Delta is adding 5 exciting new routes, including a unique flight from LaGuardia
Delta Air Lines is back with a number of interesting new routes.
This time, however, the Atlanta-based carrier is mostly increasing point-to-point connectivity, rather than adding spokes to its central hub airports.
Specifically, the airline is adding the following five routes later this year, as confirmed by airline spokesperson Drake Castañeda.
- Austin – Las Vegas.
- Austin–Orlando.
- Las Vegas – Sacramento.
- Las Vegas – San Diego.
- New York – Nassau, Bahamas.
All of the aforementioned routes will start on October 9, except for the new LaGuardia service, which will take off on December 1[ads1]6 – just in time for the busy winter holidays.
Delta will fly between Las Vegas and San Diego twice daily, and the other new flights will operate once daily. These new flights will be loaded into Delta’s timetable during the weekend and will be available for booking no later than Monday 10 July.
As you can see, the airline’s additions from Austin and Las Vegas do not touch a hub. Instead, these point-to-point flights connect busy origin and destination (O&D) markets that boast plenty of direct demand. (It’s also why Delta will have so much competition on these routes from competitors ranging from American Airlines to Spirit Airlines to Southwest Airlines, and even some other airlines.)
Interestingly, Austin has been one of the hottest aviation markets in recent years. During the pandemic, the Texas capital saw increased service from a number of airlines; perhaps most notably, American added several tranches of new routes as it grew its presence in the city.
Before the pandemic, Delta considered Austin among its five focus cities — those cities are Austin, Cincinnati, Nashville, Raleigh-Durham and San Jose, California — a list that has since been whittled down to just two key airports: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS ) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).
As such, since Austin remains a focus city for the airline, Delta’s growth there shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The airline last flew between Austin and Orlando in January 2015, Cirium routes show, while the route to Las Vegas is new for the airline.
As one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country, Austin has seen a steady stream of companies move into the area. In addition, with the city’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene, it is a popular destination for leisure travelers.
Along with Delta, American, Alaska, Allegiant Air, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue and Southwest have all unveiled new routes to Austin recently.
As for Vegas, the city also sees millions of leisure and business travelers each year, and Delta’s new routes there should help boost its presence in Sin City and along the West Coast. (Notably, the Vegas to San Diego route is technically an April 2020 resumption, Cirium plans show.)
Finally, there is the interesting new seasonal daily flight from New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Nassau that will start on December 16 and will run through April 7, 2024.
You don’t often see new international services to and from LGA, as the airport does not offer a federal inspection station for customs and immigration formalities. Therefore, the only international flights that can be flown into LaGuardia are those arriving from pre-approved destinations that offer US Customs and Immigration prior to departure.
One such airport is Nassau, so when you arrive at LaGuardia, you’ll essentially be treated as if you landed on a domestic flight.
Adding this new service from New York will go head-to-head against JetBlue’s existing flight in this market. LaGuardia is the airport of choice for many New York City residents, so Delta should have no problem marketing this new service to those looking for some fun in the sun this winter.
Delta last flew between the two cities in January 2017, and the airline’s existing service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Nassau is not changing as part of this update.
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