Delta Air Lines plans new Atlanta - Beijing flights

Delta Air Lines has said that its proposed service linking China to the Southeast US in 2006 will provide the US with an annual economic impact of almost $400 million.

In a filing today of direct exhibits with the DOT as part of the 2005/2006 U.S.-China Air Services case, Delta said it expects to serve nearly 163,000 passengers in its first year of operations if the carrier is awarded the rights to provide a daily, non-stop Atlanta to Beijing service beginning in March 2006.

“Delta is extremely grateful for the outpouring of support for its application so far,” said Gerald Grinstein, CEO. "The DOT has received more than 12,000 letters, underlining the importance and the need for service between the growing China market and Atlanta, our nation’s largest hub. These letters are from customers, 120 local and state officials, and 50 members of Congress, as well as an incredible 8,000-plus from Delta employees. As their enthusiastic response indicates, the people of Delta continue to be our company’s most valuable asset, and I continue to be inspired by their unwavering commitment to this airline.”

According to data in the filing from Georgia officials, China is Georgia’s sixth-largest and fastest-growing export market, with more than a 220 percent increase in exports since 1999. Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue noted in a letter to the DOT that “a new passenger service route from Atlanta to Beijing would fill a void that Georgians and the Southeast’s 55 million citizens have in accessing China for business and leisure travel.”

The carrier plans to use its Boeing 777 aircraft on the route.