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Delta to resume Atlanta-Shanghai flights

By
Nov 16, 2010

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines announced it will resume its flights from Atlanta to Shanghai starting June 5 next year, as Asia travel rebounds.

Delta first launched the much-ballyhooed Atlanta-Shanghai route with daily flights in 2008, but after lackluster demand it cut back to fewer flights per week and then discontinued the route altogether last year.

Since then, Delta began flying from Detroit to Shanghai and will continue to operate those flights six days a week. Delta also operates daily flights to Shanghai from Tokyo.

From Atlanta, Delta will fly to Shanghai with Boeing 777-200ER jets on Tuesdays and Sundays, with return flights on Mondays and Wednesdays.

"The resumption of service from Atlanta to Shanghai is the latest demonstration of the key role Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport plays in Delta's global network," Delta chief executive Richard Anderson said in a written statement. He said Delta's longstanding partnership with Atlanta "has enabled us to establish our No. 1 international gateway here."

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said in a written statement that the additional flights would "strengthen the ties between Atlanta and China." Metro Atlanta Chamber president Sam Williams issued a statement calling China "integral to our global commerce strategy" and said the Shanghai route is "critical to growing our city's international presence."

The restart of the route is also an indication of a recovery in international travel demand. The International Air Transport Association on Tuesday reported growth in premium travel and noted that among major markets for first class and business class traffic, the strong growth has been in Asia.

Travel to China requires a visa.

If the Atlanta-Shanghai flights perform well, Delta may expand the service, according to spokesman Trebor Banstetter.

Delta also said Tuesday it has applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation for permission to begin flights from Detroit to Beijing, to expand "Delta's Asian gateway in Detroit."

About the Author

As business team lead, Kelly Yamanouchi edits and writes business stories. She graduated from Harvard and has a master's degree from Northwestern.

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