Delta adds 6 new routes to confront the US

Network planners at Delta Air Lines have been very busy this holiday season.

The Atlanta-based carrier offered six new domestic routes over the Christmas weekend, first seen on Cirium’s schedule and later confirmed by an airline spokesperson.

The new flights won’t start until spring 2023 (at the earliest), but they’re all available for purchase as of Sunday, December 25, giving travelers their dream get out of the warm weather so many possible destinations.

All six routes are focused on enhancing connectivity in the Northeast, and you’ll find the full list below.

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• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) — Memphis International Airport (MEM), once-daily service beginning May 8, 2023.
• BOS — Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), once-daily service commencing May 8, 2023.
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) — Nashville International Airport (BNA), three-time daily service beginning October 9, 2023.
• DCA — Orlando International Airport (MCO), twice-daily service beginning October 9, 2023.
• DCA — Miami International Airport (MIA), once-daily service beginning October 9, 2023.
• LaGuardia Airport (LGA) — Clinton National Airport (LIT) serves Little Rock, Arkansas, once-daily service beginning May 8, 2023.

Most of the new routes will be operated by Republic Airways, a subsidiary of Delta Connection, using a 76-seat Embraer E175 regional jet with 12 first class recliners and 20 extra legroom seats. and 44 economy class seats in a comfortable 2-2 configuration.

Delta will operate flights between Washington, DC, and both Miami and Orlando using the 157-seat Airbus A320. Delta’s A320 aircraft have 16 first class recliners, 18 legroom+ seats and 123 economy class seats.

While these routes are all new to Delta’s schedule, many of them have been operated in previous years. For example, the Boston to Memphis flight last operated in January 2014, while the Boston to Louisville service last operated in June 2008, according to Cirium’s schedule.

Delta will not be exclusive on any of these six routes once each becomes operational. In fact, American Airlines operates service in all six markets, meaning Delta will go head-to-head with one of its biggest competitors on each route.

(Southwest also operates flights between Washington, DC and both Nashville and Orlando, while JetBlue flies between DC and Orlando.)

Delta is no stranger to protect and develop its position in key marketsand it should come as no surprise to airline observers that the airline will go head-to-head with the Americans on additional routes centered on the Northeast.

Americans run a center in Reagan National Airportso Delta will likely be competing for O&D traffic (destination and departure) in this market.

Meanwhile, Delta has Standing shoulder to shoulder in Boston for the title of largest airline in the regionand two new routes opened in May can help the airline reassert its dominance in a key city.

Below the Northeastern Alliance Cooperation Between American and JetBlue Airways, the two airlines have added a host of new routes and additional frequencies from Boston, so Delta may feel some competitive pressure.

But perhaps most interestingly, Delta is adding routes at LGA and DCA, two of the nation’s most capacity-constrained airports.

For capacity management, these airports are classified into Federal Aviation Administration Level 3 facilitieswhich means that take-off and landing permissions are managed through locations.

Each new flight requires a pair of slotsand Delta did not remove any flights or cut any routes to or from LGA or DCA as part of this week’s schedule load.

It remains to be seen whether Delta gets new locations to operate these flights or whether the carrier will eventually cut flights elsewhere to free up slots for these routes.

Separately, Delta has made a notable boost to one of the top domestic routes to Hawaii. Over the weekend, Delta expanded the schedule for its 4,431-mile Atlanta to Maui route to operate year-round.

Previous flights have been Submitted as seasonal winter servicebut the plan is always to upgrade the flight year round servicean airline spokesman confirmed in February.

Now, Delta is following through on that plan, which will make it easier than ever for travelers living in the Southeast to reach one of Hawaii’s most popular destinations.