Delta Air Lines Expanding Service Between Pittsburgh and Paris Starting in Summer 2011

Delta Air Lines announced that it will expand its nonstop service between Pittsburgh International Airport and Paris-Charles de Gaulle, a move that Allegheny County officials called a vote of confidence for the international air travel market in the Pittsburgh region.

Delta said today that it will begin operating the service daily, an increase of two flights each week, beginning June 1, 2011 for the summer travel season. Flights are available at Delta.com and other ticketing outlets.

"Increasing the weekly departures and extending the schedule for this flight affirms what has been a top priority for me: This region needs and can support nonstop air travel to Europe," said Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. "Today's announcement opens the door to exciting opportunities that could lead to more jobs, commerce and other development."

Beginning June 1, Delta Flight 38 departs daily from Pittsburgh (PIT) at 6:35 pm and arrives at Paris (CDG) at 8:20 am the next day. Delta Flight 39 departs daily from Paris (CDG) at 11:10 am and arrives in Pittsburgh (PIT) at 2:05 pm.

The Pittsburgh to Paris flight via Delta Air Lines was launched on June 3, 2009, with the help of the Regional Air Service Partnership – a partnership of the Allegheny Conference, Allegheny County and the Allegheny County Airport Authority – which made direct, non-stop service to Europe a top priority.

Delta's Pittsburgh-Paris flight increases access to many destinations our travelers need to reach and it saves them time and money in the process," said Glenn R. Mahone, Chairman of the Allegheny County Airport Authority.

Dennis Yablonsky, CEO, Allegheny Conference on Community Development, said Delta’s announcement "reaffirms the global strength of our regional economy."

"Interest in Pittsburgh among global business decision-makers has never been higher," he said. "Non-stop transatlantic service that bypasses crowded East Coast hubs provides a real competitive advantage for hundreds of foreign-owned firms in our region as well as U.S.-based businesses that are expanding internationally."

Expanding the Pittsburgh-Paris service is “part of our ongoing commitment to the city, which includes Delta’s 31 daily nonstop flights to seven cities from Pittsburgh International Airport,” said Wayne Aaron, Delta’s vice president – Marketing Programs and Distribution Strategy.

The flight has performed significantly better in its second year of service beginning in June 2010, said Ken Zapinski, Allegheny Conference senior vice president for transportation and infrastructure. The ultimate fate of the flight will depend in large part on the level of support for the flight in the upcoming winter and spring travel seasons, he said. “We need to keep up the performance to ensure this service continues,” Zapinski said.

The Pittsburgh to Paris-Charles De Gaulle flight offers travelers connections to more than 100 destinations in Europe and beyond. The flight is currently offered four days each week, with Pittsburgh departures on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday; and Paris departures on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.