Delta Air Lines adds 3 new routes from Austin 'focus city'
Delta Air Lines will add three new routes from its focus city at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) beginning this November.
The SkyTeam Alliance carrier will launch nonstop flights from AUS to Denver International Airport (DEN) on Nov. 9. Then, more than six months later, it will add flights to John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) and Kansas City International Airport (MCI) on June 7, 2026. All three routes will be flown with 76-seat Embraer E175 regional jets.
In addition, Delta will add a second daily flight from AUS to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on April 13, 2026. And, also on June 7, 2026, two additional flights will be added to Indianapolis International Airport (IND), for a total of three daily.
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The new and expanded service is Delta's latest shot at becoming the network carrier of choice in AUS. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport has been among the most competitive in the U.S. with dozens of new routes added — and many lost — as airlines jockeyed for competitive positioning in the Texas capital.
American Airlines led the charge, growing to 3.5 million seats from AUS in 2022 — double the number it flew in 2019 — schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows. The carrier has since cut service to about 2.1 million seats, remaining up just a fifth since before the pandemic.
Delta, meanwhile, has paced itself in AUS. Rather than adding a glut of new flights there, the airline has gradually built up what it considers a "focus city" — or an airport with more flights than average, but not quite a hub like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) — since the pandemic. By the end of 2025, it will offer 2.4 million seats from AUS, an 85% increase from 2019, Cirium data shows.
Both Delta and American, however, pale in size at AUS compared to Southwest Airlines. Long the dominant carrier at the airport, Southwest will fly 6.1 million seats from AUS this year, according to Cirium.
“Delta is building on a strong foundation in Austin and creating more ways for our customers to get where they want to go,” said Paul Baldoni, senior vice president of network planning at Delta, in a statement. “It’s another step in delivering the network, convenience and premium experience that sets Delta apart as Austin’s leading global carrier.”
Delta will serve 30 cities nonstop from AUS with its latest additions. In addition, Delta partner Aeromexico links AUS to Mexico City International Airport (MEX), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), and WestJet to Calgary International Airport (YYC).
Since 2024, Delta has added 14 new routes from AUS, Cirium schedules show. These include Delta's only flights to McAllen International Airport (MFE) in the southern Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
Two new routes, however, have not worked for Delta. Flights to Valley International Airport (HRL) in Harlingen, Texas, ended in June after only eight months. And flights to Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF), also in Texas, will end in November after a year and a half.
Delta will compete with AUS leader Southwest on all three of its new routes, plus with Frontier Airlines and United Airlines to DEN, Cirium schedules show.
Details of Delta's new and expanded AUS routes are:
- AUS-DEN: New twice daily flights on E175s from Nov. 9.
- AUS-SFO: Expanded twice daily flights on Airbus A319s from April 13, 2026.
- AUS-CMH: New daily flight on an E175 from June 7, 2026.
- AUS-IND: Expanded three times daily flights on E175s from June 7, 2026.
- AUS-MCI: New twice daily flights on E175s from June 7, 2026.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.