Booking a flight can feel like a big task, but there are immediate benefits that come with it. Besides giving you a date on the calendar to look forward to, it's also usually the first confirmed reservation of your trip-planning process that you can check off your to-do list. However, airlines can sometimes shuffle their schedules around in ways that impact passengers' itineraries. And now, Delta has announced it will be cutting flights to three major cities this fall. Read on to see which destinations will be affected starting next month.
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Delta is cutting flights to Maui from two of its hubs next month.
ShutterstockLast month, wildfires swept across the island of Maui, causing historic devastation and tragically claiming the lives of at least 115 people, NPR reports. Now, residents have begun the long and difficult recovery and rebuilding process that lies ahead.
As a result, Delta will be scaling back its scheduled flights to Maui Kahului Airport (OGG) over the coming months. According to a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) by aviation report Adrian Waltz that was later confirmed by the airline, the carrier is cutting its route from its main hub at Atlanta Hartfield Airport (ATL) to the Hawaiian island that was scheduled to resume service as of next month. Delta has also dropped its planned route from its Midwest hub at Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Maui slated to launch in December, according to an X post by aviation news site @IshrionA.
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The carrier will still serve the Hawaiian destination with direct flights from other airports.
ShutterstockTravelers still looking to head to Maui on Delta may not have to drop their plans entirely. The airline still serves the Hawaiian island with non-stop flights from its hubs at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Thrifty Traveler reports.
"As communities in Maui rebuild, Delta has made the decision to pause some of our planned growth to Maui Kahului Airport (OGG) for the upcoming fall and winter seasons," a spokesperson for the airline said in a statement, per Thrifty Traveler. "Delta will, however, maintain our presence consistent with what we've flown recently to reinforce the ongoing recovery efforts. Our hearts and thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragic wildfires. Delta remains in close contact with Hawaiian officials, and we intend to keep plans for future growth down the road."
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Other airlines have also reduced flights to Maui in response to lower demand.
PONG HANDSOME / ShutterstockDelta isn't alone in cutting back on its service to the popular Hawaiian destination in the wake of the devastating wildfires. In August, American Airlines confirmed it would drop 50 flights to Maui from Los Angeles over September and an additional 31 flights in October, Simple Flying reported.
Meanwhile, United also confirmed changes of its own. As of Aug. 19, the carrier said it had dropped all flights from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Maui through at least Oct. 29, per Simple Flying. It also suspended service from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) as of Sept. 1 while scaling back flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) throughout the month.
The airlines have made the changes in response to a drop in demand for tickets to the popular tourist destination. And while many carriers are still traveling to Maui to deliver aid and supplies, visitors will likely begin heading back once restrictions in place on West Maui end on Oct. 8, NPR reports.
"If we support Maui's economy and keep our people employed, they will heal faster and continue to afford to live on Maui," Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said on Sept. 9.
These aren't the only changes Delta has made recently.
ShutterstockDelta has made other cuts to its schedule lately besides its service to Maui. In August, the carrier confirmed it was dropping its planned route between Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) in Mexico City, initially slated to begin on Dec. 1, Simple Flying reported. The move came just months after Delta announced the new daily service in May, resulting in 60 flights being dropped from its schedule.
"Given commercial and operational considerations, Delta will pause our planned launch of Boston-Mexico City service this December," the company said in a statement emailed to Best Life. "While we evaluate future plans for this route, we will continue to offer convenient connections from Boston to Mexico City via six Delta hubs. Customers who were booked on the route will be accommodated. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused."
The airline has also been working on a pared-back schedule out of two major airports as of August. Per a plan announced in May, flights were reduced from New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C., and Boston's Logan International Airport, Simple Flying reported. New York will see further cuts, with LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) both losing departures, a reduction on routes between Atlanta and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Baltimore International Airport (BWI), and fewer flights on the route between Baltimore and Detroit International Airport (DTW).
