U.S. Cargo Sales Joint Venture Announces New Leadership; Board Welcomes Alitalia ATLANTA, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Cargo Sales Joint Venture today announced it has elected Robert B. (Ben) Darnell, managing director - Delta Air Logistics, as chair of the Board of Directors. He replaces Tony Charaf, who accepted a position as senior vice president, Technical Operations at Delta. Charaf had led the Joint Venture since its founding in 2001 as the first of its kind in the industry. The Board of Directors also formally welcomed Alitalia as a member of the Joint Venture. Alitalia had announced last year it had made a decision to join the Joint Venture, which offers customers the benefits of a combined sales force, centralized reservation and service center, a comprehensive route network and a common product line. Alitalia brings an extensive and efficient network to the Joint Venture with more than 100 destinations worldwide. The focal point of its system is Milan Malpensa, which together with Rome Fiumicino, also ensures an efficient transit service with a dedicated cargo fleet. Darnell is a 20-year Delta veteran, whose experience includes positions in reservation sales, cargo sales, passenger sales, and international & alliances. Most recently, as a director in Delta's Airport Customer Service division, he led the safety, security and ground operations. The Joint Venture is based in Atlanta with regional offices in Atlanta, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles and is managed and staffed by experienced cargo employees of all the carriers. The company is owned by Air France, Alitalia, Delta and Korean Air, and governed by a Board of Directors, whose members are drawn from the management of the owner airlines. The U.S. Cargo Sales Joint Venture is a unique and unprecedented common structure among worldwide cargo partners. DATASOURCE: Delta Air Lines CONTACT: Corporate Communications of Delta Air Lines, +1-404-715-2554 Web site: http://www.delta.com/

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