Delta Air Lines will make history with the airline’s inaugural flight to Tel Aviv, Israel—the only nonstop service between the U.S. Southeast and Israel. The daily service between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport is part of Delta’s ongoing international expansion to popular global business and tourist destinations.

During an event held in Atlanta this morning to celebrate the new service, Delta’s Chief Marketing Officer Paul Matsen said, “Today underscores Delta’s commitment to strengthening ties between our two countries by offering quality air service for business, tourism, religious and freight customers. Additionally, we’re thrilled that Tel Aviv is the first of 11 new international routes we’re launching this year and one of six new markets for Delta, which also include Budapest, Hungary; Copenhagen, Denmar; Dusseldorf, Germany; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Kiev, Ukraine(a).”

Delta’s newest international service builds on a wave of expansion planned for 2006 between Georgia and the world, including recently announced routes between Atlanta and Nice, France; Athens, Greece and Johannesburg, South Africa (via Dakar).

“Delta’s decision to start daily flights to Israel is extremely important and will have an impact on the number of travelers going to Israel,” said Consul Arie Sommer, Israel Tourism Commissioner, North and South America. “These direct flights from Atlanta will serve the travelers from the West Coast, South and North regions of the United States and help to solve at least partially the constant lack of seats to Israel.”

Customers will enjoy the comfort of Boeing 777 widebody aircraft on Delta’s new flight between Atlanta and Tel Aviv which includes the carrier’s award-winning BusinessElite service. Delta’s in-flight experience will offer customers flying to Israel Kosher meal and beverage selections. In addition, these new flights bring multiple opportunities for freight forwarders and cargo shippers.

 
Additionally, customers flying Delta between Atlanta and Tel Aviv will have access to the world’s most extensive connecting flight schedules thanks to Atlanta’s status as the world’s largest single-airline hub.

This summer, Delta will offer more than 1,000 daily departures to more than 240 non-stop destinations from Atlanta—more non-stop flights and destinations than any airline hub in the world.

Delta’s Atlanta hub is the fastest growing international gateway in the United States, with more than 24 new international markets announced since September 2005. Delta also continues to expand the number of domestic destinations it serves from Atlanta, including 19 non-stop destinations added or announced since September 2005. These schedule enhancements strengthen Delta’s position as both a strong domestic carrier—the only to fly to all 50 states (effective July 2006)—as well as a leading carrier to Latin America and the No. 1 U.S. airline across the Atlantic.
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