Delta Air Traces has simply introduced a big enlargement in West Africa this northern summer time (southern winter), with each capability will increase and product enhancements. This enhances Delta flying extra premium A350s to South Africa as effectively, which I wrote about individually.
Delta brings again New York to Lagos route
As of December 1, 2024, Delta will resume its route between New York (JFK) and Lagos, Nigeria (LOS), which was final served in 2022. Delta will use an Airbus A330-200 for the service, although the schedule hasn’t but been printed. The flight will initially function every day, earlier than shifting to 3x weekly as of January 16, 2025.
This New York service will complement Delta’s every day service to Lagos out of Atlanta (ATL), which can also be operated by an Airbus A330-200. So meaning Delta will provide anyplace from 10-14x weekly frequencies between the USA and Lagos.
Delta is the US airline that has most persistently been serving Nigeria over time, so I’m certain many will recognize the direct hyperlink between New York and Lagos.
Nigeria’s Air Peace plans to fly to the USA, particularly to Houston and New York. Nonetheless, it’s onerous to understand how critically to take that as of now, and I can’t think about that’s why Delta is launching the route.
Delta upgrades New York to Accra route
Delta can also be upgrading its route between New York (JFK) and Accra, Ghana (ACC), which is operated each day year-round. As of late October 2024, the airline plans to improve the route from a Boeing 767-300ER to an Airbus A330-900neo.
This can lead to a roughly 30% capability improve, and almost 1,000 extra seats per week. Not solely does this symbolize extra capability, but it surely’s a a lot better onboard product, as Delta’s 767-300ERs are the worst large physique planes within the fleet.
Authorities in Ghana have repeatedly expressed frustration at Delta’s resolution to fly 767s to Ghana, and the nation has even banned certainly one of Delta’s 767s, over repeated mechanical points. So it is a vital improve in nearly each approach.
Is Delta the most important US airline in Africa?
Delta’s press launch about these adjustments notes how “Delta is reinforcing its No. 1 place as the most important U.S. provider to Africa this winter,” and the way the airline operates “greater than 34 weekly flights” between the continents.
I’m typically skeptical of the claims that Delta makes. Earlier than I learn that assertion, I’d have initially assumed that United is bigger than Delta in Africa, however that was simply primarily based on my intestine, so I did some analysis.
Finest I can inform, for the upcoming peak season, Delta will fly:
- 7x weekly from Atlanta (ATL) to Johannesburg (JNB)
- 7x weekly from New York (JFK) to Accra (ACC)
- 7x weekly from Atlanta (ATL) to Lagos (LOS)
- 3-7x weekly from New York (JFK) to Lagos (LOS)
- 3x weekly from Atlanta (ATL) to Cape City (CPT)
- 3x weekly from New York (JFK) to Dakar (DSS)
Can somebody assist me with the maths right here, or inform me what I’m lacking? As a result of by my math, that’s 30-34x weekly flights to Africa, which isn’t “greater than 34” (which was an oddly particular “greater than” quantity to supply within the first place).
How does that evaluate to United? For the upcoming peak season, United will fly:
- 7x weekly from Newark (EWR) to Johannesburg (JNB)
- 7x weekly from Washington (IAD) to Accra (ACC)
- 3x weekly from Newark (EWR) to Cape City (CPT)
- 3x weekly from Washington (IAD) to Cape City (CPT)
- 3x weekly from Washington (IAD) to Lagos (LOS)
- 3x weekly from Newark (EWR) to Marrakesh (RAK)
In order that comes out to 26x weekly frequencies, that means Delta beats United by a big margin when it comes to the variety of weekly frequencies. Nonetheless, except I’m lacking one thing, I don’t suppose Delta flies to Africa as a lot as is claimed right here.
Backside line
Delta is increasing in Africa this upcoming peak season, because the airline will add 3-7x weekly flights between New York and Lagos, and also will function a bigger and extra premium plane on the New York to Accra route.
Delta has a formidable community in Africa, and operates extra flights between the USA and Africa than United, which got here as a shock to me. Nonetheless, I’m not fairly certain I could make sense of Delta’s math, claiming it operates greater than 34 weekly flights to Africa.
What do you make of Delta’s Africa service will increase?
