Delta Air Lines to expand Europe service from U.S. hubs

Delta Air Lines will strengthen its leading position in the New York market by offering new year-round daily service from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Zurich Airport and expanded service to Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport. Zurich and Rome are two important business markets in Europe and provide a valuable link to the financial center of the U.S.

"As the primary business market on the trans-Atlantic, demand continues to increase for more nonstop flights from New York to European destinations," said Gail Grimmett, Delta's senior vice president - New York. "Zurich ranks fourth in terms of business traffic from New York, and our additional service will build on the commercial, tourism and community links between these two cities."

The Zurich flight will be operated using a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring full flat-bed seats with direct aisle access in the BusinessElite cabin. Daily Zurich service will begin effective June 16, 2014 and during the summer will complement the airline's existing service from Atlanta. Rome service will operate daily from April to October on an Airbus A330-300 aircraft, and then five times per week in November, December and March on a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft in conjunction with Delta joint venture partner Alitalia. 

Effective this winter, Delta and its joint venture partners Air France-KLM and Alitalia are also expanding service to key European hubs at Paris Charles De Gaulle International Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. From Atlanta, the joint venture will offer additional daily nonstop service for a total of four daily flights to both Amsterdam and Paris, timed to provide customers with more connecting opportunities to destinations throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

"With the most established joint venture across the Atlantic, we are in a unique position to collaborate with our joint venture partners to make full use of our combined fleet and networks to best serve our customers," said Glen Hauenstein, Delta's executive vice president and chief revenue officer. "Delivering more hub-to-hub flying provides a network with higher frequencies and tailored schedules for our trans-Atlantic travelers."

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Qatar Airways moves to new home in Terminal 2 of Narita International Airport

Qatar Airways has moved to join its fellow oneworld alliance partners in Terminal 2 of Tokyo’s Narita International Airport. The move from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 means Qatar Airways joins Japan Airlines and other oneworld partners including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas and S7 Airlines in the airport’s most modern terminal.

The move to Terminal 2 will bring additional advantages to Qatar Airways including shared facilities with fellow oneworld partners, such as check-in and transfer desks, lounges and baggage services. All of these factors work towards making the travel experience for oneworld alliance customers smoother and more efficient, while reducing costs.

“We are very excited to be joining our fellow oneworld partners in Terminal 2 of Narita International Airport,” said Qatar Airways Country Manager – Japan, Mr. Tomohiko Matsumoto. “This move will allow us to take further advantage of the benefits of being part of the oneworld alliance, and in turn pass these benefits onto our customers by providing them with the best possible service and travel  experience.”

Qatar Airways began operating routes to Japan in March 2005 with Osaka, followed by Tokyo Narita in April 2010. And commencing June 18, 2014, Qatar Airways will add its third route to the Japanese market when it begins operating non-stop daily flights on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Haneda International Airport, one of the two major airports that serve the Greater Tokyo Area.

Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 17 years of operations, to the point where it now flies a modern fleet of 131 aircraft to 137 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas.

Over the next few months, the network will grow further with Larnaca, Cyprus (April 29), Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport, Turkey (May 22, 2014), Edinburgh, Scotland (May 28, 2014), Miami, USA (June 10, 2014), Haneda, Japan (June 18, 2014) and Dallas/Fort Worth, USA (July 1, 2014).

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