Delta Air Lines Applies for Expanded Service to Brazil
Additional frequencies would allow airline to fly between Detroit, Sao Paulo five days weekly
Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to expand its service between the United States and Brazil, which would allow increased flights between its Detroit hub and Sao Paulo.
Delta has received approval to begin twice-weekly service between Detroit and Sao Paulo Oct 21. If approved, the new flights will allow that service to be operated five days per week.
Detroit-Sao Paulo is an important business route for the industrial Midwest. Business customers require regular and frequent service, and Delta's proposed five weekly flights approach the daily service Delta would like to eventually provide. The three additional frequencies Delta has requested will significantly enhance the consumer benefits and competitiveness of the Detroit gateway.
Delta's service will create a new gateway to Brazil in the Midwest region, and continue Detroit's expansion as an international hub. In recent months, Delta has added service from Detroit to Seoul-Incheon and Hong Kong and expanded service to Shanghai. In January 2011, Delta will begin nonstop service from Detroit to Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
"This new service will enable us to connect Sao Paulo, South America's largest business market, and Delta's major international hub in Detroit five days each week," said Andrea Fischer Newman, senior vice president – Government Affairs. "Our expanded service will further strengthen business and trade opportunities and boost economic activity in both Detroit and Sao Paulo, while increasing competition by providing more options for U.S. travelers in the Midwest."
The flights will be operated with 216-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, with 35 BusinessElite seats and 181 seats in Economy Class.
In its application, Delta requested permission for three additional flight authorities between the U.S. and Brazil, specifically for service between Atlanta and Rio de Janeiro. If approved, Delta would shift three of its existing Rio de Janeiro authorities from Atlanta to Detroit for the expanded Sao Paulo service.
Delta's current service between Atlanta and Rio de Janeiro would be unaffected. The shift in flights from Atlanta to Detroit is necessary because the authorities Delta is using to operate its Atlanta-Rio de Janeiro service can be used between any cities in the U.S. and Brazil, while the new authorities cannot be used for service to Sao Paulo until that airport completes infrastructure improvements.
