Buckeyes, Gators and Delta: A Winning Combination for 2007 BCS Championship Game

Airline to fly special nonstop flights for Ohio State and Florida fans to watch the game

PHOENIX, Dec. 8, 2006 – Whether you wear the scarlet and gray of Ohio State or the orange and blue of Florida, Buckeyes and Gators fans will have one thing in common next month – convenient nonstop service between their hometowns and Phoenix aboard Delta Air Lines. In response to overwhelming requests by customers in the two communities, Delta will add special nonstop flights from Columbus, Ohio, and Gainesville, Fla. to Phoenix for fans to cheer on their teams at the Bowl Championship Series national championship football game in Glendale, Ariz.

Delta will offer fans two nonstop flights each from Gainesville and Columbus to Phoenix on Jan. 6 and two nonstop flights each from Phoenix to Gainesville and Columbus on Jan. 9. The flights will be operated using a combination of Boeing 757 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft, seating 183 and 150 passengers, respectively.

“Cheering for your favorite team from the stands of a roaring stadium is the best way to watch football,” said Bob Cortelyou, Delta’s vice president of Network Planning. “As the largest carrier in Columbus and Gainesville in terms of flights, we’re thrilled to support the overwhelming request from our customers for convenient nonstop service to the BCS championship game.”

Delta’s extra flights between Columbus and Phoenix, operating Jan. 6 and Jan. 9 only:

Flight | Departs | Arrives | Effective
9695 | Columbus at 8:15 p.m. | Phoenix at 10:30 p.m. | Jan. 6, 2007
9697 | Columbus at 8:45 p.m. | Phoenix at 11 p.m. | Jan. 6, 2007
9694 | Phoenix at 9:30 a.m. | Columbus at 3:10 p.m.| Jan. 9, 2007
9696 | Phoenix at 3 p.m. | Columbus at 8:40 p.m. | Jan. 9, 2007

Delta’s extra flights between Gainesville and Phoenix, operating Jan. 6 and Jan. 9 only:

Flight | Departs | Arrives | Effective
9691 | Gainesville at 5 p.m. | Phoenix at 7:30 p.m. | Jan. 6, 2007
9693 | Gainesville at 7:45 p.m. | Phoenix at 10:15 p.m. | Jan. 6, 2007
9690 | Phoenix at 10:30 a.m. | Gainesville at 4:20 p.m. | Jan. 9, 2007
9692 | Phoenix at 1:45 p.m. | Gainesville at 7:35 p.m. | Jan. 9, 2007


Football fans in other cities also can consider convenient options for reaching the 2007 Bowl Championship Series championship in Phoenix. With its January 2007 schedule, Delta will offer customers 14 peak-day departures between Phoenix and its hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati and Salt Lake City.

Delta Air Lines (Other OTC: DALRQ) offers customers service to more destinations than any global airline with Delta and Delta Connection carrier service to 290 destinations in 46 countries. With more than 50 new international routes added in the last year, Delta is America’s fastest growing international airline and is a leader across the Atlantic with flights to 28 trans-Atlantic destinations. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers more than 400 weekly flights to 49 destinations. Delta’s marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on more than 14,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 445 worldwide destinations in 92 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.

Contact Information

Anthony Black

Senior Manager - Media Relations

Delta Air Lines

Contact via E-mail