BEFORE THE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

Application of 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

 

for a frequency allocation 

(U.S. - Brazil) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

Docket DOT-OST-2011- 

APPLICATION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to: 

 

Robert J. Cortelyou 

Senior Vice President – Network Planning 

Steve Long 

Director – Latin Network Planning 

Chris Kennedy 

General Manager – Latin 

 Network Planning 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1030 Delta Boulevard 

Atlanta, Georgia 30320 

Andrea Fischer Newman 

Senior Vice President – Government Affairs 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1212 New York Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

Alexander Van der Bellen 

Managing Director – Government Affairs 

 & Associate General Counsel 

Jeff Morgan 

Regional Director – Government Affairs 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1212 New York Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

(202) 842-4184 

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com

April 21, 2011 

 
BEFORE THE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

Application of 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

 

for a frequency allocation 

(U.S. - Brazil) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

Docket DOT-OST-2011- 

APPLICATION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

I. Introduction 

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (“Delta”) is pleased to respond to the Department’s notice 

inviting applications for 2011 and 2012 U.S.-Brazil frequencies. Thanks to the success 

of the U.S. Government in negotiating a new air transport agreement with Brazil, there 

are substantial opportunities to serve Brazil under the transitional Memorandum of 

Consultations signed on March 18, 2011, which is expected to culminate in full open 

skies with Brazil. Delta requests the following frequencies for service in 2011: 

• Two frequencies to enable Delta to increase Detroit-Sao Paulo service 

from five to seven weekly, year-round flights. Delta will indirectly fund 

increased Detroit-Sao Paulo flying by reallocating Sao Paulo-eligible 

frequencies currently used on the Atlanta-Rio de Janeiro route. Thus, 

Delta requests two of the October 1, 2011 Rio de Janeiro-eligible 

frequencies for this purpose. Delta’s Detroit proposal will maximize the 

public benefits by creating additional Sao Paulo service for which there is 

the greatest unmet consumer demand, and fewest available frequencies. 

This arrangement to fund additional Sao Paulo flying is consistent with 
Application of Delta 

Page 2 

DOT policy and precedent. Delta currently offers its five weekly DetroitSao Paulo flights thanks to a similar allocation of frequencies in August of 

last year. See NOAT dated August 2 2010, Docket DOT-OST-2010-

0186. 

• Delta also requests seven frequencies to offer daily, year-round service 

on the Atlanta-Manaus route. Delta’s service will provide the first U.S. 

flag competition to Manaus, which is served nonstop from the U.S. only 

by Brazil’s TAM. Atlanta is the world’s largest airline hub, and is well 

situated to provide broad network coverage of the entire United States. 

To the extent surplus Rio de Janeiro frequencies are available in 2011, 

Delta requests that its Manaus proposal be funded from the Rio-eligible 

pool. This will provide Delta flexibility to offer additional competitive 

service at Rio de Janeiro in the future. American was previously 

awarded Rio-eligible frequencies for use in northern/regional Brazil 

markets.1

 Delta holds fewer Rio- and Sao-Paulo eligible frequencies (26) 

than American (58) or United/Continental (42). 

II. Service Proposals 

A. Detroit-Sao Paulo 

The establishment of daily service on the Detroit-Sao Paulo route is Delta’s first 

priority. Delta’s five weekly flights have been a strong success since they were 

introduced December 2010. However, a less-than-daily service pattern is not optimal for 

an important business market, such as Detroit, which is also a large hub. If awarded 

the two frequencies it is requesting, Delta will operate two additional Detroit-Sao Paulo 

flights, effective December 18, 2011. Delta will utilize 209-seat Boeing 767-300ER 

 

1

See, NOAT June 16, 2010 in Dockets DOT-OST-2010-0088 and DOT-OST-2010-0090. 
Application of Delta 

Page 3 

aircraft, equipped with 35 Business Elite seats, 31 Economy Comfort (premium economy) 

seats, and 143 economy class seats. Delta’s BusinessElite cabin will feature new, stateof-the-art flat bed seats, video on demand entertainment system, and award-winning 

food and wine service Delta's proposed nonstop service schedule, operating statistics, 

and aircraft information are set forth in Exhibits 101-104. 

Detroit and Sao Paulo are each major industrial-manufacturing centers with 

strong communities of interest and a significant demand for nonstop service. Detroit is 

also home to Delta’s second-largest hub, where Delta and its regional affiliates operate 

more than 570 peak day departures from the hub and will provide nonstop-to-nonstop 

service for 90 U.S. points. Delta’s Detroit hub provides an important link for the entire 

Midwestern United States to Brazil. 

B. Atlanta-Manaus 

Delta seeks seven frequencies in 2011, so that it can provide daily nonstop 

service between Atlanta and Manaus. Delta’s service will provide the first U.S. flag 

competition to Manaus, which is served nonstop from the U.S. only by Brazil’s TAM. 

Atlanta is well situated in the Southeastern United States to provide convenient, 

competitive, and non-circuitous Manaus connections throughout the United 

States. Delta and its regional affiliates provide nonstop service from Atlanta to more 

than 145 U.S. points, and operate more than 1,000 peak day departures at the hub. 

If awarded the seven frequencies it is requesting, Delta would commence 

Atlanta-Manaus service, effective December 18, 2011. Delta will utilize 124-

seat Boeing 737-700 aircraft, equipped with 12 first class and 112 economy class seats. 

Delta's proposed nonstop service schedule, operating statistics, and aircraft information 

are set forth in Exhibits 201-204. 
Application of Delta 

Page 4 

Delta asks that it be awarded seven frequencies for service in 2011, and, if 

possible, that Delta’s allocation be made from the pool of Rio de Janeiro-eligible 

frequencies to promote greater flexibility in adjusting future service patterns to meet 

customer demand. 

III. Conclusion 

Delta appreciates the Department’s success in brining these important new air 

service rights to the U.S.-Brazil marketplace. Should carrier selection proceedings be 

necessary, Delta stands ready to provide additional information to establish the 

comparative merits and strong public interest benefits of its Detroit-Sao Paulo and 

Atlanta-Manaus service proposals. 

 Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________ 

Alexander Van der Bellen 

Managing Director, Government Affairs 

 & Associate General Counsel 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 
Detroit - Sao Paulo 
GRB

PIA

MDW

ORD

IAD

RST

MSN

GRR

To ANC

SAN

PHX

ROA

LAX

OKC

XNA

LAS

TUL

CRW

S

SFO

HTS

SMF

LEX EVV SDF

DEN

RO

SLC PIT

STL

MCI CVG

BUF

CMH

IND DAY

CAK

ERI

OMA

PDX

BMI

DSM

SEA

CLE

MLI CID

FSD

FWA

SBN

LSE

MSP

MKE

AZO

APN

CWA

ATW

DLH CIU

PLN

LANFNT MBS

MQT

ESC

TVC

Source: July 2011 schedules

DTW

Delta’s Detroit-Sao Paulo Service Offers ConvenientConnections from Across the Midwestern U.S. Region and Beyond
Delta’s Detroit – Sao Paulo Nonstop Schedule 

Proposal – Northern Hemisphere Winter Season

DL 257

Daily

Boeing 767-300ER

Flight Number

Frequency

Equipment

DL 2

Dail

Boeing 767

1925

0855

10:30

0730

2325

11:0

Detroit (DTW)

Sao Paulo (GRU)

Elapsed Time

+1

GMT (-5)GMT (-2)

Note: All times are local. Schedule includes 5 weekly flights that Delta operates using existing U.S.-Brazil frequencies. The incre

operate southbound on Monday and Tuesday and northbound on Tuesday and Wednesday. The additional frequencies will be e
Delta’s Detroit – Sao Paulo Nonstop Schedule 

Proposal – Northern Hemisphere Summer Season

DL 257

Daily

Boeing 767-300ER

Flight Number

Frequency

Equipment

DL 2

Dail

Boeing 767

1950

0720

10:30

0820

2225

10:5

Detroit (DTW)

Sao Paulo (GRU)

Elapsed Time

+1

GMT (-4)GMT (-3)

Note: All times are local. Schedule includes 5 weekly flights that Delta operates using existing U.S.-Brazil frequencies. The incre

operate southbound on Monday and Tuesday and northbound on Tuesday and Wednesday. The additional frequencies will be e
Annual Operating Statistics

Delta’s Detroit – Sao Paulo Nonstop Service Proposal

AircraftAnnual DeparturesSegment Miles (sm)Plane Miles (sm)ASMsFuel Burn (gallons/hour)Fuel Consumption (millions of gallons)

Boeing 767-300ER

730

5,106

3,727,380

779,022,420

1,658

12.9

Statement on fuel availability: Delta anticipates no difficulty in obtaining fuefrom its current suppliers at Detroit and Sao Paulo.

BusinessEliteEconomy ComfortEconomy ClassTotal

3531

143209

Seating Configuration

Note: Statistics include 5 weekly flights that Delta operates using existing U.S.-Brazil frequencies. 
Aircraft Statement

• Delta will use aircraft on hand from among the 51 Boeing 767-300ER airc

its fleet. These aircraft are in widespread use throughout Delta’s internatnetwork. All of Delta’s aircraft are FAR 36 compliant. 
Atlanta - Manaus 
CLE

MSN

SDF

E

S

ABE

IAD

P

RIC CHO

MDW

MSL

MCO

ECP

VPS

PNS

MOB GPT

IAH

MIA

SFO

LAX

To HNL

EYW

FL

PB

RSW

MLB

SRQ

TPA

DAB

GNV

MFE

JAX

MY

BQK

CHS

B

FAY

SAV

VLD

D

TLH

M

SAT HOU

RDU

SY

AUS LFT MSY BTR

ROC

GRK

ELP

GSO

TUS

CAE

BUF

ABY

AEX

SAN

ROA

DHN

PHX

CLT SNA

AGS

ONT

LWB

PIT

DFW SHV MLU

ABQ

LAS

JAN

CAK

MEI

CRW

SJC

GSP

MGM

SMF

CSG

OKC

TRI

AVL

CMH

DTW

FNT

GTR

LIT

COS

TUL

SLC

XNA

DEN DAY

GRR

ICT

FWA

CVG

BHM

PDX

MEM

LEX

SBN

JAC

TYS

SGF

ATW

SEA

MKE

IND

BZN

ORD

MCI

FCA

HSV

OMA

BMI

MSP

MLI

EVV STL

CHA

DSM

BNA

Source: July 2011 schedules

ATL

Delta’s Atlanta-Manaus Service Will Offer Connectionsfrom Across the U.S. 
Delta’s Atlanta – Manaus Nonstop Schedule 

Proposal – Northern Hemisphere Winter Season

DL 487

Daily

Boeing 737-700

Flight Number

Frequency

Equipment

DL 4

Dail

Boeing 7

1655

0037

6:42

0720

0130

6:50

Atlanta (ATL)

Manaus (MAO)

Elapsed Time

GMT (-5)GMT (-4)

Note: All times are local. Service effective December 18, 2011.

+1
Delta’s Atlanta – Manaus Nonstop Schedule 

Proposal – Northern Hemisphere Summer Season

DL 487

Daily

Boeing 737-700

Flight Number

Frequency

Equipment

DL 4

Dail

Boeing 7

1655

2334

6:39

0754

0100

6:54

Atlanta (ATL)

Manaus (MAO)

Elapsed Time

GMT (-4)GMT (-4)

Note: All times are local. Service effective December 18, 2011.
Annual Operating Statistics

Delta’s Atlanta – Manaus Nonstop Service Proposal

AircraftAnnual DeparturesSegment Miles (sm)Plane Miles (sm)ASMsFuel Burn (gallons/hour)Fuel Consumption (millions of gallons)

Boeing 737-700

730

2,982

2,176,860

269,930,640

773

3.4

Statement on fuel availability: Delta anticipates no difficulty in obtaining fuefrom its current supplier at Atlanta or from suppliers in Manaus. 

First ClassEconomy ClassTotal

12

112124

Seating Configuration
Aircraft Statement

• Delta will use aircraft on hand from among the 10 Boeing 737-700 aircraf

fleet. These aircraft are in widespread use throughout Delta’s internationnetwork. All of Delta’s aircraft are FAR 36 compliant. 
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

 A copy of the foregoing Application has been served this 21st day of April, 2011, 

upon the following persons via email: 

 

carl.nelson@aa.com 

howard.kass@usairways.com 

benjamin.slocum@usairways.com 

dan.weiss@coair.com 

jeffrey.manley@united.com 

anbird@fedex.com 

jhill@dowlohnes.com 

robert.land@jetblue.com 

kevin.montgomery@polaraircargo.com 

jyoung@yklaw.com 

dkirstein@yklaw.com 

anita.mosner@hklaw.com 

paul.gretch@dot.gov 

esta.rosenberg@dot.gov 

brian.hedberg@dot.gov 

brett.kruger@dot.gov 

urskr@state.gov 

joe.cambron@wcaa.us 

louis.miller@atlanta-airport.com 

info@airlineinfo.com