Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has now confirmed our previous report of adding the Boeing 717 type to the West Coast Delta Shuttle between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The airline issued this statement today:
Delta Air Lines will introduce Boeing 717 aircraft on eight of the 15 daily flights between Los Angeles International and San Francisco International airports in June, offering 40 percent more seats on its hourly nonstop Delta Shuttle.
Delta launched its hourly nonstop Delta Shuttle product from Los Angeles to San Francisco in September 2013, adding a California perspective to its long relied-upon New York-based Shuttle. The mainline 717s seat 110 passengers and offer access to power from every seat. The remaining seven daily West Coast Shuttle flights will continue to be operated by Delta Connection partner Compass Airlines using 76-seat Embraer ERJ 175 aircraft. All Shuttle flights offer access to First Class and Economy Comfort seating and feature Wi-Fi service, as does nearly every domestic Delta flight out of Los Angeles.
The 717 upgrade on the West Coast Shuttle is the latest in a series of investments in Los Angeles by the airline. Last month, Delta announced plans to begin daily nonstop service to Shanghai in July. Pending foreign government approval, seasonal service from Los Angeles to Managua, Nicaragua, will also begin this summer. These new routes build on Delta’s expansion in both international and domestic service from Los Angeles in recent months, including London-Heathrow in October; Dallas/Fort Worth* and Austin, Texas* in November; and Vancouver, Canada* in December.
*Flight operated by Delta Connection carrier Compass Airlines
From Los Angeles, Delta currently operates 154 peak-day departures to 48 destinations. At the airport, travelers passing through Los Angeles continue to enjoy the benefits of the $229 million expansion and enhancement of Terminal 5 at LAX, scheduled for completion in May 2015. Once onboard, Delta supports and markets the music of emerging artists and short-form content creators through exclusive partnerships that provide in-flight content for customers, who can now enjoy free entertainment from every seat out of Los Angeles through the new Delta Studio product.
Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 717-2BD N894AT (msn 55003) taxies to the runway at Baltimore/Washington.
Delta Air Lines aircraft slide show (current livery):
