Delta shifts regional focus back to Detroit as it trims 10% of NYC flights
Delta Air Lines is making some changes to its New York City network.
Over the weekend, the carrier, which operates a hub at both LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), filed plans to drop service on a new route that it launched just earlier this year: LGA to Greater Binghamton Airport (BGM).
Instead of the LGA service, Delta will once again fly to Binghamton from its Detroit hub as of Jan. 8, 2024.
While Binghamton is the only route cut from this week's schedule update, Delta is also trimming about 10% of its flights from its two New York hubs from January through March, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by an airline spokesperson.
Though no single route is getting slashed completely, the airline is shaving off frequencies in many markets, such as Bangor, Maine; Burlington, Vermont; Norfolk, Virginia; and Syracuse, New York.
The move comes as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently extended the temporary slot waiver for flights at New York's two busiest airports.
In order to operate at the capacity-constrained LaGuardia and JFK Airports, airlines need to hold takeoff and landing permissions from the FAA. These permissions, known as slots, are usually use-it-or-lose-it, meaning that if Delta weren't able to fill its entire slot schedule, then it would risk losing a valuable slot to one of its competitors.
Go long: Delta adds 4 new — and longest — LaGuardia routes
During the pandemic, airlines received slot waivers that allowed them to cut flights without the risk of losing these valuable assets. While those temporary pandemic-related waivers are now history, the FAA recently extended another slot waiver through October 2024, primarily due to air traffic controller shortages in the Northeast.
This waiver allows airlines to drop about 10% of their flights at LaGuardia and JFK, allowing Delta to adjust its New York schedule without worrying about losing assets with immense long-term value.
While Delta could theoretically keep flying a full schedule, trimming frequencies in many markets seems to make sense. Business travel, which is typically one of the main sources of demand between January and March, isn't back to pre-pandemic levels, so instead of flying empty planes or dropping prices to spur ticket sales, Delta can instead trim capacity.
While that might be a good move for Delta's bottom line, it could theoretically lead to higher fares if capacity is restricted by too much.
Of course, we'll have to wait to see how things play out in the winter, but extending the slot waiver avoids a common strategy that's used by many airlines in capacity-constrained airports: "slot squatting."
Aviation insiders typically consider slot squatting as filling the schedule with lower-cost regional operations — often flying with few passengers — just so an airline isn't at risk of having to give up a valuable slot to a competitor. And Delta, which markets itself as the larger carrier in New York, seems to have done some slot squatting over the past few months.
Earlier this year, it began flights between LGA and Binghamton and State College, Pennsylvania, as well as from JFK to Ithaca, New York.
These regional routes used to be served from Delta's hub in Detroit until the airline shifted them to New York. Despite announcing these flights last October, just one of them is left in operation: JFK to Ithaca.
Service from LGA to State College lasted for about six months, and the flight to Binghamton will move back to Detroit later this year.
Though Delta may never confirm that these flights were intended to "slot squat," now that the waivers are back in place, it's pretty clear to see where Delta's network priorities lie.
Related reading:
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