Delta adds nonstop flights from New York JFK to Malta and Olbia

OAG booking data indicates that over 90,000 passengers traveled between Malta and North America in the year leading up to July 2025, with New York being the largest market. Delta plans three weekly flights using a 216-seat configuration: 26 seats in Delta One, 18 in Premium Select, 21 in Comfort+, and 151 in the main cabin.

The flight schedule for JFK-Malta is as follows:

- Departures from JFK: Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays (DL148: 17:00-08:20+1)

- Departures from Malta: Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays (DL149: 10:20-14:50)

Olbia marks a new chapter for direct U.S.-Sardinia connections. While Sardinian airports collectively saw about 65,000 passengers travel between the region and North America last year—with more than a quarter originating or ending in New York—no U.S. carrier has previously served Olbia directly. Service begins May 20, 2026 with four weekly flights using the same aircraft type.

For Olbia-JFK:

- Departures from JFK: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays (DL216: 18:25-09:00+1)

- Departures from Olbia: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays (DL217: 11:00-14:35)

Booking data shows strong premium demand for Sardinia-bound travelers; average fares on JFK-Olbia reached $1,720 each way across all cabins—a figure reflecting high yields but also a smaller market size compared to other Italian destinations like Naples.

Industry trends since COVID-19 have seen airlines experiment more with European routes. United Airlines has notably launched several leisure-oriented destinations such as Bilbao and Dubrovnik. Delta’s expansion into Malta and Olbia aligns with this broader industry movement but remains relatively conservative compared to some competitors due to its limited use of single-aisle aircraft for transatlantic operations.

Delta briefly flew to Dubrovnik in summer 2021 before United took over that route; it added Naples in 2024 followed by Catania in 2025 as part of its ongoing network development.