Delta reduces transatlantic European network to two seasonal Boeing 757 routes

Occasionally, equipment substitutions occur on these routes. On August 28, Flightradar24 reported that Delta used a Boeing 767-300ER instead of the usual Boeing 757-200 for its Detroit-Keflavik flight. A similar substitution happened on the Minneapolis-Keflavik route with the same aircraft model being deployed several times throughout July and August.

Delta began its Europe-bound narrowbody service in 2007 with New York JFK to Shannon using the Boeing 757-200. Over time, it operated up to 37 different European routes using this aircraft type from ten US hubs or focus cities including Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh/Durham as well as Detroit and Minneapolis—where service still continues—and New York JFK.

Two-thirds of all departures were from New York JFK. Some routes such as JFK-Shannon have since switched exclusively to widebody aircraft like the Boeing 767-300ER after returning post-pandemic in 2024.

Boston had the second-highest number of European destinations served by Delta’s Boeing 757s between 2011 and 2019; however, all current European expansion from Boston is now planned with larger widebody aircraft such as the Airbus A330-900 or Boeing 767-300ER.

American Airlines previously operated its own fleet of Boeing 757s across the Atlantic until retiring them in late 2019; it plans to introduce Airbus A321XLRs for transatlantic operations starting in 2026. JetBlue is seeking legal action regarding Lisbon slots while United continues some of the longest Europe-bound flights using narrowbodies such as its Newark-to-Stockholm service.

Delta Air Lines was founded in 1929 and operates as a full-service carrier with major hubs at airports including Boston Logan International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, New York JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.