The presence of Delta Airlines in London is growing.
Launching nonstop service between London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), the Atlanta-based airline. For the first time in 15 years, the flights bring Delta back to Gatwick.
Most business travelers (as well as many tourists) prefer to fly into London's primary international airport, Heathrow Airport (LHR). The second-busiest airport in London, Gatwick, has a preference for leisure and regional travel. The increased competition on flights connecting the United States and London is highlighted by Delta's return to the airport.
In August 2021, JetBlue launched flights to Heathrow and then Gatwick, becoming London its first European destination. JetBlue now offers flights from its hubs at JFK and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to both London airports.
The long-running rivalry between the U.S. "Big Three" on routes to London has a new front after JetBlue entered the market. Just between Heathrow and New York, American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines operate hundreds of flights every day. When joint venture partners are taken into account (American is tightly allied with British Airways, while Delta has a significant position in Virgin Atlantic), their share of the London market is increased.
But when JetBlue started its route to London, it promised to match or beat the prices set by its major competitors in the United States and their alliance partners. That would, according to JetBlue, include its Mint cabin, which features luxurious lie-flat chairs and service that is competitive with that of its larger rivals' business-class offerings.
Just one year after JetBlue started operating flights to London, Delta initially announced plans for a seasonal JFK-LGW service in September 2022. Delta currently claims that it intends to fly the route all year long.
The only Big Three U.S. airline to fly to LGW as a result of this update to its route plan is Delta. Several low-cost Scandinavian carriers, including Norse Atlantic Airways, JetBlue, Lufthansa, and others currently offer service to LGW.
Gatwick, which is less well-known among American travelers than Heathrow, welcomed Delta's return to the airport.
The new route, according to LGW CEO Stewart Wingate, will increase competitiveness and provide Delta passengers a second London choice.
In a statement, he said that it "also demonstrates the strong pull of Gatwick as an airport for big-name, long-haul airlines."
The following is Delta's flight schedule between JFK and LGW:
• Departing from LGW at 2:10 p.m. and arriving at JFK at 5 p.m.
• Departing from JFK at 11:35 p.m. and arriving at LGW at 12 p.m. (next day).
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