Delta Air Lines ramps up Caribbean service with 10 routes, 2 new islands
Delta Air Lines is set to expand its service to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America in a big way next winter.
The Atlanta-based carrier on Friday announced two new island destinations in the Caribbean. Beginning in December, Delta will fly nonstop from its home base at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to St. Vincent and the Grenadines' Argyle International Airport (SVD) and Grenada's Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND), the latter of which it last served from in 2020.
And those two new pins on Delta’s route map won’t be the only new opportunities travelers will have to fly the airline to tropical destinations.
On Friday, Delta announced eight additional routes to popular vacation spots in Puerto Rico, Mexico and other islands in the Caribbean. It’s bringing back a handful of routes to Cancun, Mexico, it hasn’t served in several years while continuing its fast growth at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) in North Carolina.
All of these new or resuming routes will launch in December, offering travelers a warm-weather getaway when the weather turns cold in much of the continental U.S.
Here’s a rundown of the new service.
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Delta’s 2 new Caribbean destinations
Headlining Friday’s route announcement was Delta’s plan to link Atlanta to two Caribbean islands it doesn’t currently serve.
On Dec. 20, the carrier will launch flights on Boeing 737-800s from ATL to SVD on the island of St. Vincent, part of the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and GND in Grenada.
Both destinations are home to an array of hotels you can book with points, including the region’s first Six Senses property in Grenada. It's bookable through IHG One Rewards.
“With two brand-new destinations in the Eastern Caribbean, Delta is expanding its offering in the region, with even more seats to Latin America and the Caribbean this winter,” Paul Baldoni, Delta's senior vice president of network planning, said in a statement announcing the news.
The daily nonstop flights will run through April 12, 2026.
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New and returning routes to Mexico and the Caribbean
Along with its two new island destinations, Delta plans to link more U.S. cities — including many that aren’t its own hubs — with tropical vacation spots.
These new routes all launch Dec. 20, right as the holiday travel season is beginning. Some will run through the winter months, with others planned solely for the holiday rush.
| Route | Date | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Nashville International Airport (BNA) to Cancun International Airport (CUN) in Mexico | Dec. 20 through April 12 | Saturdays | Last flown in 2020 |
Indianapolis International Airport (IND) to CUN | Dec. 20 through April 12 | Saturdays | Last flown in 2020 |
Kansas City International Airport (MCI) in Missouri to CUN | Dec. 20 through April 12 | Saturdays | Last flown in 2020 |
AUS to Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) in Mexico | Dec. 20 through Jan. 5 | Daily | New route |
RDU to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico | Dec. 20 through April 12 | Saturdays | New route |
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands | Dec. 20 through Jan. 5 | Daily | Last flown in 2022 |
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau, Bahamas | Dec. 20 through April 12 | Saturdays | Last flew regularly scheduled service in 2020 |
DTW to Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) in the Cayman Islands | Dec. 20 through April 12 | Saturdays | Last flown in 2020 |
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to NAS | Dec. 20 through April 12 | Saturdays | Last flown in 2020 |
These new leisure-oriented routes are in addition to Delta’s previously announced new nonstop service between Austin and Cancun.
Last year, airlines noted declining profits on routes to the Caribbean and Latin America amid stiff competition among carriers that had previously added a ton of flights to the region — but carriers have begun adding new flights to those destinations again, of late. American Airlines, for one, recently announced service to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic from a host of U.S. cities.
More daily flights
In addition to these new and resuming routes, Delta is planning to up its number of daily flights to a host of cities in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
More daily frequencies from Atlanta to Punta Cana; St. Thomas; Guatemala City; San Salvador, El Salvador; Panama City; Belize City, Belize; and Guadalajara, Mexico, will be available during the peak winter months.
The carrier will also add additional daily flights to CUN from BOS, DTW, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). And, it’s planning more daily flights from LAX and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR) in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
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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
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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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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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.