Delta's Paris Route Airport's First Trans-Atlantic Run Since 2004

Officials at Pittsburgh International Airport are wasting no time, and sparing no expense, in promoting the airport's first trans-Atlantic route in over four years.

The Associated Press reports Delta Air Lines plans to start nonstop service from PIT to Paris in June 2009. The carrier announced the new route, to be flown by a narrowbody Boeing 757-200 five days per week, on December 6.

Thanks to its partnership with Air France, Delta says the new route will offer Pittsburgh air travelers connections to over 90 cities in Europe via Air France's Paris hub.

"Strategic and unique international growth -- bolstered by our innovative partnership with Air France and merger with Northwest -- has been a cornerstone of Delta’s successful business strategy over the last several years," said Robert Cortelyou, senior vice president of Network Planning at Delta.

To say that officials at PIT want the new route to be a success would probably be an understatement. The airport hasn't offered a trans-Atlantic run since November 2004, when US Airways ended flights from PIT to London and Frankfurt.

To that end, on Friday the Allegheny County Airport Authority approved spending $600,000 of its own money to promote the route. That's a departure from the norm, in which airlines shoulder the burden of promoting new service.

"Reestablishing nonstop air service to Europe has been one of my highest priorities during the last four years," said Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. "Thanks to the dedication and commitment of the Regional Air Service Partnership and our region’s business community, we have achieved this important goal. Nonstop service to Paris will enhance access to Europe for international companies based here."

For its part, Delta has offered a special one-way fare of $599 from Pittsburgh to Paris for travel through June 30, 2009. The fare also applies to passengers who connect through PIT from Raleigh-Durham.

Should the route fail to live up to promises, Delta would also receive up to $9 million in subsidies to continue the service.

FMI: www.delta.com, www.flypittsburgh.com