Delta airline announces direct flight to liberia starting June

MONROVIA, 22 May 2009 – Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) has announced that effective 9 June it will launch service between Monrovia’s Roberts International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, via Dakar, Senegal, effective 9 June 2009, following government approval. The weekly flight will be the only direct service to the United States from Liberia and will offer passengers convenient connections via Delta’s New York-JFK hub to around 40 business and leisure destinations including major U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, Boston, Washington and Atlanta, as well as Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Delta is the only carrier operating scheduled service between the United States and Africa, and we are excited to be adding Liberia to our African network, “said Bobby Bryan, Delta’s commercial manager for West and East Africa. “Our Monrovia service will help strengthen commercial ties and tourism opportunities between both nations.”

With the launch of its June schedule, Delta Air Lines will operate from nine cities in seven African countries, namely: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal and Liberia.

“Today’s announcement is the first of many steps to strengthen and broaden the ongoing business relationship between Africa and the United States,” said Robert L. Johnson, Chairman of The RLJ Companies and owner of The RLJ Kendeja Resort & Villas. “I applaud Delta Air Lines for making the commitment to provide direct air service to Liberia which will provide economic growth opportunities to Liberia and contribute to political stability.”

Delta’s flights between Monrovia and New York-JFK, via Dakar will operate as follows:

Flight	Departs	Arrives	Effective	Frequency
DL213	Monrovia at 10 a.m.	Dakar at 12:05 p.m.	9 June	Weekly on Tuesdays
DL213	Dakar at 1:25 p.m.	New York JFK at 5:40 p.m.	9 June	Weekly on Tuesdays
DL212	New York JFK at 4.15 pm	Dakar at 4.40 am*	8 June	Weekly on Mondays
DL212	Dakar at 6 a.m.	Monrovia at 8:05 a.m.	9 June	Weekly on Mondays

*arrives the following day

The flight will be operated using a Boeing 757-200 ETOPS with up to 158 seats in Economy and 16 seats in Delta’s award winning BusinessElite class.

Delta's sales and marketing activities will be represented by the General Sales Agent Air Partners Ltd in Liberia. Delta flights between Liberia and the U.S. are available for booking from Monday 25 May at Delta’s temporary office at UBA Bank Head Office on Broad Street or by phone on +231 (0)6 782226-9 and +231 (0) 7 782226-9. Delta’s permanent office on 5^th Street, Tubman Boulevard, Sinkor will open on 1 July.

Delta will begin direct flight to Liberia starting June

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Liberians in Atlanta celebrating the good news from Delta

The International Christian Fellowship Church (ICF), the Liberian Association of Metropolitan Atlanta (LAMA), the Liberian American Partnership Initiative (LAPI) and Global Strategies for Good, LLC

Host 2009 Delta Air Lines Direct Flight Celebration and Recognition Ceremony

WHO:

· Reverend William Harris, Pastor, International Christian Fellowship Church, Host

· Walter Skinner, President, Liberian Association of Metropolitan Atlanta

· Wilfred T. Harris, LAPI President and Charles Russell, Event Moderators

· Cynthia Blandford Nash, CEO, Global Strategies for Good, LLC

Invited guests: Edwin Sele, Embassy, Republic of Liberia, Alex Cummings, Chief Administrative Officer, the Coca-Cola Company, Dr. Maulpin, President, Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. Robert Franklin, President, Morehouse College, Tommy Dortch, 100 Black Men of America, The Atlanta West End Rotary Club, Michael Nyenhuis, President, MAP International, Jo Ann Haden-Miller, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, Jorge Fernandez, Vice President, Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Rev. Glenn T. Mason, Carver International Missions, Kathleen Green Raleigh, CDC, John Bailey, Retired Captain, Delta Air Lines, Cynthia Williams, President, National Coalition of 100 Black Women Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter, Atlanta World Trade Center, Dr. Joseph Lowery, others

100+ local community members along with representatives from Atlanta’s various faith, academic and business organizations

WHAT: The Liberian community and other partners will celebrate direct flights to Liberia by honoring three outstanding civic leaders at Delta Air Lines, including Scarlet Pressley-Brown, General Manager, Alfreda Turner, Manager, Industry Marketing, and William Settle, Manager, Global Diversity & Inclusion. In their past and current positions with Delta Air Lines, these leaders have demonstrated concern about making a difference in the lives of others and in the global community at large. Most recently, their role in making the “Delta-Liberian Initiative” a reality speaks volumes about their dedication and commitment to help the people of Liberia meet the challenges of the future after years of Civil War and destruction. As an expression of thanks and seizing the opportunity to formally announce Delta’s Inaugural Flight to Liberia on June 8, 2009, we will make these three individuals Honorable Paramount Chiefs of Liberia.

WHEN: Friday, May 29^th, 2009, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

WHERE: International Christian Fellowship Church, 3076 Humphries Drive SE Atlanta, GA 30354 or call for directions at (678) 984-9551

About: On October 22, 2008, Delta Air Lines announced the introduction of the first and only flight between JFK and Liberia. Currently, Delta offers service between the United States and six African destinations with flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Accra, Ghana; Dakar, Senegal; Cairo, Egypt; and Cape Town in South Africa (via Dakar) and between Atlanta and Lagos, Nigeria; and Johannesburg, South Africa (via Dakar).

Liberia is situated in West Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean to the country's southwest. The country has strong historical and cultural ties to the United States. With key exports of minerals and timber, there is a strong and growing market for business traffic between Liberia and the U.S. Delta Air Lines has been a great supporter to the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter in their quest to support the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf rebuild the country through trade and medical missions to Liberia.

For more information, please call Walter Skinner at 404-394-5673

About Delta
Delta Air Lines is the world’s largest airline. From its hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam and Tokyo-Narita, Delta, its Northwest subsidiary and Delta Connection carriers offer service to 370 destinations in 66 countries and serve more than 170 million passengers each year. Delta’s marketing alliances allow customers to earn and redeem either SkyMiles or WorldPerks on more than 16,000 daily flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta‘s more than 70,000 employees worldwide are reshaping the aviation industry as the only U.S. airline to offer a full global network. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.