It's O'Fishel: Direct flights take off from RDU for Paris
Triangle residents looking to take a trip to the City of Light stepped on board Delta's first direct flight Thursday afternoon for Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Paris.
Posted — UpdatedAbout 200 passengers, including WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel and a couple who won their trip from Mix 101.5 WRAL-FM, were be on the first "O'Fishel" flight.
Contest winners Richard and Denise Konitsheck cited three popular Paris tourist spots as their targets for the trip. "The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Seine River, take a boat ride," Denise Konitsheck said.
The Boeing 757 took off from RDU shortly after 6 p.m. and arrives in Paris at 8:35 a.m. Friday morning local time. Return flights from Paris will take off daily at 10:45 a.m. and arrive at RDU at 2 p.m. Flights range from about $1,100 to $1,300 depending on dates of travel.
Travelers can use Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris to connect to more than 75 destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, airport officials said.
Each year, more than 1.5 million people travel between RDU and international destinations. Daily nonstop service to London serves approximately 10 percent of these travelers, officials said.
A public/private partnership between local governments and the business community has committed $1.1 million to support the flight. The Airport Authority is providing $1.25 million in fee waivers and $500,000 in marketing funds, officials said.
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