ATLANTA (AP) - Delta Air Lines says it has a deal worth up to 21 million dollars with United Airlines to get authority to provide nonstop service from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to London.

Delta has been trying for a decade to get authority to operate flights to London from JFK.

A Delta spokeswoman says terms of the deal call for Delta to initially pay 13 million dollars, and then 2 million dollars a year for four years.

It is subject to approval of the U-S Transportation Department and bankruptcy court.

Delta hopes its first daily round-trip flight between JFK and London's Gatwick Airport will come later this year with a second flight beginning in spring 2007.

Since filing for bankruptcy last September, Delta has ramped up its international operations, and New York has been a big part of that expansion.

It believes the JFK-to-London route will help it expand its options in the international market.