Delta Air Lines is adding two exciting routes to its route map.
The airline will launch the new service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Buenos Aires later this year, and it will also resume seasonal flights from JFK to Rio de Janeiro after more than three years. interruptions, as first seen in the Cirium schedule and then confirmed by the carrier.
Delta last flew from New York to Rio in March 2020 before suspending flights indefinitely due to the pandemic.
Daily service to the Argentine capital will begin on October 28, 2023 and run until March 29, 2024. Daily flights to Rio will resume on December 16, 2023 and operate until February 21, 2024.
The 5,282-mile Buenos Aires route will be operated by a Boeing 767-400 238 seatsThere are 34 Delta One cabins, 20 Premium Select recliners, 28 Comfort+ seats with wide legroom and 156 standard main cabin seats.
Meanwhile, the 4,786-mile Rio route will be carried by a 216-seat Boeing 767-300 has just been retrofitted available in a four-cabin configuration. This jet, “76K” as it is refer to internalThere are 26 Delta One cabins, 18 Premium Select recliners, 21 Comfort+ seats with ample legroom and 151 standard economy class seats.
Aviation watchers likely won’t be surprised to see Delta officially restarting service between New York and Buenos Aires — a market it served briefly from December 2008 to March 2009 The airline applied for permission from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) on January 12 to restart this route, and the agency officially approved the request on January 25.
In Delta’s lawsuit to DOT, the airline share that they wanted to “create more competition” for a market dominated by American airlines and Aerolineas Argentinas. (United dropped the Newark to Buenos Aires service in October 2019, according to Cirium’s schedule.)
Delta’s argument is bolstered by the fact that it can offer many one-stop connection opportunities through New York for travelers to Argentina. Additionally, the airline said “operating reliability and outstanding customer service will also benefit passengers who will use the recommended services.”
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Perhaps most interestingly, Delta asked DOT to approve year-round service between New York and Argentina, but now Delta has confirmed that it only plans to load flights for the winter.
Time will tell whether the airline will continue to add flights for next summer as originally promised.
Of the two new lines, only the Rio line will operate as part of the new joint venture partnership with South America’s LATAM aircraft carrier.
Delta shocked the industry in September 2019 when it announced that it buy 20% shares of LATAMpull the airline out Oneworld frequent flyer alliance. As part of the investment, Delta is working to create a strategic alliance with LATAMstepping up flights at major US gateway airports to Latin America.
The joint venture allows the two airlines to split revenue on flights between the US and Canada and South America. The deal also comes with an antitrust waiver, meaning Delta and LATAM can coordinate schedules and fares in those markets.
Delta and LATAM have rolled out a number of customer enhancements as part of their joint venture, including reciprocal frequent flyer accumulation and redemption, elite perks, and lounge access.
To date, the partnership has allowed the two airlines to launch two new routes — Orlando to Bogotá and Los Angeles to Sao Paulo — though more is expected to be done.
This is just the latest network update for Delta. Recently, the company announced a series of New flights from Texaswhile last month Delta revealed its plans added new route to Auckland, New Zealand; And Great, France.
In addition, Delta will Stop serving Nagoya, Japanlater this month when it cuts its long-standing route from Detroit.
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