Good news for citizens of Indianapolis: starting next May, you can fly non-stop to Paris on Delta. Ironically for an airline that decries Gulf subsidies as distorting real demand, the new international route will be subsided by the State of Indiana.
Recall Delta’s dishonest “documentary” from July that asserted that subsidies are a great threat. Apparently they only meant subsidies they do not benefit from.
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced the new route at a press conference earlier today. Inside Indiana Business reported–
The new route is a culmination of years of work by state, city and airport officials that includes $5 million approved by the Indiana General Assembly directed at attracting transatlantic flights.
In a Delta press release, the governor is quoted–
Indiana’s pro-business reputation continues to grow and spread around the globe, and that’s why securing a direct trans-Atlantic flight is so important. 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.
I wonder why the subsidy was not mentioned?
The whole “do as I say, not as I do” idiom resonates strongly here…
> Read More: A Dishonest Smear in the Fight Over Gulf Subsidies
Details on the New Indianapolis to Paris Delta Route
For residents of Indiana, this represents an exciting new route.
The new service will begin on May 24, 2018. Delta has not specified yet whether this will be a daily service or how many times per week this flight will operate.
| Flight Number | Departs | Arrives |
| DL500 | Indianapolis (IND) at 6:20 p.m. | Paris (CDG) at 8:45 a.m. (next day) |
| DL501 | Paris (CDG) at 1:15 p.m. | Indianapolis (IND) at 4:35 p.m. |
The flight will be operated by a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft in the following configuration:
- 25 seats – Delta One (Business Class)
- 29 seats – Delta Premium Select (Premium Economy)
- 171 seats – Main Cabin (Economy Class)
CONCLUSION
Note the hypocrisy on subsidies, but I’m glad to see the new international route from a Delta focus city.
And the flight number is Indianapolis 500!
That’s clever!
If you can’t fight them, join them! Who cares about hypocrisy as long as it brings profit!
What are the chances this flight gets cancelled the day the subsidy agreement runs out?
ATL, CVG, DTW, MSP, or JFK?
😉
I want to know if the fare will also be subsidized by the State of Indiana or Delta will charge an arm and a leg for a ticket since there is no competition whatsoever. Oh wait!!! They will say they are charging for the convenience of flying non-stop to Europe. 🙁
There is a huge difference between an initial startup route incentive, standard practice in the industry and available to any airline by a city trying to induce added service, particularly a high profile international one like this, versus a state backed airline receiving massive subsidies in the billions that sustain an otherwise uneconomic business model that siphons off passengers of other carriers that operate without massive state backing. You are claiming hypocracy by comparing two very different types of subsidies.
Every analogy eventually breaks down at some point, but the hypocrisy is plainly evident. Delta derides subsidies as disrupting real supply/demand, yet gladly accept subsidies when it suits them. That is called hypocrisy.
As Matt noted the State of Indiana is subsidizing the flight. But as an Indy flyer we are looking forward to this. I can’t tell you how many times I have driven to or from ORD because the regional jet didn’t fly. And some of us still remember the 1994 Roselawn crash.
We also have a Delta lounge here, so a nice touch.
Santastico is probably right that it will be a expensive ticket.
I’m glad you will have a direct option to Europe.
Delta Comfort+ is just extra legroom seats. Delta Premium Select is their premium economy.
Thanks! I fixed it.
Sure thing. Have a great weekend!
I could be wrong, but I think the 767s will just have Comfort+ and not the true premium economy (Premium Select).