Delta Air Lines is to launch a new daily nonstop flight between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Mumbai, India, starting 1 November 2008Delta’s recently acquired Boeing 777-200 Long Range (LR) aircraft will make the 17-hour, 55-minute westbound nonstop flight possible. The world’s longest range commercial jetliner bolsters Delta’s ability to connect customers and cargo between virtually any two cities around the globe, nonstop.

Delta’s first two 777-200LRs joined the fleet earlier this year as the first of 10 such models to be delivered through 2010. Since April, these aircraft have been serving the New York-JFK-Mumbai route, which will be discontinued with the start of nonstop service between Atlanta and Mumbai.

“The size and scope of Delta’s operations at our Atlanta hub are best suited for the capacity of the 777-200LR in terms of cargo and passenger lift,” said Glen Hauenstein, Delta’s executive vice president - Network and Revenue Management. “Serving Mumbai from Atlanta will allow us to optimize the route thanks to the approximately 150 U.S. destinations to which Mumbai customers will be able to connect, as well as the more than 30 easy connections available to and from Latin America and the Caribbean.”

With the new service, Delta will offer customers nonstop service to 78 international destinations from Atlanta, including service recently announced or inaugurated between Atlanta and Shanghai, China; London-Heathrow, England; Stockholm, Sweden; and Kuwait City, Kuwait (effective 7 November).

The 777-200LR is the flagship aircraft for Delta’s global product, including fully horizontal personal sleeper suites in BusinessElite, next-generation, more comfortable seats in coach, and Delta’s on-demand entertainment system on screens in every seat. BusinessElite customers flying on the 777-200LR can enjoy:

Reclining seats that adjust to multiple comfortable positions, including a completely flat 6-foot 3-inch bed;
Privacy screens incorporating pull-out meal table, fold-out 10.6-inch personal video screen, integrated footrest and personal stowage compartment for bags, shoes or blankets;
Immediate access to the aisle so customers do not have to disturb another passenger when exiting their seat; and
USB ports offering charging ability for laptops and MP3 players.

Delta’s 777-200LR aircraft offers customers flying in coach comfortable new, all leather slim-line seats each with on-demand music, movies, games and television on individual 9-inch video monitors. Delta also features leading-edge seats from Weber Aircraft LP, offering up to 1.5 inches of increased personal space, additional under-seat storage, and ergonomically-designed cushions.
——-