Delta Air Lines expands route network between Brazil and the United States with a new nonstop flight between Rio de Janeiro and New York-JFK. Delta will connect the two cities with a daily service, starting southbound Dec. 21, 2017, and northbound the next day.
The airline's strategic alliance with GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes will extend the reach of this service to 23 destinations within Brazil and provides seamless connections at Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) in Rio de Janeiro. On the other end, Delta will offer 49 U.S. destinations beyond its hub at New York-JFK.
Delta's proposed schedule between Rio de Janeiro (GIG) and New York-JFK (JFK) is as follows:
| Flight Number | Departs | Arrives | Frequency | Effective |
| DL 479 | New York-JFK (JFK) at 9:24 p.m. | Rio de Janeiro (GIG) at 10:30 a.m. | Daily | Dec. 21, 2017 |
| DL 478 | Rio de Janeiro (GIG) at 10:15 p.m. | New York-JFK (JFK) at 5:36 a.m. | Daily | Dec. 22, 2017 |
The GIG-JFK route will be operated using a Boeing 767-400 aircraft with 40 Delta One full flat-bed seats with direct aisle access for every passenger. The aircraft also has oversized personal entertainment screens, allowing travelers to increase productivity or better rest, as well as experience the on-demand audio/video in-flight entertainment system. Delta customers flying on Delta One will enjoy industry-leading food with Latin-inspired meal selections by Chef Michelle Bernstein, paired with elegant wines chosen by master sommelier Andrea Robinson.
The 246-passenger aircraft also includes 28 Delta Comfort+ seats and 178 seats in the Main Cabin. Delta's latest improvements included the introduction of new sleep kits and several other upgraded amenities for passengers seated in the Main Cabin on flights to and from Brazil. Customers flying in Delta Comfort+, Delta's premium economy service, benefit from up to four additional inches of legroom and 50 percent more recline than Delta's standard international Main Cabin seats; free beer, wine, snacks; and priority boarding. Other product initiatives being rolled out across Delta's international fleet include the expansion of its Wi-Fi service.
Elite customers and passengers flying in Delta One through Rio de Janeiro-GIG and New York-JFK will also benefits with a premium airport experience at the 24,000 square-foot flagship Delta Sky Club in JFK's Terminal 4, the biggest club in Delta's system, and a recently opened GOL VIP lounge located in GIG's Terminal 2.
