Delta Air Lines is resuming major transcontinental routes for the first time in seven years. These flights will feature lie-flat seats.
Starting this spring, the Atlanta-based airline will resume nonstop service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California, just outside Santa Ana. The flight will connect two high-end markets and create some competition with American Airlines, which has long operated some of the most high-end aircraft on the route.
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Delta Air Lines New York-Orange County Route
Delta Air Lines confirmed on Friday that its flights between New York City and Santa Ana, California, will begin on May 7. Flights operate six days a week (Sunday to Friday). On this route, Delta plans to use Boeing 757-200s in the “75S” configuration, which includes 16 front-row lie-flat Delta One seats, 44 comfort seats with extra legroom and 108 standard economy seats.
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Confrontation with the Americans
It’s no surprise that Delta feels the need to offer a lie-flat business class product on its JFK-SNA flights.
American has long flown the route with its three-class Airbus A321T, which includes flagship first class and flat-bed business class.
Notable: U.S. yes It is planned to phase out the A321T on the JFK-SNA route and replace the aircraft with the new Airbus A321XLR (equipped with the latest generation business class flagship suite). However, there is currently no date for the switch.
Read more: Delta Air Lines orders 31 long-range Airbus jets, eyeing premium seats
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Go the extra mile in Santa Ana
As for Delta, this will mark the return of its transcontinental service between JFK and SNA — a route last flown in 2019 that ended after the airline said it lost takeoff and landing rights through the airport’s slot allocation process.
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Delta currently flies from SNA to several of its hubs, but this new 757 service with Delta One will undoubtedly dominate airport service in the future.
SNA is located south of Los Angeles, about 13 miles from Disneyland. It is approximately 40 miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), itself a hub for Delta Air Lines and home to one of the airline’s best ground experiences for business class passengers. That said, additional nonstop flights from SNA to New York should be a convenient option for travelers south of Los Angeles
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