Shanghai, here we come!!!
Delta Air Lines, Atlanta’s own airline, finally acquired approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to offer non-stop flights between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Shanghai, China beginning March 30, 2008. The petition was filed in January earlier this year. Previous applications were also filed in 2000 and 2005 but were denied.
Delta’s application was heavily supported by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue who said,:
“Investors, businesses, CEOs and those board members like to be close to where the investment is,” he said.
For the state’s coastal area, strengthening business ties with Chinese companies could lead to more activity at the ports where most of the ships already coming or going to Asia. Sixty percent of the ports’ business already is with Asia, with the overall exports and imports balanced.
“We have more direct shipping services to and from China than any other port on the East Coast,” said Robert Morris, director of external affairs for the Georgia Ports Authority. “However, there still is not a direct flight to and from China. This would help complete the picture.”
This is definitely good news for the city but mostly for Delta which had to battle years of financial distress (they just came out of bankruptcy in April) and an attempted hostile buyout from US Airways. It is expected that the new route could bring in $250 Million per year for Delta.
Delta plans to use their Boeing 777 for the new route. Boeing 777s came out in the mid 90s — 1995 to be exact. I remember the first time I ever rode a 777. It was shortly after they came out. I was aboard an EgyptAir flight (Asia-Middle East route). My jaw literally dropped and all I could say about this magnificent, massive aircraft was: WOW! However, I couldn’t stop praying the entire flight — please don’t let this aircraft have any malfunctions… please don’t let us get shot down!!!
Tags: Atlanta, Boeing-777, Delta-Air-Lines, flight-route, Governor-Sonny-Perdue, ShanghaiRelated Stories
POSTED IN: News, Uncategorized
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