Delta Air Lines to start service between Atlanta and Monrovia

Delta Air Lines is expanding its services to Africa by launching a new route connecting Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, with Roberts International Airport in Monrovia, Liberia.

The new flight, starting in June 2009 and operating on a Boeing 757 aircraft, will make one stop at Amilcar Cabral International Airport on Sal Island in Cape Verde.

The planned service would be the first and the only flight between Hartsfield Jacksonville International Airport in the United States and Roberts International Airport in Liberia.

The proposed route is pending governmental approval.

At present, Delta Air Lines is the only United States-based carrier to provide service from the United States to Africa.

Delta now offers service to 6 destinations in Africa from the United States, with flights from New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport to Accra (Ghana), Dakar (Senegal), Cairo (Egypt), and Cape Town (South Africa.) Delta also flies from Atlanta to Lagos (Nigeria) and Johannesburg (South Africa) – with both services to South Africa having a stop in Dakar (Senegal).

Delta Air Lines, based and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, operates an expansive domestic and international network, spanning North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean. Northwest Airlines, headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, the United States, has announced that it would be merging with Delta Air Lines, and once the merger takes place, the “new” Delta would become the world’s largest airline.

In a statement, Glen Hauenstein, Delta Air Lines’ executive vice-president for Network and Revenue Management, said: “Passengers flying on the new Delta Air Lines service to Liberia will see significant time savings over other flights on other carriers. In addition, they will be able to make connections to over 150 destinations in the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America, from Delta’s hub in Atlanta.”

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, who is on a five-day visit to the United States at the invitation of US President George Bush, told reporters in Washington, DC, on October 23, 2008: “I am excited about Delta Air Lines’ decision to provide direct flight service to Liberia, and there is good opportunity for continued economic growth with US companies doing business in Liberia. The initiative by Delta also provides convenience for Liberians in the Diaspora to come home and to bring their skills and talents in support of the country’s development.”

The website bizjournals.com said Bob Johnson, founder and chairman of the RLJ Companies and who is making significant investment in Liberia, has praised Delta Air Lines for having offered to provide direct air service to Liberia. (RLJ Companies is a diverse portfolio of companies in the financial services, real estate, hospitality, professional sports, film production, automotive and gaming industries.)