Delta cuts 5 routes and adds 1, puts its newest jet on 6 more
This weekend brought a mixed bag of schedule updates for Delta Air Lines.
The Atlanta-based carrier will be ending five of its regional routes in the coming weeks, the latest cities to see service cuts as the industry copes with an ongoing pilot shortage. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated a pilot shortage that was already becoming a problem. At the onset of the pandemic, airlines offered buyouts and early retirement packages to their older pilots. As demand for travel roared back, large airlines had to hire new pilots to replace the ones that retired, with regional airlines being a primary source for the new hires. The major airlines are now hiring hundreds of pilots a month, many coming from the regional carriers.
All four U.S. carriers that rely on regional airlines have made significant route cuts in recent months. The latest changes, from Delta, are as follows, according to Cirium schedule data and confirmed by the airline:
- Detroit (DTW) to Allentown, Pennsylvania (ABE) — ends Sept. 11.
- Detroit (DTW) to Cedar Rapids, Iowa (CID) — ends Oct. 5.
- Detroit (DTW) to Dayton, Ohio (DAY) — ends Oct. 5.
- Detroit (DTW) to Fort Wayne, Indiana (FWA) — ends Oct. 5.
- Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Moline, Illinois (MLI) — ends Oct. 5.
Delta will continue to serve all of those cities via existing service it already offers from other hubs. All routes that are ending are operated either by SkyWest Airlines, the nation's largest regional airline, or by Delta-owned Endeavor Air.
More: How a pilot shortage could leave travelers with higher fares and fewer options
In a statement, Delta said the decision was demand driven.
"We continue to monitor and adjust our flight schedules as needed on an ongoing basis; staying in line with current customer demand trends," a Delta spokesperson said.
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A new route for Westchester County
It was not all cuts for Delta on the regional side of its operation.
The carrier will add flights between its hub at Boston Logan Airport (BOS) and Westchester County Airport (HPN), located north of New York City.
The flights will begin on Oct. 6 and are scheduled for up to three round trips a day using 69-seat Embraer 170s and 76-seat Embraer 175s. Delta partner Republic Airways will operate the 166-mile flights, which will be the airport's shortest regularly scheduled flight.
It's not the first time that a Delta partner has flown this route. Defunct Delta Connection partner Business Express operated the route in the 1990s. Since then, it has seen on-again, off-again service from partners of now-defunct US Airways and Continental Airlines, according to Cirium.
The airport, also known as White Plains, is a favorite of locals in the suburban bedroom communities who favor the airport's convenience, easy parking and short security lines. Breeze began flying to the airport this summer, and is scheduled to commence transcontinental flights to Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) next month.
New routes for Delta's newest jet
As more of Delta's newest aircraft, the Airbus A321neo, gets delivered, we are beginning to get a clearer picture of how — and where — Delta plans to use the swanky new jet. In the new schedule update, six new routes for the fuel-efficient, 194-seat aircraft have been added, according to Cirium:
- Atlanta (ATL) to Orlando (MCO) — select dates in October and November.
- Los Angeles (LAX) to Orlando (MCO) — select dates in October and November.
- Los Angeles (LAX) to Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) — select dates in September, October, November, March and April.
- Los Angeles (LAX) to Kahului/Maui (OGG) — select dates in September, October and November.
- Los Angeles (LAX) to Seattle (SEA) — select dates in September, October and November.
- Seattle (SEA) to Orlando (MCO) — select dates in October and November.
Notably, the new routes are a big boost for Delta's hub at Los Angeles International Airport, with a transpacific hop to Hawaii added, a mid-continent flight to Minneapolis and a transcontinental flight to Orlando. Delta will also serve its Seattle hub from Los Angeles with the plane.
The Delta spokesperson cautioned that the new A321neo routes are subject to change.
More: Inside Delta's newest jet, the Airbus A321neo, with snazzy first-class recliners
The A321neo will also fly from Seattle to Kahului/Maui starting next month.
The new plane features a brand-new first class recliner seat that features winged headrests for added privacy, the ability to pair Bluetooth headphones with the aircraft's inflight entertainment system in first class and Airbus' Airspace cabin design, which features new mood lighting and larger overhead bins.
Delta has ordered 155 A321neos from Airbus and has so far received five — the most recent delivery being last week, according to Airbus.
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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. |
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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.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.