Delta Air Lines cuts New York flights after FAA extends slot waiver

"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."

Passenger traffic at major New York airports has not fully recovered from pre-pandemic levels. Ongoing air traffic control challenges have contributed to lower occupancy rates on some flights departing from JFK and LGA.

Delta’s planned reductions focus on off-peak months outside holiday travel periods when demand typically falls. The airline aims to maintain full capacity during peak holiday seasons but warns that reduced daily frequencies could limit options for travelers and potentially lead to higher fares if demand exceeds supply.

In addition, Delta is working toward integrating artificial intelligence into its pricing model by year-end—a move that has drawn criticism from competitors such as American Airlines and scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers. Reports indicate that generative AI is currently being tested on about 3% of routes with plans for expansion.

Democratic Senators Ruben Gallego, Mark Warner, and Richard Blumenthal recently sent a letter expressing concerns over “surveillance pricing.” They cautioned against using aggregate personal data for AI-driven price analysis due to privacy risks and fairness issues:

As stated in their joint letter: "the practice of using aggregate personal data and flight data for AI-driven pricing analysis raises both data privacy concerns and fair business concerns." The goal behind this technology is often described as finding the highest price customers are willing to pay for similar services.

Former Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan has objected publicly to so-called surveillance pricing practices—such as using detailed passenger profiles including purchase history or geolocation—to set personalized fares based on perceived urgency or ability to pay. Delta has denied engaging in or planning such activities.