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Delta, Air France & KLM launch Florida expansion

31st March 2011 Print

Delta Air Lines and the Air France-KLM Group kick off a major international expansion this week with new flights connecting Florida with three major European cities: London, Paris and Amsterdam.

Delta will launch daily new nonstop service between Miami and London's Heathrow Airport on March 26. On March 21, KLM began new nonstop flights between Miami and its hub in Amsterdam four days weekly. And on June 7, Air France will inaugurate new nonstop service between Orlando and its Paris hub three days weekly.

The airlines will operate the new Florida flights under their industry-leading trans-Atlantic joint venture, an agreement, which also includes Alitalia, that allows the partners to coordinate flights and share costs and revenues of the service. For customers, it means more choices for booking, destinations and schedules, additional opportunities to earn and redeem miles and consistent service regardless of which airline operates the flight.

"The power of our successful joint venture allows Delta, Air France and KLM to embark on this significant international expansion in Florida, with new service connecting the state to these important European cities," said Glen Hauenstein, Delta's executive vice president – Network Planning, Revenue Management and Marketing. "Our new nonstop service will provide an economic boost on both sides of the Atlantic."

"The almost simultaneous launch of our new frequencies on departure from Paris-CDG and Amsterdam to Florida clearly shows that our coordinated operations enable the joint venture airlines to provide our joint customers with a wide complementary offering at very competitive fares," said Bruno Matheu, Air France-KLM 's executive vice president – Network, Revenue Management and Marketing.

"With Miami-Amsterdam, KLM is adding another nonstop service to the joint venture. This is the 20th trans-Atlantic route from Amsterdam served by KLM and Delta Air Lines. With more than 250 daily trans-Atlantic flights and a fleet of more than 130 aircraft, this joint venture offers our customers a generous network with higher frequencies, attractive prices and tailored schedules for trans-Atlantic travel," said Erik Varwijk, Air France-KLM's executive vice president – International and the Netherlands.

"New service to London-Heathrow and Amsterdam on Delta and KLM further enhances Miami's status as an international city," said Miami Mayor Thomas Regalado. "The new flights mean more jobs, more business opportunities and more choices for travelers from Miami International Airport."

KLM's service launched on March 21 with a special inaugural flight from Amsterdam to Miami that was scheduled to accommodate members of the Dutch music community attending the Miami Ultra Music Festival starting March 25th. The airline's regular schedule begins March 27.
 
In conjunction with its new service between Miami and London, Delta is also adding new nonstop service between Miami and Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa. Those flights, operated by Delta Connection carrier Comair, begin March 26 and will provide convenient connecting service for Florida customers traveling to London-Heathrow.

For more information: airfrance.com