Delta Air Lines Welcomes China Eastern's Application to Join SkyTeam Alliance

SHANGHAI, April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today issued the following statement in support of China Eastern's signing of a memorandum of understanding to join the SkyTeam global airline alliance.

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"China Eastern is an outstanding airline with a strong leadership team and a proud history of serving its customers.  We are honored that another leading global airline has chosen to link its future growth and success with Delta and our SkyTeam partners," said Delta Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson.  "China Eastern's extensive network and growing hub in Shanghai will complement Delta's existing service to China and improve our customers' access to destinations across one of the world's fastest-growing regions."

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 includes 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. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines