Delta Air Lines Welcomes China Airlines’ Decision to Join SkyTeam Alliance

TAIPEI, Taiwan, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ — Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today issued the following statement in support of China Airlines' decision to join the SkyTeam global airline alliance by mid-2011.

"China Airlines' extensive network and growing hub in Taipei will complement Delta's existing service to Taiwan and improve our customers' access to destinations across one of the world's fastest-growing regions," said Delta Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson. "We are honored that China Airlines, an outstanding global carrier with a proud history of customer service, has chosen to link its future growth and success with Delta and our SkyTeam partners"


Headquartered in Taipei, China Airlines is the largest airline of Taiwan, home to one of the world's most dynamic technology-driven economies. The China Airlines network will complement those of Guangzhou-based China Southern and Shanghai-based China Eastern, current and future SkyTeam members. Cooperation between these three airlines will further enhance SkyTeam's industry-leading position in Greater China. China Airlines' route network covers Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and will help customers connect to flights of SkyTeam partners worldwide.

More information on China Airlines' application to join SkyTeam is available at skyteam.com.

About SkyTeam

SkyTeam is a global airline alliance providing customers from member airlines access to an extensive global network with more destinations, more frequencies and more connectivity. Passengers can earn and redeem frequent flyer miles throughout the SkyTeam network. SkyTeam member airlines offer customers over 420 lounges worldwide. The 13 members are: Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China Southern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, TAROM Romanian Air Transport and Vietnam Airlines. SkyTeam offers its 385 million annual passengers a worldwide system of over 12,500 daily flights to 898 destinations in 169 countries. SkyTeam celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2010.

About Delta

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With its unsurpassed global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 354 destinations in 65 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 75,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world's largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines