Indianapolis International Airport welcomes Delta Air Lines’ new nonstop service to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris

New route to provide quicker, easier connectivity for Hoosiers, businesses

INDIANAPOLIS, 2017-Sep-11 — /Travel PR News/ — Governor Eric J. Holcomb joined executives from Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today to announce new nonstop air service from Indianapolis International Airport to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. A key part of Governor Eric J. Holcomb’s Next Level Agenda, the new flight will provide a critical link connecting Indiana businesses with global markets.

“Indiana’s pro-business reputation continues to grow and spread around the globe, and that’s why securing a direct transatlantic flight is so important,” Gov. Holcomb said. “This flight is a big win for our state’s business community and for Hoosier travelers. I cannot wait to see that first Delta flight take off for Europe in just a few short months.”

The flights, which will begin May 24, 2018, will connect Indiana and Europe year-round with service scheduled at least three times per week. Operating on a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, the route’s frequency will increase during the spring, summer and fall months, reaching daily service throughout the peak summer season. With the new service from Delta, in cooperation with its joint venture partner Air France/KLM, Indiana passengers and global businesses will have access to more than 100 destinations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India, including 23 of the top 25 transatlantic markets, via one-stop connections at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

According to air service traffic, 310 people travel from Indianapolis to transatlantic destinations daily. By attracting Indiana’s first year-round transatlantic flight, the Indianapolis Airport Authority estimates that this new air service could have a $50 million annual impact on Indiana’s economy.

“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,” said Bob Cortelyou, senior vice president – network planning for Delta.

The availability of nonstop air service is generally considered imperative for businesses when selecting headquarters and growth locations, supporting both international businesses with operations in Indiana and Indiana-based businesses which do business around the world. Indiana is home to more than 800 foreign-owned businesses, which employ 190,900 Hoosiers. In 2016, more than 8,500 Indiana businesses exported $34.7 billion worth of goods to customers around the world, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.

“Today’s announcement opens the doors for unprecedented development and growth, as it directly connects our economic engine here in central Indiana with our neighbors across the Atlantic,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “This connection elevates our already strong workforce, increasing avenues for job creation and talent retention – another sign that the sky truly is the only limit for Indianapolis.”

The Indianapolis International Airport has been named the best airport in North America for the fifth consecutive year by Airports Council International. Including this new route, the airport has added 37 nonstop flights since 2014, increasing its service to a total of 48 nonstop destinations. Delta’s history in Indianapolis goes back more than five decades, and the airline currently provides service to 13 destinations, carrying thousands of Hoosiers daily on frequent service across its global network via its hubs in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City and Salt Lake City in addition to nonstop flights to Orlando, Raleigh/Durham and Cancun.

Delta’s Indianapolis-Paris service will be available for sale beginning Sept. 23 and is scheduled as follows: departing Indianapolis at 6:20 p.m. and arriving in Paris at 8:45 a.m. the next day; departing Paris at 1:15 p.m. and arriving in Indianapolis at 4:35 p.m. The onboard experience will be equipped with 25 fully lie-flat seats in Delta One, 29 seats Delta Comfort+ and 171 seats in the Main Cabin. Every seat has access to Wi-Fi, free personal in-flight seatback entertainment screens as well as power ports. Complimentary meals and beverages will also be provided in all cabins of service.

“Today’s news is the result of significant efforts on the part of many parties working collaboratively toward one collective goal,” said Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority. “That goal over time has been to connect IND to every direction of the globe. A nonstop destination into Paris puts travelers — for business and leisure — right in the heart of Europe, with access to hundreds of cities, business economies and some of the greatest attractions in the world.”

To help support the new route and ensure its long-term success, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has offered Delta Air Lines up to $5.5 million in conditional incentives over two years based on the company’s commitment to operate regularly-scheduled nonstop flights between the two airports. The incentives, which are subject to approval of the IEDC Board, will be awarded based on the number of passengers served by the route over the next two years, and, similar to other IEDC incentives, will not be awarded to the airline until service for passengers is provided.

As part of Governor Holcomb’s plan to make Indiana a magnet for job creation, Indiana is committed to improving the state’s connectivity by attracting new nonstop and direct flights to and from Indiana’s airports. During the latest legislative session, Governor Holcomb requested $10 million toward air service development for Indiana’s commercial airports, including securing a direct transatlantic flight. With a transatlantic flight now secured, the IEDC is continuing to work with airlines to explore options for expanding domestic service at Indiana’s regional airports.

About Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines serves more than 180 million customers each year. In 2017, Delta was named to Fortune’s top 50 Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired airline for the sixth time in seven 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 315 destinations in 54 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, Mexico City, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Seoul, 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 IEDC
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic development efforts, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state. Governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the IEDC manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, public infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov. 

About Indianapolis International Airport
Indianapolis International Airport (IND) generates an annual economic impact in Central Indiana of more than $5.4 billion without relying on state or local taxes to fund its operations. About 10,000 people work at the airport each day. IND serves more than 8.5 million business and leisure travelers each year averaging 143 daily flights to 48 nonstop destinations. Home of the world’s second-largest FedEx Express operation and the nation’s eighth-largest cargo facility, IND is committed to becoming the airport system of choice for both passenger and cargo service. For more information, visit www.IND.com.

SOURCE: Indianapolis International Airport

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