NEW YORK, NY, October 7, 2008. Delta Air Lines’ award-winning, in-flight experience will land in the heart of New York City’s Meatpacking District, with Delta serving as official airline of the inaugural Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival from Oct. 9-12, 2008. Festival guests will enjoy a taste of Delta’s superior customer service and distinctive in-flight experience at the exclusive Delta SKY360 New York lounge at the Grand Tasting, as well as through unique transportation amenities provided throughout the weekend.

“Delta is proud to serve as the official airline of the first Food Network Wine & Food Festival in New York City, one of the culinary capitals of the world and a global hub for Delta,” said Tim Mapes, vice president of Marketing for Delta. “This high profile event allows us to reach influential international travelers through their passion for superior food and wine, as well as provide a taste of Delta’s newest in-flight offerings. With more flights from JFK and LaGuardia to more destinations worldwide than any other airline, Delta will continue to do everything possible to remain the airline of choice for New Yorkers.”

From Oct. 9-12, Delta will host the Delta SKY360 New York lounge in the Grand Tasting. This experiential space will highlight elements of Delta’s distinctive in-flight experience, including wine offerings available in BusinessElite, the airline’s international business class and selected by Delta’s Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson, as well as its newest domestic dessert offering. Delta will showcase the wine program Robinson created exclusively for Delta while celebrating an exclusive new relationship with Junior’s Restaurant, the New York institution that is home to the world’s best cheesecake, through a unique wine and cheesecake pairing Robinson designed for the festival. The Master Sommelier paired some of her favorite international wines with selections of Junior’s cheesecake, including Chocolate Crunch, Raspberry Swirl and Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake which will be offered at different times for sale on select transcontinental flights to and from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The wine and cheesecake tasting will take place on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 3 p.m.

Delta will also bring superior customer service and in-flight entertainment to the Festival with unique, exclusive transportation amenities. A complimentary shuttle service, Delta’s “Burger Bus,” will transport guests returning from the Oct. 10 Burger Bash, hosted by Rachael Ray at the Tobacco Warehouse in Brooklyn, to the Meatpacking District and Union Square. Guests will be transported in a luxury motor coach featuring Delta’s world-class flight attendants and a very unique “in-flight entertainment” offering: Susie Essman, from the critically acclaimed HBO comedy series, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Samantha Bee, of Emmy-award winning The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and stand-up comedians from the award-winning Upright Citizens Brigade, will all entertain Burger Bus passengers with their unique brands of comedy. The Burger Bus shuttles will operate from 8 – 11 p.m.

Complimentary Delta-branded pedicab service will also be available in the Meatpacking District to transport festival attendees to the various events and venues throughout the neighborhood on Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 12.

"I'm thrilled Delta Air Lines is partnering with us for the inaugural New York City Wine and Food Festival," said Lee Schrager, founder and director, Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival and Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival. "Delta has been a committed sponsor of our festival in South Beach, and I'm honored they are on board for our newest venture in New York.”