Delta reduces late-summer NYC flying, following other carriers
Delta Air Lines will cut just over 6% of its flights to and from New York City-area airports in August, following American Airlines and United Airlines in trimming their summer schedules in response to a shortage of air traffic controllers in New York.
Unlike its legacy rivals, however, Delta will only minimally tweak its New York schedule for May through July.
The airline will cut a total of 6.3% of its August flights in the region, according to data provided by Cirium schedules and reviewed by TPG. The cuts were initially noted by Simple Flying.
The biggest cuts were to flights between Delta's two primary New York hubs, LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
For the month, the airline cut 51 flights from the route between LGA and DCA, roughly 37% of its previously scheduled flights, while the LGA-BOS route loses a total of 34 flights, just shy of 17% of its scheduled operations.
JFK-DCA will see 14 cuts in each direction, so 28 flights total, a substantial 40% cut, while the airline will reduce service between LaGuardia and Hartford, Connecticut's Bradley International Airport (BDL) by 12 flights in each direction, or two-thirds of its schedule.
Other cuts from LaGuardia include routes to Maine's Bangor International Airport (BGR), Denver International Airport (DEN) and Vermont's Burlington International Airport (BTV), while reductions from JFK include service to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) in the Dominican Republic, Charleston International Airport (CHS), Norfolk International Airport (ORF) and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
The airline will also reduce frequencies on some routes from the Washington, D.C., area in August, including flights from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).
Delta also reduced its flights between the New York airports and DCA in September, with 18 frequencies cut in each direction to LGA, or 26.1%, and seven cuts in each direction to JFK, or 20%.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the airline said that the cuts were made on routes where passengers would have other flights available.
"These adjustments were made in domestic markets where our customers have plenty of options available so they can be easily re-accommodated," the spokesperson said. "This decision reinforces our unwavering commitment to provide the best possible travel experience for our customers."
In March, the Federal Aviation Administration said it would allow airlines to voluntarily return up to 10% of their New York-area slots for the summer. It's part of a coordinated effort to reduce congestion in the region's skies amid a shortage of air traffic controllers and high levels of expected summer travel.
The slots system regulates traffic and prevents anti-competitive entrenchment at certain high-volume airports; each pair of slots allows one landing and one departure from an airport.
To prevent airlines from hoarding slots they don't plan to use in order to shoulder out the competition, the FAA enforces a "use it or lose it" rule. Airlines must use each slot at least 80% of the time. Otherwise, the FAA can revoke the slot and give it to another airline.
Citing an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers at its New York-area air traffic control center that will not be mitigated until at least this fall, the FAA said last month that airlines could choose to temporarily return up to 10% of their slots between May 15 and Sept. 15.
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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.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 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. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
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
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
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.

