Delta Air Lines this week officially opened its Beijing Sales Office to help sell seats on flights to China from Atlanta, Georgia.

The office is located at the China Life Tower and will offer travelers help with airline tickets, airline reservations and air travel.

We are pleased to have this new sales office selling airline tickets to customers who wish to travel on Delta Air Lines to the USA or anywhere in the world Delta and our worldwide partners fly, said Delta's Vice President of International and Alliances Mr. Jorge Fernandez. This office will physically represent Delta Air Lines even though we do not currently serve China with our own aircraft. We are very optimistic that Delta will be chosen to offer Chinese travelers the world's only nonstop service between China and the U.S. Southeast in 2008 or earlier, if possible, when the next designation is given.

Mr. Fernandez added that Delta is eager to begin nonstop service between Beijing and Atlanta in time for the summer Games of 2008 Olympics.

If selected, Delta's new Atlanta service would offer Chinese travelers a more convenient connecting opportunity than any other U.S. gateway city with access to more than 190 U.S. cities. Delta's Atlanta hub is the world's largest airline hub operation, and based on current schedules, Atlanta will be the second-largest U.S. international gateway behind New York City when Delta launches its full transatlantic expansion in Summer 2006.