Delta Air Lines Announces New Point-to-Point Routes for Increased Connectivity
Delta Air Lines has revealed its plans to expand its route network with a series of intriguing new routes. Unlike previous expansions that focused on its key hub airports, the Atlanta-based carrier will primarily enhance point-to-point connectivity.
The airline spokesperson, Drake Castañeda, confirmed that Delta will introduce five new routes later this year. These routes include Austin to Las Vegas, Austin to Orlando, Las Vegas to Sacramento, Las Vegas to San Diego, and New York to Nassau, Bahamas.
With the exception of the new LaGuardia service, which will commence on December 16, in time for the bustling winter holiday season, all other routes will begin on October 9. Delta will fly twice a day between Las Vegas and San Diego, while the other flights will operate on a once-daily basis.
Delta’s schedule for these new routes will be loaded over the weekend, and by Monday, July 10, tickets will be available for booking.
Importantly, these additions to Delta’s network from Austin and Las Vegas do not involve any hub airports. Instead, the focus of these point-to-point flights is to connect high-demand origin and destination markets. Consequently, Delta will face significant competition on these routes from carriers such as American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and others.
Austin has emerged as a thriving aviation market in recent years, even during the pandemic. Notably, American Airlines expanded its presence in the city by adding multiple new routes. Delta previously considered Austin one of its focus cities, alongside Cincinnati, Nashville, Raleigh-Durham, and San Jose, California. However, the airline has since narrowed down its focus to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). Therefore, Delta’s growth in Austin should not come as a surprise. While the airline operated flights between Austin and Orlando until January 2015, the route to Las Vegas is new for Delta.
As one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States, Austin attracts numerous companies relocating to the area. Additionally, the city’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene makes it a popular leisure destination. Several other airlines, including American, Alaska, Allegiant Air, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, and Southwest, have also recently unveiled new routes to Austin.
Meanwhile, Las Vegas serves as a popular destination for both leisure and business travelers. Delta’s newly added routes to and from the city will contribute to the airline’s presence in Sin City and along the West Coast. It is worth noting that the Vegas to San Diego route is technically a resumption since April 2020.
In a surprising move, Delta has also announced a new seasonal daily flight from New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Nassau. This service will launch on December 16 and run through April 7, 2024. It is uncommon to see new international services at LaGuardia due to the absence of a federal inspection station for customs and immigration formalities. However, Nassau is among the pre-cleared destinations that offer U.S. customs and immigration before departure. Therefore, passengers arriving at LaGuardia from Nassau will be treated as if they had taken a domestic flight.
This new service will compete directly with JetBlue’s existing flight in the market. Yet, as the preferred airport for many New York City residents, Delta should have no trouble marketing this new service to those seeking winter fun in the sun.
Delta previously operated flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Nassau in January 2017. This service will remain unaffected by the recent update.
As Delta continues to expand its route network, these new point-to-point connections will provide travelers with increased options and convenience. With growing competition in the aviation industry, airlines are striving to cater to popular demand and capture the interest of both leisure and business travelers.