Delta and Virgin Atlantic to Form Alliance

Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways have reached an agreement for a new joint venture that will create an expanded trans-Atlantic network and enhance competition between the UK and North America. As part of this joint venture agreement, Delta will invest $360 million in Virgin Atlantic, acquiring a 49% stake currently held by Singapore Airlines. Virgin Group and Sir Richard Branson will retain the majority 51% stake and Virgin Atlantic Airways will retain its brand and operating certificate. Highlights of the agreement include: a fully-integrated joint venture that will operate on a “metal neutral” basis, with both airlines sharing the costs and revenues from all joint venture flights; a combined trans-Atlantic network between the UK and North America, with 31 peak-day round-trip flights; enhanced benefits for customers, including co-operation on services between New York and London, with a combined total of nine daily round-trip flights from London-Heathrow to John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport; reciprocal frequent flyer benefits; shared access to Delta Sky Club and Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse airport lounges for elite passengers. The share purchase and the joint venture are expected to be implemented by the end of 2013. All of Delta’s flights between the U.S. and London-Heathrow feature fully-flat bed seats, offering direct aisle access in the BusinessElite cabin. These flights also offer Delta’s popular Economy Comfort seating in the forward section of the Economy cabin. Economy Comfort offers four additional inches of legroom and 50% more recline, compared to standard Economy seats. All cabins offer in-seat audio and video-on-demand, with a broad range of in-flight entertainment options. Delta also will begin introducing in-flight Wi-Fi service on international flights in 2013. Virgin Atlantic has recently completed a £150m upgrade program. A new Upper Class cabin has been introduced across its Airbus A330 aircraft, which features the longest fully-flat bed in the sky. This is complemented by a redesigned onboard bar and new Clubhouses at both JFK and Newark airports. The airline’s Boeing 747 leisure fleet has been completely refitted and features onboard connectivity and VERA Touch – Virgin Atlantic’s award-winning touch screen in-flight entertainment system – offering passengers hours of entertainment at their fingertips.

Delta Celebrates Time in Nigeria

Delta Air Lines will celebrate its fifth anniversary of service between Nigeria and the United States next month. Delta commenced scheduled services between Lagos and Atlanta in December 2007 and currently carries on average 3,000 passengers a week between Nigeria and the United States.
 This year, Delta has strengthened its commitment and business ties to the market with the introduction of flat-bed seats on its daily non-stop service between Lagos and Atlanta in September. Delta also introduced a dedicated Protocol Service at Lagos airport for BusinessElite customers, who receive a personal escort for its business customers through check-in, customs and immigration, lounge pick up and luggage assistance.
 In other Delta news, a second wave of recruits has joined Delta’s Business Internship Programme in Africa. The Delta-funded initiative, designed in conjunction with local business schools, was launched in 2011 in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Kenya, and earlier this year in Liberia.
 The one-year programme offers African students valuable work experience and training in a number of key business areas such as sales, marketing and administration. Interns are fully integrated into the Delta sales force in each country, becoming a team member with specific projects and responsibilities. The end of the one-year programme culminates in a visit to the United States to meet with senior executives and learn more about how an international organisation such as Delta operates.

New Products from Delta

Delta Air Lines is adding new on-demand entertainment options to its fleet of more than 950 two-class Delta and Delta Connection aircraft. The Delta Connect Wi-Fi portal will allow customers to stream television and movie options directly to their laptop or tablet while in flight. Streamed content will be accessible for 24 hours after a flight and available for playback on the ground through the same device used onboard. All 800 of Delta's two-class domestic aircraft will be equipped with this new on-demand technology by the end of 2013. This new technology will be installed on Delta's international fleet in conjunction with previously announced plans to install international Wi-Fi service on more than 150 widebody aircraft, by the end of 2015. This will allow customers to use both their personal device to stream movies and television shows, as well as current in-seat systems. In addition, Delta recently announced that it will add recharging stations at more airports. It has already added more First Class seats and in-flight entertainment to its domestic product; is offering full flat-bed BusinessElite seats with direct aisle access on its entire international widebody fleet; recently completed the system-wide roll-out of Economy Comfort on all two-class aircraft; and has added personal, in-seat entertainment for both BusinessElite and Economy Class customers on all long-haul international flights.