Delta adds third Heathrow to New York flight

Delta Air Lines is set to add a third daily non-stop flight from the UK's Heathrow airport to New York JFK airport.

The new Heathrow - New York flight will be operated by Delta's joint venture partner Air France, who will together offer four non-stop daily flights between Heathrow and the US, with one flight to Atlanta and three to New York. The third flight to New York will allow passengers a choice of departing for the US either in the morning, early evening or late evening.

Citing a shortage of slots for airlines at Heathrow, Air France has said that it plans to discontinue its service from Heathrow to Los Angeles once its starts the Heathrow - New York flight. 

Delta presently also flies twice a day from Gatwick airport to Atlanta, and once a day to Cincinnati. The airline has also announced that starting next summer, its flights between Heathrow and the US would be upgraded to a Boeing 767-400ER aircraft, with 40 new 180-degree full flat beds in business class. The new full-flat seats recline to 77-inch long beds in a one-two-one configuration, giving each passenger in BusinessElite class direct access to the aisle. 

Delta is reconfiguring seven of its 767-400 aircraft with the full-flat beds. The flat-bed seats have been designed by Thompson Aerospace and engineered and manufactured by Contour Premium Aircraft Seating. Delta is hoping that the newly reconfigured full-flat beds will give it an edge over competition on the Heathrow - New York route, and on other routes to the US.