Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) today welcomed the airline Emirates into its SkyMiles program, effective June 1, 2002. The agreement will enable SkyMiles members to earn and redeem miles on Emirates-operated flights throughout the world.

To celebrate the partnership, Delta will offer double miles for all applicable accrual classes for travel on Emirates between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2002.

“This partnership increases mileage-earning and redemption opportunities between Dubai and international destinations such as Amman, Jordan; Bahrain; Bangkok, Thailand; Cairo, Egypt; Perth and Sydney, Australia,” said Rob Borden, Deltas general manager of SkyMiles Customer Loyalty Programs. “This is a significant new benefit for our SkyMiles members.”

SkyMiles members flying on qualifying* Emirates fares will earn a minimum of 500 miles or the actual miles flown, whichever is greater. Members will earn a 150 percent mileage bonus for First Class travel, a 125 percent bonus for Business Class travel and 100 percent of the miles for Economy Class travel.

Members of Emirates customer loyalty program, Skywards, will also be able to earn and redeem miles on Delta flights worldwide.

Dubai-based Emirates is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world and has received more than 200 international awards for excellence since in started in 1985. Emirates, with a fleet of 39 modern aircraft, flies to more than 58 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian sub-continent, the Far East and Australia. Last year, more than 6.8 million passengers flew with Emirates. For more information visit Emirates at www.emirates.com.

Delta SkyMiles members earn mileage by flying Delta, the Delta Connection carriers, Delta Express, Delta Shuttle and Delta`s airline partners, including Delta`s SkyTeam partners. The Delta SkyMiles program offers many other mileage-building opportunities, including the Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express, MCI telecommunication services, Nextel wireless services, EarthLink internet services, participating hotels, car rental companies, restaurants, home buying and selling, cruise line and flower purchases.

Delta Air Lines, the world`s second largest carrier in terms of passengers carried and the leading U.S. airline across the Atlantic, offers 5,581 flights each day to 410 destinations in 72 countries on Delta, Delta Express, Delta Shuttle, Delta Connection carriers and Delta`s worldwide partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. For more information, please go to delta.com.

*Classes of service that do not earn mileage credit are: A, C, N, Z, D, X plus all ID/AD fares
 
——-