Delta Positions Sea-Tac As Major Gateway to Asia

The Port of Seattle and the Governor's office welcomed today's announcement from Delta Air Lines that they are positioning Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as a major gateway to Asia with the addition of nonstop routes to Beijing, China and Osaka, Japan in summer 2010. Delta also announced additional nonstop flights to Amsterdam. Delta Air Lines last year merged with Northwest Airlines, becoming the world's largest airline.

"This is excellent news for our state," said Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire. "China and Japan are two of our top export markets. These new direct flights will help expand trade with Asia, bringing more jobs and economic development to Washington. The new flight to Japan will also directly connect us with Hyogo Prefecture, Washington's sister state in Japan."

""We need good economic news right now - and the new jobs and opportunities created by Delta choosing Seattle as a major gateway to Asia is good news for the region,"said Bill Bryant, Port of Seattle Commission President.

Delta's Asian expansion is powered by its partnership with Alaska Air Group. The new nonstop flights to Beijing and Osaka will be timed to conveniently connect with Delta and Alaska's 267 combined daily departures to 64 destinations from Sea-Tac, and will complement Delta's existing daily service to Tokyo-Narita. Delta and Alaska offer customers reciprocal code share, lounge and frequent flyer benefits to make it easier to connect between the airlines' domestic and international networks at Seattle.

Currently, Delta nonstop service from Sea-Tac to Tokyo-Narita, Amsterdam (in partnership with Air France KLM), Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis, New York - Kennedy, Paris Charles de Gaulle (in partnership with Air France KLM) and Salt Lake City. Connections through Alaska and Horizon would add 64 nonstop destinations.

Each of Delta's new services will use Boeing 767-300 aircraft. Beijing service will begin five times weekly on June 4, 2010. The Osaka route will begin daily service on June 7, 2010.

Expanded service to Amsterdam will begin June 1, 2010 increasing from seven to 10 weekly flights aboard a combination of Airbus A330-300 and Boeing 767-300 aircraft.