Delta Air Lines will launch a nonstop flight from Cairo International Airport to New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Thursday (June 5).

It will be using a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft and will operate five times a week.

The new service is the only nonstop service, operated by a US airline between Egypt and the United States and will strengthen business and tourism links between the two countries.

“We are delighted to offer our customers from Egypt the opportunity to fly nonstop to New York, the world’s largest travel market and leading financial centre,” said Bob Hannah, regional director multi-national sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Delta Air Lines.

“Passengers flying from Cairo will benefit from over 40 convenient connections throughout the US and Canada to business and leisure destinations including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Orlando, San Francisco and Tampa.”

The new flight will offer opportunities for freight operators and cargo shippers, Hannah said. 

Helena Haubova, regional manager for Cargo sales, commented: “The Egyptian cargo market is very promising and we are expecting a very positive reaction from agents in the market, as they see the benefit of increased services between Egypt and the United States. So far, the main commodities that Delta is likely to transport are textiles and perishables.”

Delta’s nonstop service between Cairo and New York will be a two-class service having 215 seats -- 34 seats in Delta’s award winning BusinessElite class and 181 seats in economy. The BusinessElite service features all-leather sleeper seats with 152cm of legroom, innovative food from celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein.

The airline’s on-demand personal in-seat entertainment boasts more than 20 first-run and popular classic movies, a variety of TV programmes, a broad range of music, and a suite of 12 video games. Economy class customers also benefit from new all-leather economy seats, amenity kits and enhanced food offerings.

The flight will have English and Arabic-speaking flight attendants onboard, as well as halal food options.

Customers can also take advantage of Delta’s helicopter service - which provides an eight-minute trip between JFK and Manhattan. Helicopter rides are complimentary for customers booked with international BusinessElite fares and customers travelling in economy can also purchase return tickets. 

The inaugural flight is scheduled leave New York at 4.20 pm on Wednesday (June 4) and arrive in Cairo on Thursday at 10.35 am. The return flight will leave Cairo at 12.30 pm on Thursday (June 5) and reach New York at 5.40pm the following day.-TradeArabia News Service