NEW YORK, April 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The fastest way to
travel between Manhattan and
New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport just became even
easier for Delta (NYSE: DAL) customers. Delta will enable a
fully integrated, streamlined airport transfer experience through
an exclusive partnership with BLADE, a digitally powered aviation
company that arranges on-demand helicopter service between its
Manhattan heliport lounges and
JFK.
Delta is New York's largest
carrier and has invested more than $2
billion in New York City's
airports, leading the way in improving the traveler experience for
an ever-growing number of New York
passengers. Delta opened a $1.2
billion Terminal 4 at JFK in 2013; another $200 million investment in 2015 added 11 gates
and 75,000 square feet in Terminal 4 along with a renovated
check-in hall and concourse holdrooms at Terminal 2. The airline
offers more than 500 peak-day departures to more than 130
destinations worldwide from its hubs at New York's JFK and LaGuardia airports.
"Our customers value speed and reliability, and so do we. We're
proud to be the only airline facilitating an on-demand helicopter
transfer that is curated specifically for Delta customers and in
line with the enhanced premium amenities and services they have
come to expect from our brand," said Tim
Mapes, Delta's Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing
Officer. "Partnering with BLADE in the New York City market — home to and destination
for many of our most discerning travelers — highlights Delta's
commitment to enhancing every aspect and detail of the travel
experience, including getting to and from the airport."
Delta's JFK customers can book an expedited, seamless experience
that begins and ends at one of BLADE's three Manhattan heliport lounges where they may
relax in a full-service lounge prior to their five-minute flight.
Upon touchdown, a member of Delta's Elite Services team will
welcome the customer, collect baggage and personally escort them
from the helicopter via awaiting ground transportation to the
departure terminal, expediting security clearance as they head to
their departing aircraft. When it's time for the Delta flight, the
customer is escorted to their seat on board. Bookings are available
via the BLADE app.
Delta customers arriving into JFK, including those on
transcontinental service from Los
Angeles and San Francisco
and trans-Atlantic flights from London, can also enjoy a seamless helicopter
transfer experience. Delta's Elite Services will meet customers on
the jet bridge as they disembark a Delta flight or immediately
after they clear customs, reclaim baggage and whisk them directly
to the door of a waiting helicopter for the five-minute flight to
Manhattan.
"With Delta, BLADE has found a partner that shares the same
customer-centric focus to provide a truly unrivaled travel
experience," said BLADE Founder and CEO Rob
Wiesenthal. "The integration of BLADE airport transfers into
Delta's core offerings will enable us to remove much of the
friction faced by many frequent travelers: the challenge of quickly
transferring between Manhattan and
JFK."
The BLADE partnership is just one of many enhancements Delta is
making to offer an innovative customer experience. It's part of a
multi-billion-dollar investment that includes a cabin modernization
program featuring new seats, seatback entertainment systems with
free entertainment, and high-capacity overhead bins; access to
Wi-Fi on nearly all flights; complimentary meals in the Main Cabin
on select flights; upgraded free Main Cabin snacks; chef-curated
meals in Delta One; a seasonal wine program; an Alessi-designed
collection of service products and tableware; and more.
On the ground, Delta plans to add nearly 250 new aircraft to its
fleet in coming years. The airline has also opened new Delta Sky
Club locations in Denver,
Atlanta, and Seattle, and renovated Clubs in Nashville, Dallas, Newark, and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Meanwhile, Delta is
investing in airport enhancement programs in Atlanta, Los
Angeles, New York and
Salt Lake City, and testing and
implementation of an enhanced boarding process in Atlanta.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines serves more than 180
million customers each year. In 2016, Delta was named to Fortune's
top 50 Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most
admired airline for the fifth time in six years. Additionally,
Delta has ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline
survey for an unprecedented six consecutive years. With an
industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection
carriers offer service to 323 destinations in 57 countries on six
continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 80,000
employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800
aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global
alliance and participates in the industry's leading
transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia
as well as a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. Including its
worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than
15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets including
Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St.
Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de
Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita. Delta has
invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products
and services, and technology to enhance the customer experience in
the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on
the Delta News Hub, as well as delta.com, Twitter @DeltaNewsHub,
Google.com/+Delta, and Facebook.com/delta.
About BLADE
BLADE, the digitally powered
short-distance aviation company, leverages mobile technology and an
on-the-ground customer experience network to enable travelers to
enjoy enhanced yet cost-effective air travel. BLADE's accessible
fleet includes more than 60 aircraft, including single-engine,
twin-engine and cabin class helicopters; land planes and seaplanes;
and heavy jets used for seasonal jet service between Manhattan and Miami. Over the past year, BLADE has increased
its serviced routes from three Hamptons destinations to 22
destinations in five states (including Nantucket and the Jersey Coast). BLADE is also
the largest arranger of helicopter flights between Manhattan and all area airports. BLADE's
network of affiliated operators enables users to book a helicopter
and depart within 20 minutes of booking. The four- to six-minute
flight typically saves between one and two hours of driving time
between Manhattan and most area
airports. All BLADE flights are operated by FAA-certified and
DOT-licensed air carriers.
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SOURCE Delta Air Lines