Delta Air Lines will expand its international schedule with new and expanded service to cities in Asia and Europe for spring and summer 2011, continuing its focus on markets with high demand for business travel.

The airline's most significant expansion will be in Asia, where Delta has recently seen revenue growth of more than 50 percent.

Delta has applied with the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin new routes to Beijing and Guangzhou, and plans expanded service to Shanghai and Manila. "International business travel demand is the underpinning of the global economic recovery," said Glen Hauenstein, Delta's executive vice president – Network Planning, Revenue Management and Marketing.  "With double-digit revenue growth in most every international business market over the last year, our 2011 schedule reflects a measured response to business customers' desire for increased access to the world's most important business capitals.  New flights to China, London's Heathrow Airport and increased flights to our international alliance partners' gateways at Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol and Guangzhou are cornerstones of our international plan for 2011."

Delta recently affirmed that its capacity will increase between 1 percent and 3 percent in 2011 – consistent with projected global economic growth.

Air Transport News