Delta Cancels Shortest NYC Route, Adds New Flight to Chattanooga

Delta Cuts Shortest NYC Route, Adds New Flight to Chattanooga

Delta Air Lines is making some changes to its New York City flight routes. The airline is scrapping its shortest route from LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Bradley International Airport (BDL) near Hartford, Connecticut, which will end on October 6th. This route, just 101 miles, was considered "slot squatting" by some aviation experts, a practice where airlines fill routes with lower-cost regional flights to utilize valuable airport slots during weaker demand periods.

While Delta's flight offered the fastest commercial option for travelers between Hartford and New York City, it seems the experiment hasn't been profitable.

With the slots freed up from the Hartford route, Delta will launch service between LGA and Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) beginning October 7th. This 734-mile route will be operated by Endeavor Air with up to five weekly flights on board the 76-seat CRJ-900 regional jet.

Delta is also cutting two regional routes from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK): the service from JFK to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), both ending on October 26th.

These changes are part of Delta's strategy to optimize its flight network and utilize valuable airport slots more efficiently.