thit_cho

There's a thread on Traveltalk re Delta's new international expansion, and the thread has been accurate (predicted the ATL-Shanghai route, announced today). Anyway, they mention these new routes, which may be announced this week.

Nine new trans-Atlantic routes with nonstop service between JFK and:
Amman, Jordan (effective June 5)*;
Cairo, Egypt (effective June 4)*;
Edinburgh, Scotland (effective May 1);
Lagos, Nigeria (effective June 9)*;
Malaga, Spain (effective June 4)*;
Tel Aviv, Israel (effective March 10)*;
Dakar, Senegal (effective June 2)*;
Nairobi, Kenya (via Dakar) (effective June 2)*;
and Cape Town, South Africa (via Dakar) (effective June 3)*.

thit_cho

I just checked the JFK-NBO flight, and its loaded into Delta's system.

You can now book a flight from JFK to NBO (via Dakar). Its DL 128, leaving JFK at 3:50pm and arriving in NBO at 4:50 the following day. I checked June 4, and its available. You may be able to grab the frequent flyer seats to NBO via DKR.

Patty

=D>

Ha, ha, just yesterday I was trying to shift my dates to June and was finding the transatlantic sectors difficult. If I'd only been up to speed on things and not in a jet lagged fog, I would've waited a day!

Oh well, I think I'll keep what I have. My tour op is probably ready to tear her hair out

Looks like JFK-DKR-NBO operates on Mo/We/Fr/Sa outbound and Tu/Th/Sa/Su return. I assume CPT will also be non-daily (that one doesn't appear to be loaded into the schedule yet).

sandi

Ugh! One more Frequent Flyer program to join!

moremiles

I've been seeing rumors of this on Flyertalk too and am so happy to see the new routes, esp. NBO, CPT, and CAI!

Momliz

good grief - and i just joined United, and got a United Visa card thinking I would be switching my business to them from Delta. Aaargh - it is so hard since I don't travel all that much, to decide where to concentrate my miles. IAD is a United hub, so that makes it easier. What metal will Delta be using?

Patty

DKR/NBO is a 763. My guess is the same for CPT. AMM/CAI/LOS/TLV are also 763.

The existing JNB flight will switch from 763 to 764 sometime later this year.

764s have PTV in coach. 763s do not.

thit_cho

JFK-Cairo (start June 4):

Mon Wed Fri Sun DL 10 JFK 4:20pm CAI 10:35am+1 763ER
Mon Tue Thu Sat DL 9 CAI 12:30pm JFK 5:40pm 763ER


JFK-Amman (start June 5):

Mon Wed Thu Sat DL 26 JFK 4:20pm AMM 10:00am+1 763ER
Tue Thu Fri Sun DL 23 AMM 12:00pm JFK 6:35pm 763ER


JFK-Lagos (start June 9):

Daily DL 142 JFK 6:40pm LOS 11:05am+1 763ER
Daily DL 143 LOS 12:50pm JFK 6:35pm 763ER


JFK-Dakar-Nairobi (start June 2):

Mon Wed Fri DL 128 JFK 3:50pm DKR 4:05am+1 763ER
Tue Thu Sat DL 128 DKR 5:40am NBO 4:50pm 763ER

Tue Thu Sat DL 229 NBO 7:30pm DKR 12:35am+1 763ER
Wed Fri Sun DL 219 DKR 2:05am JFK 6:15am 763ER

Momliz

763 is a 767 300? - old plane - Boeing picked the wrong diameter fuselage, so it can only hold 1 cargo container whereas the Airbuses can hold two across. Also has problems with thrust reversers. So, they are dumping the old, metal on the lower density routes. Delta has a lot of 767's (all this is from my DH who works for Airbus, so we are a little biased here...) Although one could say Boeing was optimizing passenger (self loading freight) space at the expense of cargo.

thit_cho

http://biz.yahoo.com/pz/070926/127425.html

This article describes the new routes, including the new routes to Africa, in greater detail.

going_2_africa

Nice way to get to Africa from the States and can avoid all those cold weather/weather delay places like MSP or DTW Too bad I hate Delta. Oh well...DTW - CDG or AMS it is.

panecott

This is great news. I'm glad I stuck with Delta Sky Miles.

I hope to have enough miles for another awards flight by next year, and was not looking forward to connecting in Atlanta from JFK.

sandi

Personally, a mid-afternoon departure from JFK really messes up the day. Rather depart early or late. And with the 1.5/hr Dakar stop isn't much shorter than some of the other hub cities. Also the fare shown (for those who pay for tickets) isn't a great deal. NW/KLM, BA, Virgin or Emirates offer better fares.

What we need is a non-stop from the States to NBO.

Though, for Delta FF member, this new routing offers an option.

thit_cho

Sandi, the Delta flight also opens up West Africa. I'm hoping to add a Senegal stopover on a trip to NBO. Much more interesting than a stopover in AMS or CDG. I didn't check rates since I have miles (I haven't yet paid for a trip to Africa, and I have no intention of starting now ;-) )

LAleslie

Momliz, intertesting. This "dumping old metal on lower density routes" might be typical of most legacy airlines, yes? I experienced a sleek new Air France jet from LAX to CDG last fall (can't remember equipment type), then flew CDG to Joburg on a creaky old 747 with seats in biz class that merely reclined.
Leslie

Momliz

laleslie, I think it only makes sense for them to put the shiny, nice new planes on the high dollar, high visibility routes.

CarlaM

bump

thit_cho

Delta's press release. I'm very excited about the new destinations, especially Cairo and Amman (that would be a helluva an open jaw ticket, that otherwise would have been difficult on another carrier).

Summer 2008 schedule offers convenient connections to Europe, Africa and Middle East for more than 85 percent of U.S. flyers, including multiple routes not served by any other major U.S. airline
Expansion enabled by redesigned JFK schedule that aims to reduce congestion, rush hour delays
NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2007 – Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) – the largest global carrier at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport – is introducing a redesigned schedule for summer 2008 that accommodates growing customer demand at JFK while taking steps to reduce airport congestion and delays.
Delta plans to offer increased choice on 14 new international routes* – including nine destinations not served by any other U.S. major airline from JFK – and will offer customers improved on-time reliability by reducing the number of Delta flights operating during peak hours.

The efficiencies of the new schedule will allow Delta to offer customers a total of 204 daily departures to 93 destinations from New York-JFK by June 2008, including:
Nine new trans-Atlantic routes with nonstop service between JFK and: Tel Aviv, Israel (effective March 10)*; Edinburgh, Scotland (effective May 1); Dakar, Senegal (effective June 2)*; Nairobi, Kenya (via Dakar) (effective June 2)*; Cairo, Egypt (effective June 4)*; Malaga, Spain (effective June 4)*; Amman, Jordan (effective June 5)*; and Lagos, Nigeria (effective June 9)*; and, subject to DOT approval, Cape Town, South Africa (via Dakar) (effective June 3)*. In conjunction with today’s announcement, Delta is applying to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for authority to add the only direct service operated by a U.S. carrier to Cape Town.
Five new Latin America routes with nonstop service between JFK and Panama City, Panama (effective Dec. 13); Guatemala City, Guatemala (effective Dec. 14); Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (effective Dec. 20)*; San Jose, Costa Rica (effective Feb. 15)*; and Liberia, Costa Rica (effective Feb. 16)*.
With the summer 2008 schedule, more than 85 percent of all U.S. airline customers will have access to Delta’s extensive network of destinations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East via JFK, including new service to Charlotte, Houston and Minneapolis/St. Paul.

“In 2008, we will further demonstrate our commitment to diversifying the choices we offer our customers by redeploying domestic assets to international markets where demand is outpacing growth,” said Delta CEO Richard Anderson. “Our expansion in New York will build on the value Delta customers already enjoy with daily nonstop service to five continents from JFK, but will also meet this growing demand with a strategic plan to help alleviate chronic delays and congestion before another peak-summer travel season.

“As New York City’s most international carrier, we are proud to take a leadership position in redesigning our JFK schedule to allow for significant growth of international routes while helping to reduce congestion at peak times by more evenly scheduling Delta flights throughout the day,” Anderson continued.

Reducing congestion and delays
As part of its plan to address congestion and delays at JFK, Delta will make the following changes before summer 2008:
Metering its use of airport resources by reducing average hourly departures by 6 percent during the most congested hours;
Decreasing departures during JFK’s afternoon ‘rush hour’ by shifting short-haul trans-Atlantic flights to a third bank of international departures after 7 p.m.;
Optimizing connecting times to increase transit time for JFK customers to enhance overall baggage performance and schedule reliability;
Increasing the number of Delta flights operated with larger two-class jets. Of the 204 daily departures at JFK planned for 2008, 65 percent will be operated with larger two-class aircraft seating between 70 and 270 passengers – up from 43 percent in summer 2007; and
Eliminating all Delta flights at JFK operated with turboprop aircraft.
Together, these changes will reduce Delta’s demands on limited airspace and airport resources until a comprehensive redesign of the New York airspace is funded by the federal government. Delta’s redesign will offer a more than 20 percent increase in available seat miles by summer 2008, with only 11 more daily departures.
Delta’s plan to improve customer choice and reduce delays at JFK complements the airline’s ongoing work with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to reduce aviation congestion in New York.
“New routes between JFK and cities around the world help bolster New York's position as a premiere tourist destination and a global center for business,” said Daniel L. Doctoroff, New York City’s Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding. “There’s no better place with which to connect growing global markets than New York City, and I commend Delta for finding ways to do it while at the same time taking steps to reduce airport congestion.”
Added William DeCota, director of aviation for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: "New York's global competitiveness depends upon business travelers having easy access to key global destinations. Delta's new flights will help facilitate commerce and tourism, to the benefit of residents and visitors to the New York-New Jersey region."
Increasing fleet flexibility
Delta’s expanded service from JFK will be operated with a mix of Boeing 737-800, 757-200 and 767-300ER aircraft, with 737s and 757s serving Latin America and 757s and 767s flying across the Atlantic.
The airline’s 2008 expansion will be aided by the introduction of 15 additional Boeing 757-200 aircraft featuring the same award-winning BusinessElite™ service offered on Delta’s widebody international fleet, including all-leather seats with 55 inches of legroom; innovative in-flight dining designed by celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein and celebrity sommelier Andrea Robinson; and on-demand personal in-seat entertainment systems in both Business and Economy class boasting more than 20 first-run and popular movies, a variety of TV programs, a broad range of music and a suite of 12 video games.
With the introduction of 757s in trans-Atlantic service, Boeing 767-300s serving short-haul routes will be freed up to serve long-haul destinations in Africa and the Middle East.
Additionally, Delta will upgrade its existing nonstop service between New York-JFK and Mumbai, India to operate with new Boeing 777-LR aircraft by summer 2008. The aircraft will offer Mumbai customers the added comfort of fully horizontal lie flat seats in the BusinessElite cabin and added cargo capabilities for shippers and freight forwarders.
Enhancing customer service
With the new schedule, Delta customers can expect improved service on the ground at JFK with more international-capable self-service kiosks, personalized customer service offered by additional “Red Coats” throughout the terminal, continued improvements to Crown Room Clubs and BusinessElite lounges, complimentary helicopter service between Manhattan and JFK for eligible BusinessElite customers, and improved airport concessions – including recently opened “Bonfire Steakhouse” by celebrity chef Todd English, “Bonfire Bar” by Todd English, Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market, The French Meadow Bakery and Café, and Legend’s Sports Bar.
Since 2006, Delta has invested more than $50 million in facility improvements at JFK, re-introduced the famed Delta Red Coats and built a major international and domestic hub with 187 peak-day departures serving 82 destinations, including nonstop service to 35 international destinations.
Delta plans additional terminal improvements at JFK to support its 2008 schedule, including improving the immigrations and customs re-check facility with more security checkpoint lanes; expanding the Economy class check-in area at Terminal 3 with more check-in positions and kiosks to complement Delta’s recently opened exclusive BusinessElite, First Class and Medallion check-in facility at Terminal 2; and improving airport concessions throughout Terminal 3.
With Delta’s planned 2008 expansion, the airline will remain the world’s largest airline across the Atlantic with more flights, departures and available seat miles than any other global airline**. Since summer 2005, Delta has added or announced more than 25 new international routes across the Atlantic and by next summer plans to offer service to 20 trans-Atlantic destinations where there is no nonstop service offered by a major U.S. carrier.
To celebrate the new service, Delta is offering special low introductory fares on its new routes to invite customers to try its newest destinations. Customers should act fast, however, as these discounted fares must be purchased no later than Oct. 10, 2007. Sample one-way fares, based on a round-trip purchase, include:
From To One-way fare†
New York-JFK Cairo, Egypt $539
Lagos, Nigeria $539
Malaga, Spain $599
Amman, Jordan $689
Dakar, Senegal $799
Nairobi, Kenya $859

†Additional taxes/fees/restrictions apply. Fares will be $20 higher if purchased from Delta over the telephone, or at an airport or city ticket office. See below for details.

LAleslie

Thit_cho, thanks for posting this news. Clearly the U.S. government is breathing down their necks. Delta's scheduling changes seem like an attempt to pre-empt federal regulations after the delays of the summer created such bad publicity and public outrage. WE'll see if it makes a difference.

judyumcer

Hope Delta does fly to Cape Town by next September. Anyone know the flying time from the West Coast?