ATLANTA- Delta Air Lines (DL) is set to withdraw from a notable international long-haul market (London) where all three major US carriers directly compete, Ishrion Aviation indicates.
Starting May 6, 2024, Delta will cease its operations on the route connecting Los Angeles (LAX) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
Delta Cancels Los Angeles to London Flights
Currently, the route is serviced daily by an Airbus A330-900neo, with the following schedule:
- DL186 Los Angeles to London departing at 8:00 PM and arriving at 2:50 PM (+1 day)
- DL187 London to Los Angeles departing at 4:50 PM and arriving at 8:30 PM
This route from Los Angeles to London is served by multiple airlines, including American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), United (UA), and Virgin Atlantic (VS). While American and United have been consistent operators on this route for a considerable duration, Delta has had a more intermittent presence.
Delta initially commenced operations on this route in 2014, later discontinuing it in 2015. After an almost eight-year hiatus, the airline reintroduced the route in the summer of 2023, only to cancel it again a year later.
Reason for Cancellation
Several factors come into play in this situation. Firstly, Delta and Virgin Atlantic have a joint venture, with Delta holding a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic (VS). The UK-based SkyTeam carrier presently operates up to three daily flights connecting Los Angeles and London, reported One Mile at A Time.
Airlines typically consider joint ventures as integral to their overall operations. Delta likely perceives discontinuing the Los Angeles to London route as a technicality with limited implications, given that passengers in the market can still opt for Virgin Atlantic flights.
Moreover, considering the slot restrictions at London Heathrow, Delta is unlikely to cancel a service without a well-thought-out alternative plan. Effective May 7, 2024, Delta plans to introduce a third daily flight from Atlanta (ATL) to London.
In essence, Delta seems to have decided to utilize its own aircraft for a third flight to London from Atlanta instead of maintaining just one daily flight from Los Angeles.
OMAT further added that, Certainly, Delta boasts a highly dedicated customer base and exceptional brand recognition in Atlanta, suggesting that the airline may perceive better performance compared to Virgin Atlantic in markets where it maintains a strong hub presence.
Nevertheless, the scenario of Delta initiating the same route twice, only for it to last a year, does not present an ideal outlook for the airline.
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