slovenia croatia bosna serbia kosovo montenegro macedonia) from somewhere in the usa east coast (ex: new york or atlanta) for the summer? I think some places over there would be a good place to fly for your airline, I’ve been longing to find nonstop north america-ex yu flights for a long time and it usually determines whether i go there at all in the summer for family reasons, because connecting flights with Star Alliance from JFK, EWR, PHL, BWI, or IAD cost at least $1400 (round trip), and those prices are with the mileage discounts, so they are actually usually more than that even! This is just some advice I’m not just saying this for my own benefit tankyooverymuch. Any reply would be greatly appreciated
December 15th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Delta Blog….Sorry to hear that the operation from GOT-JFK on June 12 2009 as been canx. It would have been a great route. I was about to buy a BE ticket when I notice the accountment in a local newpaper…I hope this service will come back..
Flyiboy
January 28th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Delta Blog,
There is a rumor going that Delta will start service to Port-au-Prince Haiti in the coming months. Can you please confirm or deny this statement. One of our local newspaper ran a small article confirming this new flight, just in case you want to check it out here is their link: http://www.lenouvelliste.com
Don’t get me wrong, we would love to see you come to Haiti, bacause American is killing us.
Thank you for a prompt reply.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
First of all, I am extremely happy that Delta Airlines is flying direct and nonstop routes between the USA (JFK and Atlanta) to Senegal, Egpyt, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa. I have had the pleasure of flying Atlanta/Lagos and Accra/New York, both of which are nonstop segments…A few months later I did JFK/ACC roundtrip. which was sooooo pleasant both ways that I got over the fact that these Boeing 767′s are not outfitted with personal video screens in coach.
In addition to extreme happiness, I am bursting at the seams knowing that the Boeing 777 is going to replace the 763ER on the ATL/LOS route come July 1st. This will be great for this route, because the 777 has much more overhead room and a wider cabin. On the last flight I took ACC to JFK, the flight was great and the staff were excellent.
I really hope that the planned service to Nairobi comes to life. And, I also hope that the JFK/ABV (Abuja) flight is replaced with a widebody. I cannot imagine flying in the single-aisle cabin of a Boeing 757 for at least 13 entire hours. What is that all about?
I hope the US Department of Homeland Security clears Delta to fly into Nairobi soon. So many people are counting on Delta’s service and presence. I imagine Delta will also decide to do ATL/NBO nonstop eventually.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
I guess I’m really excited about the prospect of eventually being able to fly directly to Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) and Luanda (Angola). I just hope widebodies are used for these flights. Even with a stop in Dakar, the Boeing 757 (used on JFK/DKR and JFK/ABV) is just too narrow and tunnelish and lacking sufficient bathrooms. Why would anyone pay to fly such long hours on such an aircraft? For example, if I were going to Abuja on or after 1 July, I’d fly ATL/LOS on a Boeing 777 and then make my way to Abuja with Arik Air or Virgin Nigeria.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I love Delta Airlines…I want to work for Delta Airlines!!!
July 16th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
With all these new Destinations there is one i hope to see in the near future and that is a non-stop Delta and/or Northwest flight from Memphis to London. That is one destination i hope to see in the near future because it would mean no more connections to Chicago, Atlanta, or New York which would be great!