Delta requests slots for Boston and Miami flights to London Heathrow

Delta Air Lines hopes to continue expansion of its global reach with the announcement of planned service between London's Heathrow Airport and two U.S. cities, Boston and Miami. The airline has applied to both the European Commission and U.S. Department of Transportation to operate twice daily from Boston Logan International Airport and once each day from Miami International Airport.

At current service levels, British Airways and American Airlines control a majority of the seats between London and both Boston and Miami. Their only competition, until now, has been Virgin Atlantic Airways. When regulators approved the working arrangement between American, Iberia and British Airways, all three members of the One World alliance, it also required that slots be released for potential competition from other airlines. Delta has taken them up on the offer to compete with the announcement of these new services.

Delta offers international non-stop service from Minneapolis/St. Paul to London Heathrow, as well as Paris, Amsterdam and Tokyo. The Atlanta-based carrier is a strong domestic player in Boston already, but London Heathrow service would catapult the airline instantly into a major position in New England. it currently flies to Europe daily from Logan with one non-stop to Amsterdam, which offers scores of connections with SkyTeam alliance partner KLM.

Delta operates a massive international hub at JFK International Airport in New York, and flies a very strong schedule of European flights from Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson International Airport and Detroit Metro Airport. With the impending merger of United Airlines and Continental Airlines, Delta is strengthening its route system internationally, which is the strongest component of the airline industry.