This was confirmed by Palau President Johnson Toribiong in an interview Friday.
“The first flight of Delta to Palau will come on Christmas eve,” he disclosed.
The president said the inaugural flight will fly in from Narita, Japan.
Palauan officials, airline representatives and guests from Japan will be on board the first flight to Palau International Airport.
According to the president, personnel of the said airline company are busy preparing the terminal building to accommodate the services.
Aside from that, he disclosed that Delta representatives are setting up office and hiring people for their local logistics support.
The preparation for the inaugural flight was set in motion after the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Industries and Commerce (MPIIC) approved the application for Foreign Air Carriers of Delta Airlines on October 29.
Toribiong said he welcomes the decision of Delta Airlines to begin servicing the Palau air route.
“That would be a big help to Palau, especially to the tourism industry,” he stressed.
Delta Airlines representatives earlier promised to bring in 25,000 visitors to Palau annually.
“We would see another influx of tourists, especially from Japan,” he pointed out.
At present, tourists from Japan fly via Guam to go to Palau. Japan Airlines started its charter operations, but have temporarily suspended its operations due to an ongoing reorganization.
Delta Airlines will be serving the Palau route four times a week using a 216-seat Boeing 767-300ER passenger jet with 35 business elite and 181 economy seats.
Delta Airlines is the world’s largest commercial carrier. Delta Airlines currently operates flights from Nagoya, Japan to Detroit, Guam, Saipan and Manila.
