Delta Air Lines is expanding in Asia with the launch of a new service between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
The new route is expected to start in July 2018.
The new Atlanta flight will be Delta’s fourth US gateway to Shanghai, complementing existing service from Detroit, Seattle and Los Angeles.
The flight will provide convenient one-stop access to more than 150 destinations in the US and Latin America from Shanghai.
In addition, the flight will also provide access to more than 50 destinations in China with codeshare partner China Eastern.
Ed Bastian, chief executive of Delta Air Lines, said:
“Strong demand for Delta service across the Pacific and to China nonstop from the US as well as our China Eastern partnership make this route compelling for both business and leisure travellers. We look forward to connecting Delta’s hometown and China Eastern’s home with this route, while offering our customers innovative products, thoughtful in-flight service and leading operational reliability.”
The flight creates a direct link between one of China’s major commercial and industrial centres and Atlanta.
The new flight adds to Delta’s existing service to Seoul and Tokyo, providing Atlanta with non-stop service to the three largest markets in Asia and convenient one-stop access to more than 75 destinations in Asia with partners China Eastern and Korean Air.
“Both global connectivity and maintaining a strong relationship with China are extremely vital to Georgia’s economic landscape,” said Georgia governor, Nathan Deal. This non-stop flight will not only serve our tourism industry by shortening the international travel time, but will bolster our business community as well. The flight will help shorten supply chains for our companies and give them a daily link to China for time-sensitive distribution.
Delta’s on-board experience to and from Shanghai will be on the 291-seat Boeing 777-200LR aircraft.
The plane features 37 lie-flat seats with direct aisle access in Delta One, 36 seats in Delta Comfort+ and 218 seats in the main cabin, which features an industry-leading nine-abreast seating layout, among the widest in international economy seating.
Every seat has Wi-Fi, a personal, in-flight seatback entertainment screen as well as power ports.
The Delta One suite and Delta Premium Select will progressively roll out on Delta’s Boeing 777 fleet beginning in late 2018.
