Delta approved for flights to Monrovia, Liberia

By Kelly Yamanouchi

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Delta Air Lines has received government approval for flights between Atlanta and Monrovia, Liberia, about a year and a half after first announcing its plans for the route.

Delta plans to launch the service Sept. 4 as the only U.S. carrier to fly to Monrovia. The flight on 215-seat Boeing 767-300ER jets will take passengers from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to Monrovia with a stop in Accra, Ghana.

Africa has been a key area of focus at Delta during its international expansion, but it has encountered challenges and unpredictability with government approvals. Delta also has growing competition from United, which plans to enter Africa this year.

Delta had hoped to launch Liberia flights in June 2009 but had been awaiting government approval since then.

The Transportation Security Administration pulled the plug on the planned route launch last year because the Monrovia airport did not meet international security standards. Also last year, Delta's planned inaugural flight to Nairobi, Kenya last year was canceled amid terrorist threats.

On Tuesday, Delta announced that it had preliminary approval from the U.S. government, along with approval from the Liberian Civil Aviation Authority, to sell tickets for the new flights. The company said it expects final U.S. government approvals before the flight begins.

Monrovia's Roberts International Airport made upgrades, and Delta said it worked closely with the U.S. and Liberian governments.