Delta Revamps Its International Routes—Here Are the Key Changes

Airlines are continually adjusting their flight paths as they assess domestic and international travel demand in the post-pandemic landscape. While many routes are being introduced, such as new daily flights from the U.S. to Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean on Delta, and fresh connections from the U.S. to London Gatwick with Norse Atlantic (a new low-cost carrier), others face cancellation.

Delta has announced it is reorganizing its flight schedule, eliminating six transatlantic routes initially slated for the 2023-2024 winter season.

In a statement to Dinogo, the airline noted that this adjustment is being made as “the demand environment for winter travel becomes more clear.”

The upcoming discontinued routes include:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Dusseldorf International Airport in Germany (currently operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; service concludes on October 26, 2023)
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Stuttgart Airport in Germany (currently operating on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; service concludes on October 27, 2023)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Germany (currently seasonal: operating daily from May 25 to October 27, 2023)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to Copenhagen Airport in Denmark (currently seasonal: operating daily from April 9 to October 27, 2023)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to Geneva Airport in Switzerland (currently seasonal: operating daily from April 10 to October 27, 2023)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to Stockholm Arlanda Airport in Sweden (operating on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays until May 7, then daily until October 27, 2023)

Historically, airlines experience lower booking rates between the U.S. and Europe during the winter compared to the peak summer season. However, some of the canceled routes had brief operational periods. The flights from Atlanta to Dusseldorf and Stuttgart were year-round routes prior to the pandemic but were cut from the schedule in March 2020; they will only return for six months before being withdrawn again. Similarly, Delta reintroduced the JFK-to-Geneva route (first time since 1993) last September, but it will only operate for seven months. There is currently no information on whether these routes will return next summer.

Delta will also indefinitely postpone the anticipated resumption of flights from Detroit and Seattle to Beijing, even with China having reopened to tourists just last week.

Passengers who have booked one of the canceled flights will receive alternative travel options through Delta’s partners, Air France and KLM, both of which can connect travelers to the suspended destinations. However, rebooking on Air France will necessitate a layover in Paris, and those on KLM will have a stop in Amsterdam. If the new arrangements are unsuitable (or if travelers change their minds), they are entitled to a full refund to the original payment method.