Delta targets Boston for major expansion, challenging AA and JetBlue with 5 new high-profile routes
Delta Air Lines just got very serious about protecting its Boston hub from its competitors.
Over the weekend, the airline scheduled a massive service expansion in the city, with two new long-haul routes, three new domestic destinations, increased frequencies, modernized planes and much more. The network updates were first seen in Cirium timetables, and later confirmed to TPG by the airline.
We'll break down all the updates below, but the storyline here is clear: Delta isn't going to stand by while American Airlines and JetBlue team up in the Northeast and encroach on its position in Boston.
2 long-hauls go up against AA's NYC expansion
Next summer, travelers headed to or from Boston Logan Airport (BOS) will enjoy new Delta nonstop service to Athens (ATH) and Tel Aviv (TLV), with flights commencing on May 27, 2022, and May 26, 2022, respectively, according to Cirium schedules.
Both flights will operate three times per week aboard the Airbus A330 aircraft. Athens will be served by the -300 variant, while Tel Aviv will be flown by one of Delta's newest widebodies, the A330-900neo.
The A330-900neo offers Delta's top onboard experience, with 29 Delta One Suites in the pointy end of the plane, 28 Premium Select recliners, 56 extra-legroom Comfort+ seats and 168 standard coach ones.
The A330-300 is currently undergoing a retrofit program to add a premium economy cabin, though the aircraft's reverse herringbone biz cabin isn't as modern as the A330neo.
Adding Athens and Tel Aviv brings Delta to nine long-haul destinations from Boston. The airline is already flying to Amsterdam and Rome and is slated to resume (the temporarily suspended) service to Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London and Paris in the coming months.
While the new routes are welcome news for Boston-based travelers, adding Athens and Tel Aviv likely isn't a coincidence.
When American Airlines and JetBlue unveiled their Northeast Alliance in July 2020, the two airlines promised plenty of growth in New York and Boston. While the two carriers have since launched a slew of new routes, American started two new high-profile destinations from New York-JFK as well, to — you guessed it — Athens and Tel Aviv.
Delta already goes head-to-head against American on both JFK to Athens and Tel Aviv, and now it seems to be one-upping the Northeast Alliance with service to both cities from Boston.
A domestic boost with 3 new routes
Delta is also doubling down on its domestic network from Boston with the introduction of three new routes on July 11, 2022, to Baltimore (BWI), Denver (DEN) and San Diego (SAN).
Delta Connection partner Republic Airline will fly a 76-seat Embraer 175 to Baltimore five times a day. Once-daily service to Denver and San Diego will be operated by a Boeing 737, Cirium schedules show.
In addition to these three new markets, Delta is still on track to move forward with its previously announced plans to add service to Charlotte (CLT) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) — two of American Airlines' largest hubs — on Oct. 10.
As you might've expected, JetBlue already operates flights to all three of Delta's new domestic destinations from Boston.
Boston gets a big plane upgrade
Delta isn't just adding a bunch of new Boston routes. It's also seemingly committed to sending its fanciest jets to the city as well, giving flyers another reason to choose the airline over its competitors.
For long-haul flights, Delta has prioritized Boston as one of the first markets to receive its recently retrofitted jets. Last week, the carrier scheduled the first two routes with its revamped Boeing 767-300, and now the retrofitted A330s are finding a home in Boston as well.
Plus, with the A330neo serving Tel Aviv, it'll mark the introduction of the airline's well-regarded Delta One Suites cabin to the city.
The Northeast Alliance actually spurs competition
Last month, the Department of Justice filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the Northeast Alliance between American and JetBlue, saying that the pact allows for anti-competitive coordination between the two carriers.
The two airlines quickly responded, striking back against the DOJ with plenty of statistics, new marketing campaigns and even a dedicated website, neaflies.com, to prove that the Northeast Alliance does, in fact, promote competition and deliver benefit to customers.
The Northeast Alliance has already provoked a competitive response from Delta in recent months, with a four-route expansion from Boston and New York, along with a lie-flat Boeing 757 upgague on premium transcontinental routes.
Delta's latest move, however, is its most comprehensive response yet.
Without the Northeast Alliance, it's anyone's guess if Delta would've followed through with this massive Boston expansion. One thing is clear, though: With new routes, larger planes and more frequencies, travelers headed to or from Boston are the big winners.
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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
$325Recommended Credit
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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.