ATLANTA – Delta Air Lines said Thursday it will initiate nonstop flights between Pittsburgh International Airport and Paris-Charles de Gaulle International Airport in June.

The Atlanta-based airline, which is now the world’s largest airline also announced nonstop service to Paris from Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

The company said in a press release that the new routes, enabled by Delta’s joint venture with Air France, will offer customers in both cities convenient connections to more than 90 cities in Europe via Air France’s Paris hub.

Delta said the new trans-Atlantic route from Pittsburgh will be the only nonstop transatlantic service offered by any airline from the city. The new route from Raleigh-Durham will be Delta's first-ever nonstop trans-Atlantic flight offered from North Carolina and will be operated from Raleigh’s terminal two, the airport's newest terminal, which opened Oct. 26.

“On behalf of the Pittsburgh region's business community, we are very pleased with today's announcement. Pittsburgh is a vibrant part of the global economy,” said Michael Langley, chief executive officer of Allegheny Conference on Community Development.

“Our regional companies generate over a third of their revenues outside the United States and foreign direct investment here is increasing as well. Direct international air service will make it easier for business investment in our region to continue growing.”

The new nonstop service from both markets will be launched in June 2009. The routes will be operated by Boeing 757-200 aircraft, with seating for up to 174 passengers, including 16 seats in Delta’s BusinessElite and 158 in economy class.

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