Delta partners for helicopter flights in New York

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), May 14, 2007 | by Chris Dolmetsch Bloomberg News

Delta Air Lines Inc., the third-largest U.S. carrier, joined with U.S. Helicopter Corp. to provide passengers with helicopter rides between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Manhattan.

U.S. Helicopter began flying between JFK and the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at 6 East River Piers in March 2006 and added service to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey in December. It began flights between the airports and the Atlantic Metroport at East 34th Street in midtown Manhattan in February.

Starting today, U.S. Helicopter will offer 27 weekday flights between the two heliports and JFK's Terminal 3, where Delta flights depart and arrive, the companies said in a joint statement. Fares start at $159 plus taxes and fees. JFK is Delta's second-busiest U.S. international gateway behind Atlanta and the 17th busiest airport in the world.

Outside of the helicopter service, passengers riding between JFK and Manhattan must either drive or take taxis or buses, risking getting caught in New York City traffic, or take subways or the Long Island Rail Road to Jamaica, where they can transfer to a train that takes them directly to the airport.

"This is something that will make flying out of our terminal at JFK more convenient, particularly for our business customers," Delta spokesman Betsy Talton said.

Passengers using the shuttle will be able to check their bags and go through security at the heliports, allowing them to bypass screening lines. Flights to and from the airport will take an average of eight minutes.

Since March 2006, U.S. Helicopter has flown to Terminal 9 at JFK under an agreement with AMR Corp.'s American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, said Donal McSullivan, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for New York-based U.S. Helicopter.

Yet American is building a new $1.1 billion terminal at JFK and needs the gate that U.S. Helicopter has used, and Delta is increasing its presence at the airport and carries a high percentage of business travelers that are U.S. Helicopter's most frequent clients, McSullivan said.

The company also has a partnership with Continental Airlines Inc. for service to its international hub in Newark. Neither Delta nor U.S. Helicopter would divulge details of their agreement.

"We're interested in growing our business, growing our bottom line and protecting our revenue numbers," McSullivan said. "It's a better opportunity. A guy comes along with a better mousetrap."