For obvious reasons, most airlines reduce flights on Christmas Day. Delta is no exception. However, these additional routes play an important role in its international flights increasing week-over-week. OAG data shows it has 14% more international flights on Christmas Day than on the previous Thursday, rising to 26% for short-haul non-US services.
Delta Has Just Started These 13 Routes
The SkyTeam carrier's international network has been examined using OAG data. This involved comparing all its routes available between January 1, 2024, to December 18, 2025, with what is on offer from December 19 to 28, 2025. This analysis identified the following 13 additions, all of which started on the same day. They include two destinations in US territories.
As usual with such things, most of the routes—nine of the 13—have seen Delta's frames before. With some exceptions, most ended in 2020 due to the myriad consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, including border closures.
The four routes that are brand-new to Delta's map are thus arguably more interesting. Of these, one—Atlanta to St. Vincent—has never had any scheduled flights by any airline, which isn't surprising. Moreover, Detroit to Liberia was last served by Northwest in 2002. Delta faces other carriers on the remaining two new airport pairs.
Start Date Route Delta's Operations (December 25-31*) Served By Delta Before?**
December 20 Atlanta-Grenada Daily 737-800 Yes: until 2020
December 20 Atlanta-St. Vincent Daily 737-800 No
December 20 Austin-Cancun Daily A320 Yes: a few flights in 2011
December 20 Austin-Los Cabos Daily E175 (SkyWest) No
December 20 Boston-St Thomas Daily 757-200 Yes: most recently in 2022
December 20 Detroit-Grand Cayman Weekly 737-800 Yes: until 2020
December 20 Detroit-Liberia Weekly 737-900ER No
December 20 Indianapolis-Cancun Weekly A320 Yes: until 2020
December 20 Kansas City-Cancun Weekly 737-900ER Yes: until 2020
December 20 Minneapolis-Nassau Weekly A321 Yes: until 2020
December 20
Nashville-Cancun Weekly 737-800 Yes: until 2020
December 20 New York JFK-Grand Cayman Weekly 737-900ER Yes: most recently in 2016
December 20 Raleigh/Durham-San Juan Weekly 737-900ER No
* They may vary at other times ** Since 1990
Atlanta's 1st Flight To St. Vincent
At 1,766 nautical miles (3,271 km) each way, St. Vincent becomes Delta's third-longest Caribbean route from Atlanta. Only Barbados and Grenada (which relaunched on December 20) cover more distance. It is Delta's first time in St. Vincent.
According to booking data, fewer than 3,000 people flew between Atlanta, Delta's top fortress hub, and the Caribbean island in the 12 months to October 2025. The market was absolutely tiny. It was the seventh-largest unserved Caribbean destination from the Georgia hub. Of course, it'll be easy to increase demand from nonstop flights and, hopefully, strong promotions.
Given the lack of local market, the daily frequency from the get-go is unusually bullish, especially when most of the 13 route additions are only served weekly. It is not helped by the route running daily through April 12, and weekly thereafter.
It will, of course, rely massively on connections across the US. However, half of the US traffic is to Greater New York City and Miami, which already have nonstop flights (but not on Delta). Like any very strong hub, it'll capture passengers flying from many dozens of airports and beyond, including multiple airports serving Greater NYC.
Only One Addition Is On A Regional Jet
Everyone knows that Austn has seen huge growth by Delta recently. The ever-popular Mexican beach destination of Los Cabos has now joined its map. Along with Cancun flights, which began on the same day, it is the first time Delta has had regular international service from Austin.
It is the third operator to Los Cabos. Between December 25 and 31, it coexists with American (six weekly 737-800) and Southwest (five weekly 737-700). Delta's daily frequency, albeit on an E175, will help with competitiveness and market share.
https://simpleflying.com/author/jamespearson/
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