Delta Air Lines is expanding its domestic network with new long-haul service between Boston and Honolulu, as well as a new transcontinental route from Miami to Seattle. This expansion is part of Delta’s strategy to capitalize on leisure demand during the winter season.
The new Boston-to-Honolulu route will become Delta’s longest domestic route, covering a distance of 5,095 miles. The service will operate seasonally on a daily basis from November 21 to April 30, 2025. Delta will deploy a newly retrofitted Boeing 767-300ER on this route, featuring 26 Delta One lie-flat business-class seats, 18 Premium Select recliners, 21 Comfort+ extra-legroom seats, and 151 standard economy seats. With the addition of this route, Delta will serve the Hawaii capital from all but one of its nine hubs.
In addition to the Boston-to-Honolulu route, Delta will increase its presence in Hawaii with a total of 22 daily nonstop flights this coming winter. This includes adding a second and third daily frequency to Honolulu from Salt Lake City and Seattle, respectively. These seasonal frequencies will operate from November 6 to March 29, 2025. Furthermore, Delta will resume service from Atlanta to Maui, starting on November 21 and operating through March 29, 2025.
Delta’s decision to focus on Hawaii for winter travel is based on the destination’s proven profitability during this season. While Europe experiences high demand during the peak of summer, Hawaii provides a lucrative alternative for airlines in the winter months.
The new Boston-to-Honolulu route will pit Delta against Hawaiian Airlines, which currently operates flights between the two cities. In the first quarter of 2023, an average of 190 passengers flew between Boston and Honolulu across all carriers, according to Department of Transportation data analyzed by Cirium.
In addition to the Hawaii expansion, Delta is also growing its presence in Miami. The airline will add year-round daily service to Seattle from Miami, starting on December 21. By winter, Delta will operate 38 peak-day departures to 13 destinations, including all nine hubs, from Miami.
Delta’s strategic focus on Miami is a result of its joint venture with LATAM, which aims to establish the city as a gateway hub for flights to and from South America. Miami is the key U.S. hub for LATAM, and with the additional feed from Delta, both airlines can expand their reach beyond Florida to destinations throughout the country.
Overall, Delta’s expansion of its domestic network demonstrates its commitment to capturing leisure travel demand during the winter season. By adding new routes to popular destinations like Hawaii and strengthening its presence in key markets like Miami, Delta aims to attract more passengers and generate higher revenues.