Delta Applauds Open Skies Agreement Between U.S., Brazil

Accord provides new frequency opportunities, removes codesharing limitations

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Mar 22, 2011, 01:00 ET

ATLANTA, March 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) issued the following statement in response to the U.S.-Brazil agreement on Open Skies:

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"Delta congratulates the U.S. and Brazil governments on the new open skies transition agreement, signed on March 19 during President Obama's trip to Brazil. The transitional agreement provides important new rights for airlines of both countries, and is expected to eventually result in full liberalization of the U.S.-Brazil air transport market. These new rights are important to Delta's long-term strategy to grow its presence in Brazil and Latin America."

Delta currently operates 31 weekly flights between the U.S. and Brazil. In 2010, Delta launched new nonstop service between Detroit and Sao Paulo, linking Brazil's largest city to the industrial-manufacturing center of the Midwest, and also to beyond points in Asia. In February of this year, Delta expanded cooperation with Brazil's GOL by entering into an agreement for codeshare flights.

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 356 destinations in 65 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 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. Delta is investing more than $2 billion through 2013 in airport facilities and global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.