Delta unveils 2 new flights, 11 expanded routes in largest-ever transatlantic schedule
As the leaves start turning, Delta Air Lines is already gearing up to whisk you away for your dream summer vacation.
The Atlanta-based carrier announced on Friday its annual summer long-haul network expansion, which includes a handful of new routes, expanded service to existing destinations and more.
These summer-focused international network announcements have become a rite of passage in recent years. American Airlines has already had its time in the spotlight, and now it's Delta's turn to spill the beans about where it's adding flights next summer.
All of Delta's new flights will be loaded into the schedule this weekend and will be bookable by no later than Monday, Sept. 25.
New York to Naples, Italy
One of the new routes that Delta will commence is from New York to Naples. This daily service will start on May 23, 2024, and run through Oct. 25.
This service will complement Delta's existing Italy flights from its John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) hub to Milan, Venice and Rome.
The move comes just a few weeks after American announced Naples, Italy, as one of its all-new destinations for the upcoming summer season. American will fly to Naples from its Philadelphia hub, giving Delta a monopoly on the JFK to Naples market. (Air Italy used to operate flights between these airports but stopped service in October 2017, Cirium schedules show.)
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United Airlines flies from nearby Newark to Naples, so there will be lots of competition as all three airlines can now sell one-stop service to Naples from much of the U.S. this summer. Hopefully, that translates to lower fares for flyers.
New York to Shannon, Ireland
Before the pandemic, Delta used to fly to Shannon from New York. That service has been suspended since September 2019, but it's finally returning five years later on May 23, 2024. (It'll run through Oct. 6)
This route joins Delta's existing services to Dublin from Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis and New York.
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New York to Munich
Delta will also start flying between New York and Munich on a three-times-weekly basis from April 9, 2024, through Oct. 24, 2024. This new flight will give SkyTeam flyers and Delta loyalists a new nonstop connection to a city that's historically been dominated by Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partners.
Lufthansa operates plenty of flights between New York and Munich, and United flies to the German city from several U.S. gateways. American flies there from Charlotte on a daily basis, and Delta's new service will complement existing flights to Munich from Atlanta and Detroit.
Atlanta to Zurich
Speaking of cities dominated by Star Alliance airlines, Zurich is the main hub for Star member Swiss International Air Lines.
That isn't stopping Delta from returning to this market from Atlanta for the first time since September 2019. Delta will commence four-times-weekly flights on May 31, 2024, from Atlanta to Zurich; this joins existing service to the Swiss city from New York. This flight will operate through Sept. 8, 2024.
In total, Delta plans 180 weekly flights to 21 destinations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East from Atlanta during the summer season.
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Los Angeles to Auckland
Earlier this year, Delta unveiled a splashy new service to Auckland, New Zealand, from its hub in Los Angeles.
This daily service takes off on Oct. 28. While it was originally slated for winter-seasonal service (in the Northern Hemisphere), Delta is seemingly quite happy with the forward-looking booking data.
That's because the airline will extend the route to year-round service, operating daily from November 2023 to March 2024 and three times weekly from April 2024 to October 2024.
Los Angeles to Shanghai
As with all U.S. airlines, Delta significantly scaled back its China network during the pandemic. Slowly but surely, some routes are finally resuming.
This includes Delta's service from Los Angeles to Shanghai, which will resume on a four-times-weekly basis on March 31, 2024.
This follows the airline's announcement that it'll expand China flights for the winter season, which will include expanded service from Detroit and Seattle.
Looking back: Sayonara, Narita: The Rise and Fall of Delta’s Tokyo Hub
Dropping Dusseldorf, Germany
It's not all good news for Delta's transatlantic schedule. The airline is pulling out of Dusseldorf, a German city that it has served pretty consistently from Atlanta since April 2006. The airline confirmed the move to TPG with the following statement:
“As we continue to monitor and adjust our schedule based on consumer demand, Delta is suspending its scheduled service between Atlanta and Düsseldorf. We apologize to any inconvenienced customers. Delta continues to serve Dusseldorf on flights operated by our partners Air France and KLM connecting via our European hubs in Paris and Amsterdam and remains committed to the German market with nonstop service to Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich and Stuttgart."
Without Delta's Atlanta route, Dusseldorf will remain unserved from any U.S. gateway.
Additional frequencies
Delta says that its transatlantic summer schedule will be its largest one ever. In addition to the aforementioned routes, the airline is boosting connectivity to cities that it already serves, including on routes between:
- Atlanta and Paris
- Atlanta to Venice
- Boston to Athens
- Cincinnati and Paris
- Detroit and Paris
- Detroit to Reykjavik
- New York to Barcelona
Delta didn't share details about these additional flights, but we'll be sure to update the story once the schedule changes are live in the airline's timetables.
Airlines may be suffering from a slower-than-expected return to business travel right now, but that's not stopping them from planning for what's expected to be another blockbuster summer of long-haul travel.
“There’s never been a better time to explore Europe on Delta, and customers looking ahead to summer adventures abroad will find plenty of inspiring options – coupled with the premium services and amenities we know Delta customers anticipate and enjoy," Joe Esposito, senior vice president of network planning at Delta, said in a statement.
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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
- 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.