Delta adds 2 Athens routes as Greece reopens to vaccinated Americans
Delta just became the latest carrier to boost flights to Greece.
The Atlanta-based airline announced that it'll add daily service from its mega-hub in Atlanta (ATL) to Athens (ATH) beginning on July 2, which will follow shortly after Delta's New York-JFK flight resumes on May 28.
Both routes will be operated by a 293-seat Airbus A330-300, outfitted with 34 reverse-herringbone Delta One pods, 40 extra-legroom Comfort+ seats and 219 standard coach seats.
Delta last flew the 5,700-mile seasonal Atlanta-Athens route in July 2011, per Cirium schedules, so the announcement technically represents a service resumption for the carrier.
The carrier also reaffirmed its commitment to restarting daily New York-JFK to ATH flights on May 28, as previously scheduled, which would make Delta the first airline to resume flights from the U.S. to Athens. Emirates' fifth-freedom route from Newark (EWR) to ATH is slated to resume just days later on June 1.
Delta touts that in addition to nonstop service from two of its largest hubs, the carrier can sell one-stop connections from 187 domestic cities.
Boosting service to Greece comes just days after the country formally reopened to tourists from the European Union and five other countries, including the U.S., who can present a vaccination certificate or recent negative COVID-19 test.
Airlines are expecting lots of pent-up demand for international travel, so these opportunistic route additions make sense. Delta says that Greece is "one of the highest demand leisure markets in Europe open to travelers."
Despite the increased demand, Delta should expect some fierce competition on its Athens routes. Cirium schedules show that American Airlines plans summer service to the Greek capital from Chicago (ORD), Philadelphia (PHL) and New York-JFK.
United recently unveiled its first-ever daily nonstop flights to ATH from Washington/Dulles (IAD), with that route launching on July 1. The new Washington flight will join the carrier's existing daily summer seasonal service from EWR, which resumes on June 3 and runs through Oct. 29, operated by a 214-seat Boeing 767-300.
And then there's Emirates, which operates a fifth-freedom service from Newark to ATH, which then continues onto Dubai (DXB).
With over 2,000 daily seats during the peak summer period, airlines are bullish on the return of travel to Greece.
Other countries that have, or are in the process of, reopening to vaccinated Americans are also seeing significant increases in airline routes, including Iceland and Croatia.
Related: Where you can go if you're vaccinated
Delta recently announced three new Iceland routes, from Boston (BOS), Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) and New York-JFK in time for the busy summer season. United will launch daily flights between its Chicago (ORD) hub and Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF), beginning on July 1 and running through Oct. 3. The ORD flight joins United's existing EWR service which will resume on June 3 and run through Oct. 29.
The country's flag carrier, Icelandair, will also resume many of its U.S. routes in May, per Cirium schedules.
Croatia has once again reopened to select American tourists. In addition to providing proof of accommodation paid in full in advance of arrival, tourists must also present either a negative COVID-19 test taken less than 48 hours before arrival, a vaccination certificate showing fully vaccinated status or a certificate confirming recovery from a COVID-19 infection.
United will become the only airline offering nonstop service from the U.S. to Croatia, when three-weekly flights from Newark (EWR) launch on July 8 and run through Oct. 3,
Despite the aforementioned countries' reopening plans, note that you'll still need to complete a pre-travel COVID-19 test before returning to the U.S., regardless of vaccination status.
As of Jan. 26, 2021, all passengers 2 years of age and older traveling to the U.S. from a foreign country must show a negative viral COVID-19 test result taken within 3 days of departure before being allowed to board their flights; documented proof from a licensed healthcare provider of recovery from the virus within the past 90 days will also be accepted.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees