The potential exit by Delta comes shortly after British Airways announced it would also stop serving the same route. According to a report by The Standard, British Airways will end its daily Gatwick-New York flights on October 25, 2025, aligning with the start of its winter schedule. Tickets for this period were never offered for sale. British Airways stated that it will not resume the route in spring 2026 but instead add a ninth daily flight from Heathrow.
A spokesperson for British Airways said: “Most customers prefer to fly from Heathrow when travelling to New York, which is why all nine of our daily JFK services will operate from there in summer 2026.” The spokesperson added that moving aircraft away from Gatwick allows increased capacity on leisure routes such as Bangkok and Jamaica.
Norse Atlantic Airways remains committed to maintaining its daily service between JFK and LGW using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
Industry observers have noted a decline in air travel demand between the United States and Europe due to various economic and political factors. While it is unclear if this trend influenced Delta’s decision, other airlines have cited operational reasons for consolidating their transatlantic services at major hubs like Heathrow.
European travelers have shown less interest in visiting the US during 2025 compared to previous years. TUI CEO Sebastian Ebel attributed this drop partly to stricter border controls and changes in traveler sentiment about entering America (“the atmosphere and what you hear from border control”), leading many Europeans to seek destinations outside the US.
Delta Air Lines was founded in 1929 and operates as a full-service carrier with major hubs 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. The airline is part of SkyTeam Alliance under CEO Ed Bastian.
British Airways’ decision appears motivated by efforts to consolidate operations at Heathrow while increasing flights on popular leisure routes elsewhere.
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