Bell Atlantic Honors The Delta Shuttle with Supplier Recognition Award

Bell Atlantic Honors The Delta Shuttle with Supplier Recognition Award

The Delta Shuttle Takes Prize for Outstanding Service

February 11, 1998

NEW YORK - The Delta Shuttle, an operating unit of Delta Airlines,
Atlanta, Ga., has won a Bell Atlantic Supplier Excellence Award for
its frequent and reliable air transportation service between Bell
Atlantic's key business locations.

Bill Crumbley, The Delta Shuttle, managing director, accepted the
award from Bell Atlantic Chief Administrative Officer Ben Reca today,
during a ceremony in New York City at LaGuardia Airport's Marine Air
Terminal. The Marine Air Terminal is the primary location from which
The Delta Shuttle departs. The Delta Shuttle provides air service for
Bell Atlantic employees traveling between New York and Boston and
between New York and Washington.

"The frequency and reliability of the Delta flights help Bell Atlantic
employees get to where they are going efficiently and conveniently,"
said Reca. "Guaranteed seating and a 98 percent on-time record in the
past year, means Bell Atlantic employees spend less time in airports
and more time serving our customers. The Delta Shuttle's superior
service plays an important role in our ability to provide quality
products and exceptional service to our customers."

The Delta Shuttle earned high marks in customer responsiveness. Out
of 66,000 shuttle trips made by Bell Atlantic employees in 1997, only
30 complaints were received.

In remarks to ceremony attendees, Crumbley said, "We're honored to
accept this prestigious award from Bell Atlantic, one of our most
valued customers. Delta Shuttle team members work together each day
to deliver the absolute hallmark of operational excellence and premium
customer service, directed to fulfilling the discriminating needs of
business executives from Bell Atlantic and all of our other customers.
In a customer service-focused business like the airline industry,
there is no higher compliment than one from a customer."

The Delta Shuttle is one of only six suppliers from more than 6,500
eligible companies-the company's entire supplier base-to earn the 1997
Bell Atlantic Supplier Excellence Award. The suppliers were judged on
the quality of their performance, service delivery and customer
satisfaction.

The Supplier Excellence Awards enable Bell Atlantic to thank the
winners publicly for their hard work and dedication to excellence,
which help Bell Atlantic maintain its position as a market leader. In
addition, the award encourages other suppliers to raise their level of
performance.

The other winners of the Bell Atlantic 1997 Supplier Excellence Award
are:

• Hitachi Data Systems, Santa Clara, Calif.
• Siecor Corp., Hickory, N.C.
• Tekelec, Calabasas, Calif.
• Transportation Displays Incorporated, New York, N.Y.
• Yellow Freight System, Overland Park, Kan.

In 1997, the Delta Shuttle served more than 2 million customers. The
Delta Shuttle offers 64 daily, nonstop flights between New York and
Boston and between New York and Washington, D.C., with flights
departing every hour on the half hour. The Delta Shuttle offers
customers guaranteed seats, access to self-service ticketing terminals
and the benefits of Delta's SkyMiles frequent flyer program. The
Delta Shuttle operates exclusive, dedicated customer facilities at New
York's Marine Air Terminal, Boston's Logan Airport and Washington,
D.C.'s National Airport. Reservations are not required for the Delta
Shuttle; however, customers may make reservations or obtain other
information by calling the Delta Shuttle's automated information line
at 1-800-WE-FLY-DL (1-800-933-5935) or accessing the Delta Shuttle's
web site at www.delta-air.com/shuttle.

Bell Atlantic - formed through the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX -
is at the forefront of the new communications, information and
entertainment industry. With 40.5 million telephone access lines and
six million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are
premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market
leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of
directory information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the
world's largest investors in high-growth global communications markets,