The American airline Delta Air Lines Inc. is to open several new routes from its New York hub in a major expansion of its international operations. Amongst the routes announced are direct flights from New York’s John F Kennedy airport to Dakar, Cairo and Lagos. The airline also announced plans for new routes to Nairobi and Cape Town, both with stopovers in Dakar.

The routes to Nairobi and Dakar are expected to commence on the 2nd of June next year. This will be followed by flights to Cape Town on the 3rd of June and flights to Cairo a day later. Flights to Lagos will start from the 9th of June.

In addition the airline is applying to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for authority to add the only direct service operated by a U.S. carrier to Cape Town.

The airline also gave sample one ways fares for the destinations; Lagos ($539), Cairo ($539), Dakar($799) and Nairobi ($859). The latest announcement follows on Delta launching routes to Accra and Johannesburg late last year.