Delta will ramp up to 300 daily flights in July from its NYC hubs to nearly 100 domestic and international destinations
It’s been more than a year since COVID-19 brought New York City to a halt. Now, with vaccination rates on the rise and capacity restrictions for most public gathering spots lifting from 19th May, the Big Apple is taking major steps toward recovery – and no airline is more ready than Delta to welcome customers back. Beginning this summer, the airline will operate more than 300 total daily departures from its hubs at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) – more than any other airline*.
“From providing essential service for healthcare workers with a handful of flights at the peak of the pandemic to serving more customers in the weeks and months ahead, Delta and its 9,000-plus New York-based employees have long been part of the fabric of the New York community,” said Henry Kuykendall, S.V.P. – Airport Operations, East. “The challenges we experienced over the past year only deepened our connection and commitment to this dynamic and resilient city where we live, work and serve. Delta people have been and continue to be with New York every step of the way. Whether they’re coming to enjoy all that the city has to offer or connecting across our global network, customers can rely on Delta to help reclaim their lives.”
Delta’s domestic and international schedule at New York-JFK has rebounded significantly in 2021, with reinstated service to seven domestic markets including Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas/Ft., Worth, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Indianapolis, Ind.; and Washington-Dulles, Va., all resuming within the past month. The airline also restarted flights from JFK to Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport on May 1.
Following the recent lift of entry restrictions into Italy, Delta will operate COVID-tested flights from JFK daily to Milan; three times per week to Rome, increasing to daily 1st July; and daily to Venice beginning 2nd July. Daily nonstop flights to Athens, Greece, will resume 28th May, and new nonstop service four times per week from JFK to Dubrovnik, Croatia, will begin 2nd July for fully vaccinated travellers or customers who meet testing requirements. This is the first time Delta will operate flights to Croatia.
At New York-LGA, Delta will be the first airline to reinstate service to a number of key business markets including recently added Louisville, Ky. and Milwaukee, Wis. and growing to include Greensboro, N.C., Greenville, S.C., Omaha, Neb., and Birmingham, Ala. in June. New twice-daily flights to Toronto, Canada, will commence Aug. 5, with plans to boost to six times per day this fall as travel restrictions lift and transborder demand returns.
“After a very difficult year, New Yorkers are looking to make up for lost time and more eager than ever to reconnect with friends and family,” said Chuck Imhof, V.P. – Sales, East. “And Delta couldn’t be more ready to welcome back customers just in time for summer travel. We have been working hard to elevate all aspects of the travel experience, including maintaining rigorous cleaning standards, introducing new onboard snack and beverage options, and working quickly on improved airport facilities. Providing our customers with a safe and seamless journey every step of the way will remain Delta’s top priority.”
The future of travel through NYC
While the pandemic may have slowed travel, Delta’s work on major infrastructure projects in New York and elsewhere around the U.S. has sped up. At New York-LGA, construction on Delta’s brand-new, state-of-the-art terminal has progressed so quickly that the new arrivals and departures hall, the new roadway network and the second concourse will now open to customers next spring, followed by half of the third concourse next summer. This acceleration will now see the entire four-concourse terminal fully complete by the end of 2024, eighteen months earlier than originally planned.
“We have been able to take advantage of the downturn in passenger volume and flight activity to capture additional real estate and advance our LGA construction more quickly, as we have at most of our hub airport projects across the country,” said Ryan Marzullo, Managing Director – NY Corporate Real Estate. “Our priority when we’re constructing these new terminal facilities is to protect our operation, our customers and our employees while building as efficiently and quickly as possible.”
A reimagined JFK is not far behind, as Delta recently agreed to revised plans with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and JFK International Air Terminal, the operator of JFK Terminal 4, to expand Terminal 4 and consolidate Delta’s operations there – a key step in the transformation of Delta’s global gateway at that airport.
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