Delta Welcomes Middle East Airlines into SkyTeam Alliance

Delta customers gain lounge, frequent flyer benefits when traveling with MEA

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Feb 28, 2011, 07:00 ET

ATLANTA, Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today welcomed Middle East Airlines – Air Liban's (MEA) decision to join the SkyTeam global airline alliance in 2012.

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"We are pleased to welcome a second Middle East airline into the alliance and honored that MEA has chosen to link its future growth and success with SkyTeam," said Charlie Pappas, Delta's vice president – Alliances. "MEA's entry into our alliance will bring SkyTeam customers an increased choice of destinations and schedules across the Middle East and Western Africa."

With the addition of Middle East Airlines, Delta customers will be able to earn and redeem miles via Delta's SkyMiles program on flights operated by MEA. The airlines will also offer lounge reciprocity to Delta and MEA Elite passengers at Rafic Hariri International airport and more than 45 Delta SkyClubs in airports worldwide.

SkyTeam is actively working to increase its presence in the Middle East, one of the world's most important economic regions. In January, Saudi Arabian Airlines became the first airline in the region to announce its intention to join SkyTeam.

In 2010, the SkyTeam Alliance saw considerable growth in its tenth anniversary year. Vietnam Airlines and TAROM joined the alliance in June while China Airlines, China East Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Aerolineas Argentinas are each slated to join by 2012.

More information about Middle East Airlines and SkyTeam is available in the SkyTeam news release.

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 357 destinations in 66 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 75,000 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.