Delta has flown almost three million customers between Africa and the United States since we launched our first flights to Africa in 2006

(TRAVPR.COM) NIGERIA - August 24th, 2012 - LAGOS NIGERIA: 23 August 2012 – Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) has been nominated ‘Best Flight Experience to Africa’ by Executive Travel Magazine’s readers.  Delta won gold status, the highest level award, ahead of South African Airways and British Airways in the magazine’s Leading Edge Awards 2012.  The annual awards recognize travel providers that offer innovative, high-quality products and services to business travellers.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of Executive Travel Magazine’s annual Leading Edge Awards. Each year, the magazine’s readers nominate top travel industry providers in categories ranging from the best international airline to the top hotel group for business travellers. In addition to its award for ‘Best Service to Africa’ Delta won a further 11 accolades.

“Delta has flown almost three million customers between Africa and the United States since we launched our first flights to Africa in 2006 and this award shows our customers value the service we offer,” said Perry Cantarutti, Delta’s senior vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “We’ll continue to invest in our customers’ experience by introducing more flat-bed seats and international Wi-Fi on Africa routes over the coming months.”

A comprehensive network:

Delta is the leading airline between Africa and the United States, with flights to five African cities.  Delta launched its first services to Africa in December 2006 and today operates:

• Daily nonstop service between Johannesburg and Atlanta
• Five weekly services between Accra and New York-JFK
• Daily nonstop service between Lagos and Atlanta
• Three weekly services between Monrovia and New York-JFK via Accra
• Up to three weekly nonstop services between Dakar and New York-JFK

Passengers flying to the U.S. benefit from connections to 160 onward destinations from Atlanta and 55 from New York-JFK.

Enhancements onboard:

Delta is introducing its new, custom-designed flat-bed seats on services between Lagos and Atlanta, effective 5 September.  The seats offer a 180-degree, fully horizontal bed and direct aisle access, as well as Delta on Demand in-seat entertainment. By 2014, services on all wide-body aircraft on its international routes will offer flat-bed seats.

Delta has introduced Economy Comfort - Delta’s premium economy cabin product – on all its Africa flights.  Customers flying in Economy Comfort benefit from up to four additional inches of legroom for 35 full inches of seat pitch and 50 percent more recline than Delta’s standard Economy class seat.

Investment on the ground:

BusinessElite passengers travelling from Lagos benefit from Delta’s Protocol service at the airport.  This offers a personalized escort through every step of the airport experience - from checking in, security clearance and lounge pick-up, to arrival and baggage collection. Delta’s Protocol service is offered in addition to SkyPriority – a series of priority airport services offered to premium passengers by SkyTeam airlines.

Delta continues to invest in its airport facilities in the United States. Passengers traveling from Lagos already benefit from more convenient connections at the new, state-of-the-art international terminal which was opened at Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in May. In New York, the airline is more than halfway through a $1.2 billion expansion of Terminal 4 at its JFK airport facility, which when complete will be one of the largest terminals in North America.

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