Delta cuts almost 20% of winter flights from New York as demand cools

Delta Air Lines has revealed plans to reduce its flight schedules at both of its New York–area hubs, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA), for the winter months of January and February 2026. However, the carrier has said that it intends to limit the frequency of flights on existing routes from the two airports rather than discontinuing services on any current routes.

According to the airline, the decision rests on a fresh interpretation of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) airport slot rules at the two hubs and on shifting patterns of seasonal demand across the US airline network, which has been cooling off in recent months.

Delta’s decision to reduce frequencies from the two airports will see a reduction of around 16% of all the airline’s flights from JFK and around 19% from LaGuardia during the months of January and February 2026. These months, which follow the Christmas and New Year holiday season in the US, tend to be slower for domestic air travel in the country. The airline’s decrease equates to approximately 75 fewer peak-day departures compared to the airline’s average across the year. Additionally,  there will be smaller reductions in flight frequencies during the months of November/ December 2025 and March/April 2026. These reductions will amount to roughly 10% fewer scheduled flights in each of those months, with an estimated 50 fewer peak-day departures.

MKPhoto12 / ShutterstockThe primary reason behind these reductions is the softening demand for domestic US flights during the winter months. Domestic travel, particularly during off-peak seasons, has not yet rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, following the Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs earlier in 2025 and the risk of a looming economic recession in the US, demand for domestic air travel has been cooling as uncertainty prevails. As airlines face the challenge of maintaining profitability, reducing the number of flights (particularly with lower load factors) can be a useful tool to mitigate the financial impact of the slower off-peak periods.

Changes to slot rules

In addition to this demand issue, the FAA’s recent decision to extend the NYC slot utilisation waiver through summer 2026 is thought to have played a crucial role in Delta’s strategy. Under normal circumstances, airlines must maintain a strict schedule at high-demand airports like JFK and LaGuardia to retain their slots. If airlines fail to operate flights in these slots, they risk losing them to competitors, under what are known as the “use it or lose it” rules. However, with the new waiver in place, Delta can reduce flight frequencies without the risk of losing its valuable slots at these two major New York airports.

Stephen Reeves / ShutterstockAs reported by The Points Guy, when asked about the cuts, a Delta spokesperson explained that “following the FAA’s extension of the NYC slot utilization waiver through Summer 2026, Delta is making select adjustments to our winter schedule at LaGuardia (LGA) and John F. Kennedy (JFK) airports. We apologize for any inconvenience that these schedule changes may cause. Delta remains committed to minimizing travel disruptions while ensuring a smooth transition for all impacted travelers.”

Impact on passengers

While Delta’s decision to maintain all its routes ensures that no destinations are entirely cut from the winter schedule, the direct impact will be felt by passengers who may now find fewer flight options available for their preferred travel dates. This could potentially also have a knock-on effect of driving fares on certain flights higher, as demand for key services at key times is driven upwards.

The adjustments made by Delta could also have a direct impact on tourism, especially for those planning trips to or from New York in the upcoming winter months. While New York City remains a top destination for domestic and international travellers alike, fewer flight options could affect the convenience and affordability of travel.

Spyros Vasileiou / ShutterstockDelta’s adjustment of its winter flight schedule from New York reflects the ongoing issues surrounding domestic air travel in the US and the downturn in demand, a crucial factor that is wreaking havoc on the finances of certain carriers such as Spirit Airlines, which is facing a very uncertain future after just exiting bankruptcy protection earlier in 2025.

However, on the plus side, the reduction in New York flights potentially allows Delta to reconfigure its winter strategy and redeploy aircraft and staff to busier, more lucrative routes, which could use more capacity over the winter months, taking travelers from the northern states of the US to sunnier climates in Florida, the Caribbean, and Mexico.

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