During the pandemic, airlines had to completely revise their approach to route planning as the demand for travel shifted. The good news is that with the current vaccination schedule in the US, travel this summer should be very possible, especially domestically.
We see airlines update their flight schedules to reflect this. In the case of Delta Air Lines, the Atlanta-based airline just announced a huge expansion into the state of Alaska this summer that is worth highlighting.
Delta’s big summer flight schedule to Alaska
Delta Air Lines has just added a number of new flights to its Alaska flight schedule for this summer. This includes the introduction of new routes as well as additional frequencies in existing markets. In total, Delta will fly to five destinations in Alaska. Let’s go through the details.
Delta is planning a lot of Alaskan service this summer
Delta service to Anchorage
Delta’s Extended Service for Anchorage (ANC) includes the following:
- Starting May 5, 2021, a daily flight from Atlanta (ATL), which will continue with three weekly frequencies into the fall; This is operated by a Boeing 767-300ER with flat beds in business class (this is Delta’s only flat bed service to Alaska).
- Third daily flight from Minneapolis (MSP) starting May 5, 2021
- Year-round non-stop flight from Salt Lake City (SLC) starting May 5, 2021
- Starting May 28, 2021, a new weekend service from Detroit (DTW), Los Angeles (LAX) and New York (JFK)
- Starting June 18, 2021, up to seven flights per day from Seattle (SEA) were offered year-round.
- Starting June 19, 2021, a second daily summer season flight from Salt Lake City (SLC)
Delta’s summer flight schedule to Anchorage
Deltas Service for Fairbanks
Delta will offer six daily non-stop flights to Fairbanks (FAI) from major hubs this summer, including the following:
- Daily nonstop flights from Salt Lake City (SLC) starting May 5, 2021
- Third daily non-stop flight from Seattle (SEA) on June 19, 2021
- Second daily non-stop flight from Minneapolis (MSP) on June 19, 2021
Previously, Delta’s only year-round flight to Fairbanks outside of Seattle was Delta’s service, while service in Minneapolis and Salt Lake City is also expanding year-round.
Delta’s summer flight schedule to Fairbanks
Deltas service for Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka
Delta will offer seasonal flights from Seattle (SEA) to three other Alaska cities this summer, starting on Memorial Day weekend and running through September. This contains:
- A daily flight from Seattle (SEA) to Juneau (JNU) on a Boeing 737-800
- A daily flight from Seattle (SEA) to Ketchikan (KTN) on an Embraer E175
- A daily flight from Seattle (SEA) to Sitka (SIT) on an Embraer 175
Delta’s summer flight schedule to other destinations in Alaska
Bottom line
While Delta Alaska has been offering a significant range of services for quite some time, the airline is taking it to the next level with this latest addition. Delta isn’t the only airline doing interesting things in Alaska this summer. American Airlines will fly a 787-9 to Anchorage, while United will operate an intra-Alaska route from Anchorage to Fairbanks.
It’s fascinating to see how the pandemic has affected flight route planning, and the next few months should lead to much more interesting routes. It is clear that travel will make a comeback in the coming months, although chances are that the emphasis will be on domestic travel rather than international travel. Cant wait to see what else is added.
What do you think of Delta’s summer expansion into Alaska?
