Delta’s New Routes: 5 Additions, Including Unique LaGuardia Flight

Delta’s New Routes: 5 Additions, Including Unique LaGuardia Flight

Delta Air Lines is excited to announce several new routes, focusing on enhancing point-to-point connectivity. These additions aim to cater to high-demand origin and destination markets rather than expanding hub airports. Delta spokesperson Drake Castañeda has confirmed the following five routes scheduled to launch later this year.

1. Austin — Las Vegas
2. Austin — Orlando
3. Las Vegas — Sacramento
4. Las Vegas — San Diego
5. New York — Nassau, Bahamas

These new routes, except for the LaGuardia service, which commences on December 16, are set to begin operations on October 9. The timing aligns perfectly with the bustling winter holiday season. While the Las Vegas to San Diego route will have two daily flights, the other routes will operate once daily. Delta plans to load these new flights into their schedule over the weekend, and they will be available for booking no later than Monday, July 10.

It’s worth noting that these Austin and Las Vegas additions bypass any hubs, prioritizing direct connections between popular origin and destination (O&D) markets with substantial nonstop demand. Consequently, Delta faces fierce competition on these routes from various competitors such as American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and others.

Austin has emerged as a thriving aviation market in recent years, experiencing increased service from multiple airlines, including American. Before the pandemic, Delta considered Austin as one of its five focus cities. Although the focus city list has since been reduced to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), Delta’s growth in Austin is not surprising. The airline previously operated the Austin-Orlando route in January 2015, while the Las Vegas route is a new addition.

As one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States, Austin attracts numerous companies. Additionally, its vibrant arts and entertainment scene make it a popular leisure destination. In addition to Delta, several other airlines, including American, Alaska, Allegiant Air, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, and Southwest, have recently announced new routes to Austin.

Las Vegas, renowned for attracting millions of leisure and business travelers annually, is another focus for Delta. The new routes will strengthen Delta’s presence in Sin City and the West Coast. Notably, the Las Vegas-San Diego route is technically a resumption of service from April 2020.

In an interesting development, Delta will also launch a seasonal daily flight from New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Nassau starting on December 16 and running until April 7, 2024. International services to and from LGA are rare due to the airport lacking a federal inspection station for customs and immigration formalities. However, Nassau is an exception as it offers pre-clearance facilities, allowing passengers arriving in LaGuardia to be treated as if they landed on a domestic flight.

Competing against JetBlue’s existing flight in this market, Delta aims to attract New York City residents who prefer LaGuardia as their airport of choice. This new service presents an exciting opportunity for those seeking winter sun and fun. Delta previously flew between New York and Nassau in January 2017, and their existing service from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Nassau remains unchanged in this update.