Even if this summer is just beginning, Delta Airlines is already considering next summer (and its big rivals in Seattle).
The Delta announced Tuesday that it will add two new long-distance routes to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
The airline will travel from Seattle to Barcelona and Rome next summer. Flights from sea to Rome from Femisino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) will begin on May 6, while services from sea to Joseph Taradras Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) will take off in a day.
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It is not clear whether Delta plans to run both routes year-round or seasonal, but the airline does say flights are running every day.
Both routes will run on Airbus A330-900NEO aircraft, one of Delta’s latest and best quality international aircraft.
It features 29 Delta One Suites, 28 premium recliners, 56 Comfort+ Legroom Emace Stains and 168 standard coach seats.
Over the past decade, Delta has launched 28 new markets in Seattle and now operates nearly 180 peak hours at more than 60 destinations around the world.
While the news is undoubtedly exciting for Seattle’s flyers, it follows Alaska Airlines’ high heels, announcing its first ever European route next summer.
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Perhaps no surprise, Alaska plans to connect Seattle to Rome, meaning the Northwest Pacific will go from being connected to Rome without stagnation to two uninterrupted flights next summer.
Although Rome and Barcelona are two popular European destinations, it seems that it is not just the market demand that determines which service delta is increasing from Seattle.
Delta and Alaska have been traveling to Seattle in Seattle for years. The two airlines have continued to rise to each other in the Pacific Northwest since the two airlines canceled their codesharing alliance in 2017 and decided to open a hub in Seattle.
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Delta has been adding new routes, launching local marketing campaigns, and even building stylish lounges to select locals in the competition.
In fact, this new network extension was announced with the opening of the new Delta One Lounge at sea and at the airport’s second Sky Club.
“With Rome and Barcelona joining us, we will serve 8 of 8 of Seattle’s top 10 long-distance international destinations,” explained Paul Baldoni, senior vice president of network planning at Delta, in an interview with TPG. (Two missing: Delhi and Manila)
Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines has the ambition to grow from regional airlines to global airlines. The airline acquired Hawaiian Airlines last year and is committed to transforming Seattle into a global portal, thanks in part to the wide-body aircraft it will inherit from the Hawaiians.
Alaska Airlines has started flying from Seattle to Tokyo using Hawaiian planes, and the airline hopes to add at least 12 long-distance destinations from Seattle by 2030.
Ultimately, the local population will benefit from increased competition in Seattle. Delta (Alaska) is eliminating all sites in the race, and in the process, it is greatly expanding the number of routes flying from Seattle.
“We compete with many operators in many different places. New York is competitive. Boston is competitive. Seattle is competitive. We focus on how we make the customer experience the best. If we do, we know customers will come to us,”
New Delta flights are expected to start sales on Monday, June 30.
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