Delta Shuttle Launches New Fares; Walk Up Fares Up to 60 Percent Lower

delta.com, 5/19/2009 (excerpted)

Passengers flying Delta Shuttle, a service of Delta Air Lines between New York City and Boston and Washington, D.C. can now enjoy fares that are up to 60 percent cheaper than previous walk-up fares, the airline announced.

The new one-way Delta Shuttle fare between New York's LaGuardia Airport and Boston's Logan International Airport is $129*. The fare between New York's LaGuardia and Reagan National Airport is $169*. Additional taxes/fees/restrictions/baggage charges may apply. Details are included below.

"The Delta Shuttle has a very loyal following among business travelers whose schedules can change on a dime," said Gail Grimmett, senior vice president, New York. "We recognize the need to be flexible to meet their needs and at the same time remain competitive."

Delta offers more than a dozen daily flights connecting both New York and Boston, and New York and Washington, D.C.

Delta Shuttle customers depart from the historic Marine Air Terminal at LaGuardia, the most convenient terminal for business travelers, with the on-site PowerStop™ business center offered in partnership with American Express®. Through this comfortable, state-of-the-art business center, customers can:

•  connect at workstations equipped with power outlets and wireless high-speed Internet access;

•  use personal computers, copy and fax machines, VIP lounge and a conference room; and

•  relax in new furniture in a comfortable setting.

A portion of travel for some itineraries may be on the Delta Connection® carrier Shuttle America.

*Terms and Conditions:

Up to 60% discount based on refundable, economy class, walk-up fares with no minimum stay available at delta.com on May 5, 2009.

Fares shown available at delta.com (or a self ticketing kiosk). Tickets cost $20 more if purchased from Delta over the phone, $35 more at a Delta ticket counter or ticket office, and these amounts are nonrefundable. Tickets are non-transferable. Seats are limited. Travel Period: Ongoing. Blackout Dates: During peak travel periods such as holiday periods and spring break, seats at these fares are extremely limited. Fare Validity: Fares are valid in the Economy (Coach) cabin on Delta/Delta Connection carrier flights only. Minimum Stay: None. Maximum Stay: None. Cancellations/Refunds/Changes: Tickets are refundable in accordance with Delta's cancellation policy. Fees may apply for downgrades/reissues and itinerary changes. Contact a Delta agent or visit delta.com for details. Taxes/Fees: Federal Excise tax of $3.60, Passenger Facility Charge(s) of up to $4.50, and the September 11th Security Fee of up to $2.50 for each flight segment are not included. Taxes and fees must be paid when the ticket is purchased. Baggage Charges: For travel within the United States, $15 fee for 1 checked bag and $25 fee for second checked bag. Allowances subject to size/weight limits. Contact a delta agent or visit delta.com for details. Miscellaneous: Fares, taxes, fees, rules, and offers are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. ©2009 Delta Air Lines, Inc.

 

Air France-KLM and Delta Strengthen Ties

AP, The New York Times, 5/20/2009 (excerpted)

Delta Air Lines Inc., Air France and KLM signed a deal Wednesday to combine two separate joint venture agreements into one to create a more integrated trans-Atlantic powerhouse that they said will generate $12 billion in annual revenue.

The airlines said they will share costs and revenues, as well as coordinate branding at airports and global advertising.

Air France-KLM Group and Delta also will share governance of the joint venture. An executive committee consisting of the three CEOs and a management committee comprising representatives from the three carriers will work together on strategy.

The joint venture represents approximately 25 percent of total trans-Atlantic capacity.

The cooperation agreement between Europe's largest airline and the world's largest airline operator will mean together the carriers will operate more than 200 trans-Atlantic flights and offer about 50,000 seats per day.

The joint venture also covers all the airlines' flights between North America and Europe, between Amsterdam and India, and between North America and Tahiti, the companies said.

The joint venture will not lead to the creation of a subsidiary, the airlines said at a news conference in Paris that was broadcast on the Internet.

No new routes were announced beyond what the two previous agreements provided for separately.

Delta chief executive Richard Anderson called the joint venture agreement ''unprecedented.''

There's a pending bid by American Airlines and British Airways to cooperate on trans-Atlantic flights without fear of breaking antitrust laws. Regulators are looking at the issue. American and BA have been thwarted twice before in seeking closer ties, but their prospects appear brighter this time because of changes in the airline industry over the past several years.

American and its partners in an alliance called oneworld argue that they should get antitrust immunity because two competing alliances already have it -- Star (Lufthansa, United, and beginning this fall, Continental) and SkyTeam (Delta, Air France-KLM).

American also notes that the U.S. and Europe have signed an open-skies treaty, increasing competition at Heathrow, since its last failed effort to work more closely with BA.

The Delta-Air France-KLM joint venture is structured around six main hubs: Amsterdam, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York-JFK and Paris-CDG, together with Cincinnati; Lyon, France; Memphis, Tenn., and Salt Lake City.

The joint venture has no predefined end date, but can be canceled with a three-year notice after an initial 10-year term, the companies said.