Delta Air Strains will likely be pulling out of one of many few worldwide lengthy haul markets the place all the “massive three” US carriers immediately compete, as flagged by @IshrionA.
Delta ends Los Angeles to London flights in Could 2024
As of Could 6, 2024, Delta will discontinue its route between Los Angeles (LAX) and London (LHR). For context, the route is presently operated day by day by an Airbus A330-900neo with the next schedule:
DL186 Los Angeles to London departing 8:00PM arriving 2:50PM (+1 day)
DL187 London to Los Angeles departing 4:50PM arriving 8:30PM
Los Angeles to London is a route that’s served by fairly just a few airways, together with American, British Airways, United, and Virgin Atlantic. Whereas American and United have constantly served this route for a very long time, Delta hasn’t.
Delta first began working this route in 2014, after which canceled the route in 2015. After a virtually eight 12 months suspension, the airline solely introduced it again in the summertime of 2023, solely to cancel it once more a 12 months later.
Delta has repeatedly tried to place itself as Los Angeles’ main airline, and the airline does supply extra capability to the airport than American and United. However when the airline can’t even join Los Angeles to one of many largest aviation markets on this planet, the optics of Delta being a worldwide airline at LAX aren’t nice.
Why is Delta canceling its Los Angeles to London route?
There are a few issues at play right here. To begin with, Delta and Virgin Atlantic have a three way partnership, and Delta even owns a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic. The UK-based SkyTeam provider operates as much as three day by day flights between Los Angeles and London.
Airways usually view joint ventures as a part of their general operation, so I’m positive Delta solely views slicing the Los Angeles to London route as a technicality with restricted implications, since passengers out there can fly with Virgin Atlantic.
Moreover, since London Heathrow is slot restricted, Delta after all isn’t simply canceling a service with out having one other plan in thoughts. As of Could 7, 2024, Delta as a substitute intends so as to add a 3rd day by day flight to London from Atlanta (ATL).
So clearly what’s taking place right here is that Delta simply determined that it’s higher off utilizing its personal metallic for a 3rd flight to London from Atlanta, somewhat than one flight a day from Los Angeles.
Why, although? Properly, that’s an important query, and I’m unsure I’ve an important reply. Clearly Delta has a really loyal buyer base and superb identify recognition in Atlanta, so maybe the provider finds that it performs higher relative to Virgin Atlantic in markets the place it has a fortress hub.
It nonetheless doesn’t look nice for Delta to launch the identical route twice, and have it solely final for a 12 months. And as a lot as internally an airline might contemplate a three way partnership a part of its operation, I don’t suppose all shoppers essentially view it that manner.
Backside line
Delta will likely be slicing its Los Angeles to London route as of Could 2024. The airline solely launched this route roughly a 12 months in the past, after an eight 12 months hiatus, so that is the second time the route is barely lasting for round a 12 months. Delta will likely be utilizing this London Heathrow slot to as a substitute launch a 3rd day by day flight out of Atlanta.
What do you make of Delta slicing its Los Angeles to London route, and what do you suppose the logic is?
