ATLANTA- Delta Air Lines (DL) is reshaping its network strategy at New York hubs, with significant changes affecting its shortest route from LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
The airline will discontinue its 101-mile service between LGA and Bradley International Airport (BDL) near Hartford, Connecticut, on October 6.
Delta Cuts New York LaGuardia Routes
This route, launched in 2022 by Delta’s regional affiliate Endeavor Air, initially offered up to three daily flights. The service frequency was reduced to daily operations last June before the decision to terminate it entirely.
The New York-to-Hartford route held the distinction of being Delta’s shortest from LaGuardia. With its discontinuation, American Airlines’ New York-to-Philadelphia route, spanning 95 miles, now claims the title of the shortest route from LGA, TPG Reported.
While Delta’s flight provided the quickest commercial option for Hartford-New York City travelers, aviation experts often viewed it as a “slot squatting” strategy. LaGuardia’s status as a slot-controlled airport limits daily departures and arrivals. Airlines must utilize their allocated slots or risk losing them to competitors.
During peak travel periods, airlines optimize their schedules to efficiently use all slots. However, in periods of weaker demand, carriers sometimes deploy lower-cost regional flights to maintain their slot holdings. This practice, known as “slot squatting,” allows airlines to retain valuable slots without relinquishing them or operating costlier flights.
The airline’s New York-Hartford route, initially seen as a promising venture, failed to meet expectations and will cease operations.
Restarting Flights to Chattanooga
In a strategic move, Delta will launch a service between LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) on October 7. Endeavor Air will operate this 734-mile route with up to five weekly flights using 76-seat CRJ-900 regional jets. This marks Delta’s return to the LaGuardia-Chattanooga route, which was last operated in March 2020.
Delta is also making significant changes at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The airline will terminate services from JFK to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) on October 26.
The New York-Montreal route has been a staple since 2006, while the New York-Baltimore service has been operating for over two decades.
The Baltimore route’s discontinuation will impact travelers who relied on it for one-stop itineraries to international destinations via JFK, Delta’s main transatlantic gateway. This change may force Baltimore-based travelers to seek alternative connection options for flights to Europe and beyond.
Both LaGuardia and JFK are slot-controlled airports, meaning airlines must efficiently utilize their allocated takeoff and landing slots. Delta has not yet announced how it will use the freed-up slots at JFK, leaving room for potential new routes or increased frequencies on existing ones.
Priority Services to LATAM
Delta Air Lines has expanded its Global Corporate Priority benefits program to include LATAM Airlines (LA), enhancing services for business customers. This move strengthens Delta’s position as a leader in corporate travel benefits, building on its previous partnerships with Air France, KLM, Aeromexico, and Virgin Atlantic.
Corporate passengers flying Delta and LATAM between South America and the U.S. will receive exclusive benefits on their travel day. These include priority boarding, denied boarding prioritization, downgrade prioritization, and priority service recovery. These benefits ensure corporate travelers receive preferential treatment in various aspects of their journey.
The expansion builds on Delta’s Corporate Priority program, launched in 2014. This program has continually evolved based on feedback from Delta customers and joint corporate clients of its partners, adapting to meet changing business travel needs.
Luciano Macagno, Delta’s Managing Director for Latin America, the Caribbean, and South Florida, emphasizes the company’s commitment to providing superior service and benefits to business travelers. He states that this expansion offers corporate customers increased value and convenience.
The new benefits on LATAM flights will be available starting this month, giving corporate travelers additional incentives to choose Delta and its partners for their travel requirements. This expansion reinforces Delta’s dedication to enhancing the travel experience for its business customers across a broader network of routes and partners.
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