Delta is adding 11 long-haul routes from the U.S. in 2026 — including its first-ever flights to Saudi Arabia and five city pairs no airline has ever flown nonstop.
Delta Air Lines will add 11 long-haul routes from the United States between April and December 2026, driving its average daily long-haul departures to 126 — a 7% increase over the same period last year, according to schedule filings with Cirium Diio.
The carrier is already the second-largest long-haul operator from the U.S. by flights, behind United Airlines, and ranks third globally after United and Emirates. Delta accounts for roughly one in every 20 long-haul flights operated worldwide.
The most consequential addition is Delta’s inaugural service to Saudi Arabia. The airline will launch nonstop flights between Atlanta and Riyadh on Oct. 23, initially operating daily with an Airbus A350-900 before scaling back to three weekly departures. At 6,329 nautical miles (11,721 kilometers) on a great-circle basis, the route becomes Delta’s third-longest nonstop from Atlanta, behind only its Johannesburg and Cape Town services.
When all carriers are factored in, the Atlanta–Riyadh pairing ranks as the sixth-longest nonstop from that hub — behind Johannesburg, Cape Town, Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airways) and Doha (Qatar Airways). It will also be the second-longest nonstop between Saudi Arabia and the United States, after Saudia’s Jeddah–Los Angeles service.
Riyadh becomes Delta’s second destination in the Middle East after Tel Aviv. The airline’s entry into the Saudi market reflects several factors: funding from the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, an existing codeshare agreement with Saudia, and a strategic partnership with Riyadh Air, the kingdom’s new flagship carrier.
Delta’s prior presence in the Middle East dates back years. The carrier flew Atlanta–Dubai from 2007 through 2016, operated New York JFK–Amman from 2008 to 2011, and served Atlanta–Kuwait from 2008 to 2009.
Five of the 11 new routes are brand-new markets — city pairs that have never had nonstop passenger service by any airline. In addition to Atlanta–Riyadh, they include Seattle–Rome Fiumicino, Seattle–Barcelona, Boston–Nice, and New York JFK–Olbia in Sardinia.
Delta’s Seattle–Rome service begins May 6, operating four weekly flights on an A330-900. The launch follows Alaska Airlines’ debut on the same route in April. Seattle–Barcelona starts May 7, with three weekly A330-900 departures.
Boston–Nice, launching May 16 with three weekly A330-300 flights, marks the first nonstop connection between Massachusetts and France’s Côte d’Azur. The market carried approximately 27,000 round-trip passengers in 2025. Delta’s decision to enter reflects the route’s strong premium economics: the average one-way fare across all airlines and cabins was $1,246 in 2025, a figure meaningfully higher than comparable but larger unserved Southern European markets from Boston — including Venice at $839 and Naples at $853 — while the shorter flying distance keeps operating costs comparatively lower.
New York JFK to Olbia launches May 20 with four weekly 767-300ER operations. The airline will also begin daily 767-300ER service from JFK to Porto, Portugal on May 21 — a route new to Delta’s network that was last served by Azores Airlines in 2024.
Los Angeles–Hong Kong launches June 6 as a daily A350-900 service and is also new to Delta’s map. The market will host three carriers for the first time in six years. New York JFK–Malta begins June 7 with three weekly 767-300ER flights; Malta had not had U.S. nonstop service for years before this addition. Boston–Madrid, starting May 6 as a daily A330-900 flight, is likewise new to Delta’s route map, and three airlines will operate the city pair for the first time ever.
Two of the 11 routes are resumptions, both to Tel Aviv. Delta will restart Atlanta–Tel Aviv on April 15, operating three weekly A350-900 flights. The return of that service, along with other Israel operations, depends on conditions stemming from the ongoing war in the Middle East. Boston–Tel Aviv resumes Oct. 24 as a daily A330-900 service, also suspended since 2023. If both routes hold to schedule, Delta plans to operate three routes to Tel Aviv by November.
Delta is the dominant long-haul carrier at Boston Logan International Airport by a wide margin, far outpacing JetBlue in both total services and long-haul frequencies. Between April and December 2026, the airline plans 13 long-haul routes from Boston, with Madrid and Nice representing the two newest additions to that lineup.
Key Takeaways
- Delta will operate an average of 126 daily long-haul departures from the U.S. between April and December 2026, up 7% year over year, anchored by 11 new or returning routes.
- The airline enters Saudi Arabia for the first time with an Atlanta–Riyadh nonstop beginning Oct. 23, backed by the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, a Saudia codeshare and a Riyadh Air partnership.
- Five of the 11 routes are brand-new city pairs never previously served nonstop by any carrier, including Seattle–Rome, Seattle–Barcelona, Boston–Nice, JFK–Olbia and Atlanta–Riyadh.
- Two routes — Atlanta–Tel Aviv and Boston–Tel Aviv, both suspended since 2023 — are set to resume, contingent on Middle East conditions.
- Delta plans 13 long-haul routes from Boston in 2026, reinforcing its dominant position at Logan well ahead of JetBlue.
