Although the holiday travel rush is around the corner, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is already focused on next summer’s travel scene. The carrier will add hundreds of seats to Alaska – a popular destination for those in the lower 48 looking to escape the heat.
From its east coast hubs, Delta will increase frequencies and replace one of its longest Boeing 757-200 routes with a widebody aircraft.
From the interior west, the airline will resume a seasonal route that has reportedly not operated for a number of years.
According to independent aviation blog Ishrion Aviation, Delta will swap out the 757-200 with the larger 767-300ER between Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) beginning May 22, 2025.
The seasonal route has been the longest for Delta’s 757-200s, but that will no longer be the case next year.
Flights will operate daily, offering a total of 12,960 seats during the month of June, which is more than 1,300 additional seats compared to last year, according to aviation data and analytics firm Cirium. Throughout June 2024, Delta offered 11,580 seats with daily flights on the 757-200.
Data shows that flights between Atlanta and Anchorage will run through September 7th next year, before going on its seasonal hiatus.
Delta also operates flights between its hub at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Anchorage on a seasonal basis. The route is set to return on May 23rd and will be operated by the 757-200.
Unlike last year, the route’s frequencies will operate daily. With a total of 60 flights in June, Delta will offer 11,940 seats compared to only three weekly frequencies last year, which resulted in a total of 24 flights and 4,728 seats.
Next summer will also mark the return of flights between Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and Fairbanks International Airport (FAI). It is unclear when Delta last operated the route, but Ishrion Aviation noted that it is returning “after several years.” The seasonal service will commence on June 8th.
A Delta spokesperson confirmed the new route with Simple Flying on Saturday.
“Starting in June, Delta will connect Fairbanks, Alaska (FAI) and Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC), offering Alaskans a gateway to the Intermountain West and outdoor adventurers direct access to the heart of Alaska.”
The airline will use its Airbus A220-100 aircraft between the two destinations. The northbound journey will depart from Salt Lake City in the evening just before 21:00 and arrive in Fairbanks around midnight. The southbound flight will be a redeye, leaving Fairbanks shortly before 01:00 and landing in Salt Lake City around 08:00.
With a capacity of 109 passengers, the A220-100 will offer a total of 6,758 seats across 62 frequencies on the route in July. The operation will be the same in August. In September, Delta only has 14 flights scheduled, offering 1,526 seats.
The service will conclude and go on hiatus on September 7th. Delta also has existing service to Fairbanks from its other hubs at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
The addition of flights between Salt Lake City and Fairbanks, equipment changes on the Atlanta-Anchorage route, and increased frequencies between Detroit and Anchorage will result in a significant capacity increase. In July 2025, Delta will offer 14,600 additional seats to Alaska compared to the same period in 2024, according to Cirium.
