Delta Air Lines Cuts New York Winter Flights by 20%

17 godzin temu

ATLANTA- Delta Air Lines (DL) will reduce flight frequencies from New York JFK Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) during the peak winter months of January and February.

The airline is cutting nearly 20% of scheduled operations at its two New York hubs, citing the Federal Aviation Administration’s extended slot waiver. No routes will be eliminated, but travelers will see fewer daily flight options on select routes.

Delta Cuts New York Winter Flights

Delta Air Lines (DL) plans to scale back 16% of flying from New York JFK and 19% from LGA in January and February, according to Cirium data.

Reductions will also occur in November, December, March, and April, averaging around a 10% decrease in scheduled flights.

Reported by The Points Guy, the carrier will remove approximately 50 peak-day trips in November, early December, and March through October 2026. During the deep winter period, cuts will reach 75 peak day trips.

The adjustment comes after the FAA extended the New York City slot utilization waiver through summer 2026.

Normally, airlines risk losing takeoff and landing slots if they do not meet the use it or lose it requirement.

The waiver allows Delta to maintain its slots without operating all possible flights, providing flexibility to trim underperforming services during slower travel periods.

Impact on Routes

While Delta is not dropping any New York routes this winter, frequency reductions will be significant.

For example, flights from LGA to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Des Moines, Iowa, will shift from three daily departures to just one.

This means fewer choices for passengers and potentially higher fares due to reduced competition and seat availability.