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Delta Domestic Network Available on GF-X

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today announced that its cargo division, Delta Air Logistics, has made all domestic United States markets available for booking on Global Freight Exchange (GF-X), the neutral worldwide electronic booking tool. Shippers now will be able to use GF-X to book Priority First and Delta DASH from all Delta-served U.S. markets.

Delta joined GF-X in February 2002 and has implemented its entire domestic network on GF-X faster than any other carrier. This move provides more options for Delta Air Logistics customers to book domestic shipments.

“We are firmly behind GF-X as our preferred solution for third-party electronic booking,” said Tony Charaf, senior vice president-Delta Air Logistics. “We are investing in online tools like GF-X and deltacargo.com to improve service for our customers, simplifying the complex process of cargo booking and making it more user friendly. We believe electronic booking is the future for the cargo industry.”


Delta previously began offering domestic service through GF-X in February from Atlanta and, in May, from Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“Forwarder acceptance of GF-X booking in these markets makes us confident that we will have great success with this domestically,” Charaf added.

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“This is an important milestone for GF-X,” said Demetrios Zoppos, managing director of GF-X. “By opening up their entire domestic network, Delta has broadened the scope of GF-X throughout the U.S. and has significantly increased our presence in that region.”


In addition, Delta and its SkyTeam Cargo partner Air France recently expanded their European offerings via GF-X, adding 10 more originating points in the region. The addition of the U.S. domestic network is the next step for Delta’s GF-X implementation. The added markets expand the reach of GF-X in the U.S.

Delta Air Logistics also is committed to e-booking through its own Web site, www.deltacargo.com. The airline is seeing an increasing number and percentage of its bookings through electronic channels.


GF-X (www.gf-x.com) is the premier reservations system for the airfreight industry. The GF-X system has been operational since October 2000 and its current clients include Air France Cargo, American Airlines Cargo, BAX Global, bmi cargo, British Airways World Cargo, Capitol International, Cargolux Airlines, Continental Airlines Cargo, Delta Air Logistics, DHL Danzas Air & Ocean, DHL Aviation NV, EGL Eagle Global Logistics, Emirates SkyCargo, Exel, Kuehne & Nagel, Lufthansa Cargo, Panalpina, Schenker, Swiss WorldCargo, UTi and Yusen Air & Sea Service. GF-X hosts a live trading community in most large airfreight markets worldwide, including the key markets in South Asia, Japan, Europe, the Middle East and North America. ÊGF-X allows carrier and forwarder users to free up time from routine tasks and focus more on the individual needs of customers. GF-X maintains information such as schedules, capacity and rates and interfaces with carrier systems to complete transactions. Bookings have been increasing steadily since GF-X went live to more than 600,000 transactions per year.

As the world`s second largest airline in terms of passengers, Delta Air Lines through its Delta Air Logistics division also offers extensive lower deck lift for cargo shippers worldwide with 5,605 flights each day to 440 destinations in 79 countries on Delta, Song, Delta Shuttle, Delta Connection and Delta’s worldwide partners. Delta, the leading U.S. carrier across the Atlantic and the largest commercial air transporter of US domestic mail, is a founding member of SkyTeam Cargo, a global airline cargo alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, services and a common cargo product line. Delta also is a founder of the SkyTeam U.S. Sales Joint Venture, a partnership that combines the networks of member airlines to give those shipping from the U.S. more worldwide options. For more information, please go to deltacargo.com.

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