Delta Air Lines is celebrating 30 years of flying between the USA and Dublin Airport. The airline started a direct service between Dublin and Atlanta in 1988 and is the airport’s longest serving US carrier. Since then Delta has carried almost five million customers on its route network from Dublin Airport.
At the gate celebrations to mark its 30th anniversary, Nadia Clinton, Country Manager UK & Ireland, Delta Air Lines, said: “We have more than quadrupled our capacity from Dublin since our first flight 30 years ago, offering three daily flights this summer and nearly 5,000 seats each week from the capital. We have also invested heavily in our customer experience with new menus, movies and messaging to ensure a more comfortable and enjoyable flight across the Pond.”
Vincent Harrison, Managing Director, Dublin Airport, said: “Dublin Airport welcomed over 4.8 million passengers in 1988 and this year passenger numbers are likely to surpass 30 million. Delta Air Lines is Dublin Airport’s longest serving North American carrier, it has played an important part in Dublin’s transatlantic growth over the past three decades and I want to thank the airline for its commitment to Dublin and Ireland.
“We have worked closely with our friends in Delta fostering strong relationships since it started its Dublin-Atlanta service and we were delighted to see the airline’s route network go from strength to strength with its year-round New York-JFK service and seasonal route to Boston.
“Delta has carried almost five million passengers – the equivalent of the population of Ireland – on its three routes from Dublin Airport during those 30 years. We will continue to work closely with Delta Air Lines to grow its passenger numbers further and wish the airline continued success with its route network from Dublin Airport.”
Passengers travelling on Delta flights to the USA can avail of US pre-clearance facilities at Dublin, meaning passengers save time on arrival in the USA by completing all the necessary immigration and customs checks prior to departure. The only queue a pre-cleared passenger encounters on arrival in the USA is the taxi queue to their final destination.
