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Delta Air Lines Launches First Nonstop Service
between Accra and World's Largest Airline Hub in
Atlanta
Increases choice for passengers travelling
between Ghana and the Americas
ACCRA, 2 June 2010 &endash; Today, Delta Air
Lines (NYSE:DAL) launches the only nonstop service
between Accra's Kotoka International Airport and
Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport,
the world's largest airline hub. The flight
operates four times per week* using a 243-seat
Airbus A330-200 aircraft, complementing the
airline's existing five weekly nonstop services
between Accra and New York-JFK.
"As the leading U.S. airline to Ghana for more
than three years, we're delighted to be adding a
second nonstop service, boosting travel and tourism
between our two nations and increasing travel
choice for Ghanaians with flights to two U.S.
gateways," said Perry Cantarutti, Delta's senior
vice president Europe, Middle East and
Africa. "At Atlanta, customers travelling to
and from Accra will have convenient connections to
more flights than any other hub in the world, to
destinations across the United States &endash;
including Los Angeles, Houston, San Francisco,
Orlando and Washington D.C &endash; and to points
throughout the Americas."
The new Atlanta service departs Ghana at 1 a.m.,
arriving into Atlanta at 8.45 a.m. on Monday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, whilst the return
flight leaves Atlanta at 11.15 p.m, arriving back
into Accra at 2.40pm the following day. Over
the summer, Delta will operate nine weekly services
between Ghana and the United States, providing
passengers with a wide choice of travel dates,
departure and arrival times.
The Airbus A330-200 is equipped with ample cargo
space, providing significant opportunities for
freight forwarders and cargo shippers in Ghana.
"Air Freight forwarders can expect up to eight
tonnes of cargo capacity per departure to Atlanta,
which is a popular destination for exporters from
Ghana due to the extensive same-day onward
connections," added Danita Waterfall-Brizzi,
Delta's regional director cargo sales.
"Commodities include everything from local fruit
and vegetables, as well as handicrafts."
Customers on the flight will have the
opportunity to experience Delta's award-winning
BusinessElite service, including innovative food
offerings from celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein
and original wine selections chosen by Delta's
Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson.
BusinessElite also features on-demand personal
in-seat entertainment boasting more than 20
first-run and popular classic movies, a variety of
television programs, thousands of music titles and
a suite of video games. Passengers in economy will
enjoy seat-back entertainment, as well as a
complementary meal service and beverages.
Delta is the leading U.S. airline to Africa with
service to six destinations across the
continent. Delta has served Ghana since
December 2006, during which time more than 250,000
passengers have flown with Delta between Ghana and
the United States.
Building on its current position as the largest
U.S. carrier operating flights to Africa, Delta
will continue is expansion into fast growing Africa
markets. As well as launching service between
Accra and Atlanta, Delta will also launch nonstop
service between Abuja, Nigeria and New York-JFK
this summer, as well as direct service between
Monrovia, Liberia and Atlanta via Accra. By
the end of 2010, Delta intends to serve as many as
eight African destinations from the United States
including flights to Luanda, Angola, - pending U.S
and foreign government approvals.
About Delta Air
Lines
Delta services between Ghana and the United
States are available for booking via travel agents
and Delta's dedicated reservations teams in Accra,
telephone number 030 -221-3111 and Kumasi,
telephone number 032-203-1121.
Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million
customers each year. With its unsurpassed global
network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers
offer service to 355 destinations in 65 countries
on six continents. Delta employs more than 70,000
employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet
of nearly 800 aircraft. A founding member of the
SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the
industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture
with Air France KLM. Including its worldwide
alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than
16,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam,
Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis,
Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles
de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The
airline's service inc ludes the SkyMiles frequent
flier program, the world's largest airline loyalty
program; the award-winning BusinessElite service;
and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports
worldwide.
* Flight operates three times a week until 14
June which it becomes a four weekly service.
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