Although Delta Air Lines expects demand for domestic flights to recover faster than international operations, the airline is still planning on adding 50 transatlantic routes for summer 2021. In an announcement today, the airline confirmed its plans while cautioning that some routes were subject to government approval, and exact details may change. Some flights will resume operations this winter.
Global expansion
Delta is now looking forward to recovery. The airline is scheduling its winter 2020 routes as well as looking at summer 2021. Delta has said it thinks its domestic offerings are going to be crucial over the coming months as international travel remains difficult. However, the airline “remains committed to ensuring customers benefit from easy access across the pond through its key coastal gateways.”
According to a statement, Delta will begin restoring its global network in just a few months’ time. Assuming this is a success, the airline will continue to expand operations throughout winter and into next year. As a result, the airline will operate 50 new routes compared to its summer 2020 schedule.
The new routes
Subject to approval and the ever-changing travel restrictions, Delta has planned the following from its Atlanta hub:
- Amsterdam – Winter, two times daily. Summer, three times daily.
- Paris – Winter, once daily. Summer, two times daily.
- Frankfurt – Winter, four times weekly. Summer, once daily.
- Johannesburg – Winter, three times weekly. Summer, five times weekly.
- London Heathrow – Winter, once daily. Summer, two times daily.
- Lagos – Winter, once daily. Summer, four times weekly.
- Munich – Winter, three times weekly, Summer, once daily.
- Barcelona – Summer, once daily.
- Dublin – Summer, once daily.
- Rome – Summer, once daily.
- Madrid – Summer, once daily.
- Stuttgart – Summer, five times weekly.
From its base at New York’s JFK airport, Delta will operate flights to:
- Accra – Winter, once daily. Summer five times weekly.
- Amsterdam -Winter, once daily. Summer, two times daily.
- Barcelona – Winter, five times weekly. Summer, once daily.
- Brussels – Winter, five times weekly. Summer, once daily.
- Paris – Winter, once daily. Summer, two times daily.
- Senegal – Winter, three times weekly. Summer, three times weekly.
- Dublin – Winter, five times weekly. Summer, once daily.
- Rome – Winter, five times weekly. Summer, two times daily.
- Frankfurt – Winter, five times weekly. Summer, once daily.
- London Heathrow – Winter, once daily. Summer, two times daily.
- Madrid – Winter, five times weekly. Summer, once daily.
- Milan – Winter, five times weekly. Summer, once daily.
- Tel Aviv – Winter, two times daily. Summer, two times daily.
- Zurich – Winter, five times weekly. Summer, once daily.
- Athens – Summer, two times weekly.
- Edinburgh – Summer, once daily.
- Kefalonia – Summer, five times weekly.
- Lisbon – Summer, once daily.
- Lagos – Summer, three times weekly.
- Nice – Summer, once daily.
- Venice – Summer, once daily.
Delta is also looking to offer routes from Los Angeles to Paris daily in summer 2021. Additionally, from Detroit, Delta plans to fly to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, and London Heathrow. From Boston, Delta will operate flights to Amsterdam, Paris, London Heathrow, and Dublin. From Minneapolis, there will be flights to Amsterdam, Paris, and London Heathrow. Seattle will offer flights to Amsterdam and Paris, while Salt Lake City will connect to Amsterdam and Paris.
Recovery
Delta may be hopeful that it can restart international travel within the coming months, but the airline is aware that as travel restrictions change, so it may have to change its plans. With this in mind, it has extended its change-fee waiver until the end of September. However, for flights booked for summer 2021, this may need to be extended again.
Hopefully, we will see the demand for international travel increase as airlines are continuing to struggle financially. Delta has promised to block off middle seats until January 2021 at the earliest to promote social distancing. Perhaps this, alongside its other new health and safety measures, will encourage more people to fly internationally very soon.