Delta announces expanded service from U.S. to Europe

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) announced May 5 that it will begin offering new year-round daily service from New York to Zurich while also expanding its service to Rome.

The new daily service will connect New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Zurich Kloten Airport (ZRH) and will expand its service to Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO). Zurich and Rome are two important business markets in Europe and provide a valuable link to the financial center of the U.S., the airline said in a news release announcing the service additions.

"As the primary business market on the trans-Atlantic, demand continues to increase for more nonstop flights from New York to European destinations," Gail Grimmett, Delta's senior vice president - New York, said. "Zurich ranks fourth in terms of business traffic from New York, and our additional service will build on the commercial, tourism and community links between these two cities."

Daily Zurich service will begin June 16 and will employ Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. During the summer, the daily Zurich service will complement the airline's existing service from Atlanta.

Flights will depart JFK at 7:42 p.m., arriving at ZRH at 9:50 a.m. the following day. Return flights will leave ZRH at 1:30 p.m., arriving at JFK at 4:50 p.m.

Service to Rome will operate daily from April to October on an Airbus A330-300 aircraft, and then five times per week in November, December and March on a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft in conjunction with Delta joint venture partner Alitalia.

Flights will depart JFK at 8:12 p.m., arriving at FCO at 10:50 a.m. the following day. Return flights will leave FCO at 12:50 p.m., arriving at JFK at 4:46 p.m.

Effective in the winter of 2014, Delta and partner airlines Air France-KLM and Alitalia will also expand service to key European hubs at Paris Charles De Gaulle International Airport (CDG) and Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport (AMS) from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

BusinessElite seats with direct aisle access
From Atlanta, the joint venture will offer additional daily nonstop service for a total of four daily flights to both Amsterdam and Paris, timed to provide customers with more connecting opportunities to destinations throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Specific dates for the expanded service were not included in the airline’s announcement.

All of Delta's international widebody flights now offer full flat-bed seats with direct aisle access in BusinessElite in addition to Economy Comfort seating. Delta is also the only U.S. domestic carrier to offer personal,on-demand entertainment at every seat on all long-haul international flights. Delta will also roll out Wi-Fi across its entire international fleet by the end of 2015, the airline said in its statement.

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