Delta Air Lines is shifting gears with its latest route expansion, venturing outside its traditional hub-and-spoke model in favor of eight new nonstop services. Seven of these will connect cities across the U.S. directly to Orlando, one of the country’s top leisure destinations.
According to The Points Guy, these seasonal flights will begin December 20, 2025, and operate Saturdays through April 11, 2026. Delta plans to operate all new services with regional aircraft, though it has yet to disclose which Delta Connection partners or aircraft types will be used.
Available for booking starting May 3, the new flights include:
- Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) to Orlando (MCO)
- Grand Rapids’ Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) to MCO
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND) to MCO
- Kansas City International Airport (MCI) to MCO
- Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) to MCO
- Nashville International Airport (BNA) to MCO
- Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) to MCO
With Orlando being a top domestic vacation spot for families and theme park lovers, the new point-to-point services offer more direct and convenient travel options for customers. However, since the flights are limited to Saturdays, travelers may need to plan week-long vacations or find alternative return options—something that could present a challenge.
Still, the strategy positions Delta to lure business away from low-cost carriers like Spirit and Southwest, both of which already serve many of the same routes. Grand Rapids is the only Orlando-bound city in this announcement that is not currently served by Spirit, potentially giving Delta a competitive advantage in that market.
The Austin–Palm Springs route stands out as the only non-Orlando addition and the only route launching from a Delta focus city. According to aviation data provider Cirium, Delta will be the sole airline flying that route after American Airlines exited the market in May 2024.
Delta also revealed plans for a series of one-off flights catering to college football fans. These special routes—40 in total—will be scheduled around major games such as LSU at Clemson, Texas at Ohio State and several Notre Dame matchups.
Most of these flights will depart on Fridays and return on Sundays, offering quick and convenient options for attending gameday weekends. In total, Delta expects to add around 8,000 seats to accommodate college football travelers across its network this season.
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