Delta's latest update features its shortest NYC route, including three cuts and one addition.

Delta Air Lines is implementing several significant changes to its network across its New York hubs.

Firstly, the airline is discontinuing its shortest route from New York City's LaGuardia Airport (LGA), as reported in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a spokesperson from the carrier.

This 101-mile route from LGA to Bradley International Airport (BDL) near Hartford, Connecticut, will officially be terminated on October 6.

Delta's regional partner Endeavor Air began this service in 2022 with as many as three flights daily. It was reduced to daily service last June, and now it will be completely discontinued.

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When it was introduced, Delta's New York-to-Hartford flight was the shortest at LaGuardia. That distinction has now shifted to American Airlines' New York-to-Philadelphia route, which measures just 95 miles.

Although Delta's flight was the quickest commercial route for travelers between Hartford and New York City, many aviation experts regarded it as "slot squatting."

LaGuardia operates as a slot-controlled airport, meaning the number of flights per day is limited by slots. These slots are usually allocated on a use-it-or-lose-it basis, requiring airlines to utilize all their slots or risk losing them to competitors.

During busy times, airlines optimize their schedules to make the most of all the slots they hold. However, in periods of low demand, airlines may opt for less expensive regional flights to "slot squat." Instead of selling or discarding a valuable slot, carriers will fill their schedules with cheaper regional routes during off-peak seasons to ensure all their slots are utilized.

Although Delta initially believed there would be sufficient passengers to fill a 70-seat aircraft several times daily between New York and Hartford, that trial appears to have fallen short.

With some slots that were previously designated for the Hartford route now available, Delta plans to commence flights between LGA and Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) starting October 7.

Endeavor Air will serve the 734-mile route with up to five flights each week using the 76-seat CRJ-900 regional jet.

Delta last operated flights between LaGuardia and Chattanooga in March 2020, marking this as a return for the airline.

Along with the updates at LGA, Delta is eliminating two regional routes from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

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On October 26, Delta will discontinue service from JFK to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL).

Aside from a brief hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, Delta's route from New York to Montreal has been continuously operated since 2006. Meanwhile, the New York to Baltimore service has been running for over 20 years, according to Cirium schedules.

The Baltimore service offered travelers in the area hundreds of one-stop connections through New York. As Delta's primary transatlantic hub, JFK allowed Baltimore passengers to take a quick flight to New York before connecting to Delta and SkyTeam partners for services to Europe and beyond.

Similar to LGA, JFK operates as a slot-controlled airport. Delta has not yet submitted any new route proposals to take advantage of the slots being released by the cancellation of these two routes.

It remains uncertain whether Delta will introduce new routes or boost frequencies on existing ones to make use of the available slots. As always, keep an eye on TPG for the latest updates.