The Atlanta-based airline Delta Air Lines has announced that it can be entering a strategic partnership with Israel’s flagship carrier, EL AL Israel Airlines. Each of the airlines will enter this partnership with a mutual codeshare agreement. This permits each of the airlines to put its designator code on the opposite airline’s flights and sell tickets for that flight.
Delta Air Lines will look to expand its reach into Israel
With the newly announced codeshare agreement, the airline will look to supply additional options for its customers traveling to Israel. Delta already offers 200 same-day connections to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv from various United States cities. A few of these routes start from Atlanta, Boston, and Latest York. Matteo Curcio, who’s Delta Air Lines’s Senior Vice President for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India, spoke in regards to the partnership. He said,
“Working closely with EL AL will further strengthen Delta’s connection to Israel by offering more customers unrivaled access to destinations across the US. Enhanced partnerships are integral to our long-term strategy to raised connect Delta customers around the globe.”
EL AL Israel Airlines will look to supply customers within the region more access to Delta’s established network in the US and other areas of the world. Currently, EL AL offers service to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Miami International Airport (MIA), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). Nearly all of these destinations are reached from its hub city of Tel Aviv.
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The airline will look to reap the benefits of the present infrastructure that Delta has in these cities. EL AL’s Vice President of Industrial and Industry Affairs, Shlomi Zafrany, spoke in regards to the airline’s prolonged reach, saying,
“We’re delighted to supply our customers latest ways to find exciting destinations on either side of the Atlantic through our partnership with Delta. Highlighting the worth of the partnership with Delta he added: “This partnership marks one other vital milestone in our long-term strategy and offers our customers unparalleled service.”
Along with the codeshare agreement, the strategic partnership also allows passengers to reap the benefits of reciprocal frequent flyer advantages. The partnership also allows travelers to earn and redeem miles for each airlines. The shoppers traveling these routes also can check in for his or her entire journey, and their bags will travel through to their final destination.
Delta continues its expansion
This agreement comes after news of other possible expansion areas was released by Delta. As passenger traffic in Africa has returned to the pre-pandemic level, Delta has decided to make use of partnerships to extend its reach on the continent. The airline already serves several destinations in Africa, from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL). These routes include ten flights every week each to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
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As Delta realizes the numerous established markets within the region, the airline will look to expand into this area in the longer term. In an interview with Easy Flying, Delta’s Director of Sales, Africa, Middle East, and India Sub-Continent, Jimmy Eichelgreun, stated,
“The US is vitally vital, however it’s a mature market, so one has to have a look at international destinations. So we have got a really mature market, and then you definitely’ve got Europe, for instance, which is mature, then you definitely take a look at IATA figures, what looks like a growth area, Africa. So obviously, it’s in our interest to highlight Africa, and we’re committed to serving Africa.”