Delta unveils schedule for new domestic hub at New York’s LaGuardia Airport

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) today unveiled its schedule for its new domestic hub at New York’s LaGuardia airport, significantly expanding its service to include more than 100 new flights and 29 new destinations.

The investment will be the largest single expansion by any carrier at LaGuardia in decades, with total flights increasing by more than 60 percent, and total destinations by more than 75 percent. By summer 2012, Delta will operate 264 daily flights between LaGuardia and more than 60 cities, more than any other airline.

Delta will offer more domestic flights and seats from New York’s three major airports than any other carrier, with more than 400 daily domestic departures from LaGuardia, JFK and Newark to destinations nationwide. Delta’s new hub will benefit consumers across the state of New York and the Northeast with convenient new nonstop jet service to LaGuardia.

The additional LaGuardia flights will be available under an agreement between Delta and US Airways to exchange takeoff and landing rights at LaGuardia and Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., which was approved earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Delta closed its agreement with US Airways on December 13 as we reported previously.

The transaction generated significant support from elected and community leaders in New York and Washington, D.C. The DOT concluded that the agreement will increase competition and create significant benefits for consumers. The expansion will increase passenger traffic at LaGuardia considerably, adding up to 4 million new seats annually without increasing aircraft congestion.

Delta’s expanded LaGuardia schedule adds nonstop service to top U.S. business markets, including Miami, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Charlotte, Denver, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee and Cleveland. Delta also will be adding frequency to business markets it currently serves, including Chicago, Nashville, Raleigh-Durham and Portland, Maine.

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In addition to key business markets, Delta will be adding new all-jet service from LaGuardia to key upstate New York markets, including Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, replacing turboprop aircraft operated by US Airways. Delta also will be adding service to smaller communities including Wilmington, N.C.; Roanoke, Va.; and Burlington, Vt.

The larger jet aircraft utilized by Delta means up to 4 million additional seats will be available at LaGuardia without increasing congestion.

As part of the expansion, Delta will invest $100 million to create an expanded main terminal at LaGuardia in Terminals C and D, where it will operate a total of 26 gates. A 600-foot connector bridge will be built to conveniently link the two terminals. Delta also will convert the existing US Airways lounge in Terminal C to a Delta Sky Club, while continuing to operate its current Sky Club in Terminal D.

Delta will continue to operate its popular hourly Delta Shuttle to Boston, Washington, D.C., and Chicago from its six gates at the Marine Air Terminal.

Delta’s expanded LaGuardia service will create an estimated 700 jobs in the New York region. In addition, the expansion and related airport construction will directly and indirectly generate an estimated 6,000 new jobs in New York.

Delta has more than 7,000 New York-based employees.

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