Cablegate: Delta Airlines to Announce New York-Cairo Non-Stop

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RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #2904 2691416
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261416Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7028
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS CAIRO 002904

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SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ELA(RANA)
STATE ALSO FOR EEB/TRA/OTP (HAYWOOD) AND EEB/CBA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ETRD ECON PREL EG
SUBJECT: DELTA AIRLINES TO ANNOUNCE NEW YORK-CAIRO NON-STOP
SERVICE

1. Cairo General Manager for Delta Air Lines Karim Nabhan
told us that Delta plans to announce on September 26 the
establishment of non-stop New York-Cairo-New York service
beginning on June 4, 2008. The flight will operate 5 times
per week (SU,M,TU,W,F from JFK and M,TU,W,TH,SA from Cairo)
and will utilize Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. Currently, only
EgyptAir operates a non-stop Egypt-U.S. service.

2. Nabhan said that existing demand and positive passenger
growth forecasts are driving the decision, but Delta expects
opportunities for air cargo growth as well. The
establishment of direct, non-stop service will spell the end
of the current Paris CDG-Cairo codeshare agreement with Air
France, although Air France will still handle some cargo
business. Delta's previous attempt at a non-stop JFK-Cairo
service was short-lived -- Delta inaugurated the service in
June 2001 and canceled it shortly after 9/11.
JONES

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