New York is one of the most important markets we serve at Delta, and it has long been our goal to become the preferred airline for customers traveling to and from New York.

And we’ve made a lot of progress in the past decade. We built an international hub at JFK that connects the city to points across the globe, including Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. We broke ground last year on a $1.2 billion expansion and enhancement of Terminal 4 at JFK. And you’re seeing Delta’s name all over the city as the official airline of the Yankees and Mets, the Knicks, the Rangers and Madison Square Garden, just to name a few.

Today marks a new step in our New York expansion, and it’s Delta’s biggest move yet. We’ve unveiled our schedule for 2012 that creates a new domestic hub at LaGuardia Airport. We’ll be adding 100 new daily flights to nearly 30 new cities from LaGuardia. We’re adding new service to top business markets like Miami, Dallas/Fort Worth and Cleveland, and adding or expanding service to small- and mid-sized cities across the country, including Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester, N.Y.; Richmond, Va.; Greensboro, N.C.; and Norfolk, Va.

Many smaller communities will be getting jet service on Delta to LaGuardia, a significant upgrade from smaller, turborprop aircraft that previously served those markets.

Overall, we’ll be adding 4 million new seats every year at LaGuardia.  And we can do that without increasing congestion simply by using larger aircraft than other airlines had previously.  In the end, our new LGA service will enhance customer choice and increase competition in the market. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently concluded that our New York expansion has significant benefits for consumers – and we strongly agree.

It’s the largest single-carrier expansion in New York in many years, which makes this an exciting and historic day for Delta and our New York customers.

To make sure we can handle all of these new flights smoothly, we’re taking over Terminal C at LaGuardia, and building a 600-foot bridge connecting it with Delta Terminal D. We’ll operate a total of 29 gates at both terminals, and we’re also going to add a new Delta Sky Club in Terminal C, in addition to the newly-renovated one in Terminal D.

Including our six gates at the Marine Air Terminal, we’ll have a total of 35 gates at LaGuardia by summer 2012 – more than double what we operate now.

I’m looking forward to seeing you in New York in 2012!

Gail Grimmett

Senior Vice President –New York

Whether it’s a flight across the country or across the pond, we know how important it is that your bags travel where you do. You may remember in April when we announced lots of improvements to help you with checked baggage, which is why today we’re excited to tell you about another one!

Now when you download the latest update to the Delta app, you’ll be able to track your checked bag – just like you track a package.

So how does it work? Just enter the number on your bag tag receipt – or iPhone® users can scan the barcode – and watch your bag’s journey from departure to arrival and all points in between. Plus you’ll even know which carousel they arrive on!

Ever been sitting on the plane and wondering whether your bags are too? With the new app feature you can even track your bags while in flight. That’s right – Gogo® Inflight Internet gives you free access to delta.com or the Delta app.

Plus enjoy other new features when you download the updated app, like the ability to pay for your bags during mobile check-in, accessing airport maps and aircraft information and viewing a complete list of Delta Sky Club® locations so you’re never left wondering where to go.

The latest update for the Fly Delta app is now available for iPhone®, Android™ and Windows® Phone users and is coming to Blackberry® in early 2012. So go ahead, download it for free. It’s just one more way you can “take off” with an easier, more convenient travel experience!

P.S. did we mention we’re the only U.S. airline gives you the tools to track your bags anytime, even while in flight? So be sure to try it out and tell us what you think!

Jonathan Mayfield

Delta Mobile Team

It’s been a busy few months here at JFK while we’ve been working to renovate Terminal 4. We’re excited about our progress, and as the project is getting closer to completion we wanted to provide an update on all of the changes! Check out this time-lapse video to see where we are today:

Those of you traveling through JFK have seen the construction areas — parts of the food court removed and expansion of the security lanes. With this expansion, security lane waiting times will be reduced and give you access to walk between concourses like you do now in Atlanta, Detroit and Salt Lake City. Think of all the concession choices!

The last heavy steel beam on the terminal is scheduled to go up on Nov. 2 to signal the framework of the building is near completion. Fun fact: the hard working hard-hat workers who have been building the addition to Terminal 4 will sign the last steel girder that will be installed for the concourse.

And a special thanks to Airport Customer Service here at JFK. They’ve shifted aircraft and closed gates to accommodate us, and we’re very grateful for all of their hard work in helping bring this terminal to life!

Our goal is to have the new Terminal complete by May 2013, so we hope you’ll come check it out!

Ryan Marzullo

Deputy Program Director for the JFK redevelopment project