Delta's shortest NYC route among 3 cuts, 1 add in latest update
Delta Air Lines is making several noteworthy network changes at its New York hubs.
The first is that the airline is scrapping its shortest route from New York City's LaGuardia Airport (LGA), as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.
This 101-mile route from LGA to Bradley International Airport (BDL) near Hartford, Connecticut, will officially end Oct. 6.
Delta's regional affiliate Endeavor Air launched this service in 2022 with up to three daily flights. It was downgraded to daily service last June, and now it's being cut entirely.
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When it launched, Delta's New York-to-Hartford route was the shortest at LaGuardia. That title has since been transferred to American Airlines' New York-to-Philadelphia route, which clocks in at just 95 miles.
While Delta's flight provided the fastest commercial option for travelers getting from Hartford to New York City, several aviation observers considered it to be "slot squatting."
LaGuardia is a slot-controlled airport, meaning the number of daily departures and arrivals is capped via slots. These slots are typically distributed on a use-it-or-lose-it basis, so airlines must use all the slots in their portfolio or risk losing them to a competitor.
During peak periods, airline schedules are optimized to efficiently use all the slots in their portfolio. However, during weaker demand periods, airlines sometimes find lower-cost regional flights to "slot squat." Instead of selling or abandoning a valuable slot, carriers will fill their schedule during weaker demand seasons with cheaper regional operations to utilize all their slots.
While Delta may have originally thought that there would be enough travelers to profitably fill a 70-seat plane multiple times a day between New York and Hartford, that experiment seems to have failed.
Now that the airline has freed up some slots that were originally assigned to the Hartford route, Delta will launch service between LGA and Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) beginning Oct. 7.
Endeavor Air will operate the 734-mile route with up to five weekly flights on board the 76-seat CRJ-900 regional jet.
Delta last flew between LaGuardia and Chattanooga in March 2020, so this technically represents a resumption for the airline.
In addition to the changes at LGA, Delta is cutting two regional routes from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
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Delta will scrap service from JFK to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) on Oct. 26.
Except for a short break during the coronavirus pandemic, Delta's New York-to-Montreal route has been operated consecutively since 2006. Meanwhile, the service between New York and Baltimore has been operated for more than two decades, Cirium schedules show.
The Baltimore service provided travelers in the region with hundreds of one-stop itineraries connecting via New York. JFK is Delta's main transatlantic gateway, so travelers based in Baltimore could take a short flight to New York and then connect to Delta and SkyTeam partner service to Europe and beyond.
Like LGA, JFK is a slot-controlled airport. Delta didn't file any new routes (yet) from JFK to use the slots that are being freed by cutting these two routes.
It remains to be seen if Delta will add new routes or increase frequencies on existing ones to utilize the slots. As always, stay tuned to TPG for the latest.
Related reading:
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- How to survive basic economy on Delta Air Lines
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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. |
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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.