Delta Air Lines, El Al Israel Airlines Agree To Codeshare From New York (JFK) To Tel Aviv

Delta Air Lines and El Al Israel Airlines have announced the signing of a comprehensive agreement that will provide for codesharing on flights between the United States and Israel beginning March 25, 2001. The codeshare agreement is subject to government approval.

Delta will purchase seats on El Al’s Boeing 747 services between New York (JFK) and Tel Aviv. In addition to the codeshare flights, members of Delta’s SkyMiles program will earn mileage credit when traveling on Delta’s codeshare flights with El Al.

Fred W. Reid, Delta’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, said, "Delta is pursuing new opportunities around the world as part of our goal to become the best airline in the world in the eyes of our customers. As the economy becomes global, businesses are extending their reach around the world to meet opportunities. As businesses expand, we must expand our service to provide customers access to global destinations."

In addition to Delta’s purchase of seats to Tel Aviv, El Al will purchase seats on Delta flights from New York to Atlanta, Boston, Washington, D.C., Dallas-Ft. Worth, Denver, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle and Salt Lake City.

Delta's goal is to become the #1 airline in the eyes of its customers, flying passengers and cargo from anywhere to everywhere. Passengers already choose to fly Delta more often than any other airline in the world on 5,244 flights each day to 339 cities in 48 countries on Delta, Delta Express, Delta Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers, and Delta's Worldwide Partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance which provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services.