Delta bolsters 2025 plans in Europe, Asia with 2 new international routes
Delta Air Lines will launch two new overseas routes in 2025. One will take passengers to Europe and the other to Asia.
On the transatlantic front, the Atlanta-based carrier will build on plans for its largest-ever summer schedule to Europe with a new nonstop from its Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) hub to Copenhagen Airport (CPH).
Delta said the move is helped in large part by its recent codeshare agreement with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), following that carrier’s shift from the Star Alliance to SkyTeam in September.
Meanwhile, Delta will resume nonstop service next summer from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. This will bolster the limited air service between the U.S. and China that remains well below 2019 levels.
Here’s what to know about this new service.
New service between MSP and Denmark
Delta’s first flight from its MSP hub to CPH will take off in May 2025, the carrier shared Friday.
The airline will fly the route three times each week with an Airbus A330-300 aircraft, retrofitted with its three-cabin configuration featuring Delta One suites and its Premium Select product.
SAS ties bolstered
In announcing the new service, Delta executives pointed to the recent tie-up between the airline and SAS. SAS officially became a SkyTeam partner in September after Air France-KLM group acquired a minority stake in the company.
“This route creates an invaluable connection between two major SkyTeam partner hubs, providing unrivaled connectivity and travel options for customers traveling between Scandinavia and North America,” Delta senior vice president of network planning Joe Esposito said in a statement Friday.
Since joining SkyTeam, SAS has increased its presence at major Delta hubs, including new service from New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and a return to the Pacific Northwest.
Plus, you can now book SAS award flights using Delta SkyMiles.
Big summer 2025 Europe plans
This Copenhagen route will also bolster Delta's already packed summer 2025 transatlantic plans.
Minneapolis-to-Copenhagen will give Delta seven European nonstops from the hub city next summer. This includes flights to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO), which Delta revealed during the recent unveiling of its busiest-ever summer schedule for 2025.
Between June and August next year, Delta will operate about 5% more seats to Europe than it did in an already busy 2024, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Delta slowly adds back China service
Delta said Friday that, pending government approval, its service from LA to Shanghai will return sometime next June.
Delta hasn’t flown the route since the early days of 2020, after operating well over 300 round trips between the two cities in 2019.
The dropoff in service to China goes beyond just Delta, though.
Air service to China lags below 2019 levels
Air service between the U.S. and China has remained far beneath pre-pandemic levels. That’s because of a combination of geopolitical uncertainty, lower demand and logistical challenges that arise from airlines needing to avoid Russian airspace amid that country’s war in Ukraine.
In 2024, the total number of seats between the U.S. and China — among all airlines — is down 75% versus 2019 levels, Cirium data shows.
Uptick in 2025
However, additional service is coming. In the first half of 2025, seats to China on Delta, American Airlines and United Airlines will be up more than 90%, year-over-year, per Cirium.
Delta’s only China service in recent years has included nonstop flights to Shanghai from Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport (DTW) and Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
This new route will give the carrier a third connection between the U.S. and China and a total of 17 weekly flights between the two countries.
LAX-PVG details
Delta plans to fly the route three times each week with an Airbus A350. Delta One passengers on those flights will be eligible to use the exclusive, brand-new Delta One Lounge inside Terminal 3 at LAX, which just opened on Thursday.
The 10,000-square-foot facility features a dedicated check-in lounge and Transportation Security Administration checkpoint.
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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
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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.