In “list of services I never expected to see”, it seems that Delta Air Lines will be spinning up a service between Indianapolis to Paris in 2018.
The daily service will commence on the 24th May 2018.
A timetable has been published:
DL500 DEPART IND 18:20 ARRIVE CDG 08:45+1 DL501 DEPART CDG 13:15 ARRIVE IND 16:35 Commences 24th May 2018 Booked Equipment: Boeing 767-300ER Data: Delta.
Booking will open on the 23rd September 2017, for forward bookings. Frequencies have not been disclosed as yet.
It will utilise a Boeing 767-300ER, consisting of:
- 25 Delta One Business Class seats
- 29 seats Delta Comfort+ seats
- 171 seats Main Cabin seats
The service is running under the joint venture agreement with Air France-KLM, feeding into Paris Charles du Gaulle. The timings should be good for those connecting at Paris to meet the morning bank of flights (in both directions).
Delta operates 37 flights a day out of Indianapolis, to 13 destinations. Which isn’t exactly massive, but large enough to be the largest operator out of Indianapolis
Bob Cortelyou, Delta’s Senior Vice President – Network Planning is happy stating:
“Indiana and the Indianapolis metropolitan area has long been an important part of our route network and we are honored that Delta will be the first U.S. carrier to take Indiana nonstop to Europe”
Dwight James, Delta’s Senior Vice President – Trans-Atlantic is putting the development of the service down to the joint venture agreement, stating:
”This new service is a great example of the strength of our trans-Atlantic joint venture and we look forward to providing a new economic link between the state of Indiana and Europe”
However, One Mile at a Time noted that Inside Indiana Business have identified that conditional subsidies of $5.5million over two years by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
Which one heck of a sweetener to spin up a service.
On the plus side, passengers from Indianapolis won’t have to connect in Atlanta, Detroit, New York JFK or Minneapolis St Paul to hop to Europe. Which is a useful benefit.
The big test of course will be the route lasting beyond its two-year subsidy – and therein is the real challenge.
Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond – Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, with in-depth coverage, unique research as well as the humour and madness as I only know how to deliver.
Follow me on Twitter at @EconomyBeyond for the latest updates! You can also follow me on Instagram too!
Also remember that as well as being part of BoardingArea, we’re also part of BoardingArea.eu, delivering frequent flyer news, miles and points to European readers.
There were subsidies on PDX-NRT for many years, too. These are not uncommon.
Throw a little cash at something and what one person “never expected to see” suddenly happens! Funny how that works.
Another consequence of the 787 and A350. As these planes come on line, fully paid for 757s and 767s can pick up these fringe routes at very little risk. This is the brilliance of the twins and another nail in the coffin for the A380 and 744, 748.