Delta Air Lines relaunched its seasonal flight between New York JFK Airport (JFK) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) on October 27, in time for the start of the IATA Winter Season. This route will run through March 29, 2025, and will be operated daily with the carrier’s Airbus A330-900neos.
This route is not an easy one to make successful it seems, however. SkyTeam partner Aerolíneas Argentinas, recently had to exit the route altogether after heavy losses on the service forced a network rethink. As Delta takes over, company hopes to leverage its market strength to make it work.
Delta Air Lines already resumed the service last year when it restarted the winter-only connection in October 2023. Prior to this, it had flown between JFK and EZE between December 2008 and March 2009, but did not prolong it for the years that followed. Agustín Durand, General Sales Manager for Argentina, Central America and the Caribbean said:
“We are proud to restore this nonstop service between two major cities, using the Airbus A330-900neo, one of the most advanced aircraft on the market. This service provides convenience and time savings for both business and leisure travelers. With strategic schedules and top-tier onboard service, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering exceptional travel experiences on every flight.”
The carrier will be using its A330-900neo planes, which will feature the following configuration:
- 168 seats in Delta’s economy offering, known as the Main Cabin
- 56 seats inDelta Comfort+ which offer dedicated overhead bin space and “preferred seating in the main cabin”
- 28 seats in Delta Premium Select which is its premium economy product, featuring adjustable headrests and footrests
- 29 private suites in Delta One Suites which translates to business class
According to data from aviation analytics platform Cirium, Delta will provide 8430 seats on this route each way in November, across its 30 frequencies. It competes against American Airlines on the same routing, which uses its Boeing 777-300ERs on a daily basis.
Aerolíneas Argentinas pulled out of New York on August 10, citing heavy losses and hence an inefficient use of its fleet. According to local media, the carrier lost $250,000 in just February and March, with an estimated $1 million in losses by the end of December should it have continued with the connection.
While Aerolíneas have not confirmed these figures, it did say that the decision “reflects the consolidation of a permanent evaluation policy on the profitability of routes faced with an extremely volatile aviation market.” It had used its fleet of A330s to run the route, flying just three times a week.
Aerolíneas shifted its focus to more profitable destinations like Madrid and Miami, upping frequencies thanks to the freed-up capacity. However, it did say that passengers booked on its service to New York would be offered alternatives with Delta Air Lines via Atlanta or on flights via Miami.
It was expected that Aerolíneas would have placed its code on Delta’s new direct flights between JFK and EZE. This has not happened, though.
In stark contrast with Aerolíneas’ performance, El Cronista revealed that Delta was not renouncing the idea of prolonging its Buenos Aires-New York route to year-round rather than winter-seasonal.
While this has not yet happened, the fact that it was deemed a possibility in the first place means it has seen some success. There is also more space in the market with Aerolíneas’ exit. Managing Director for Latin America, the Caribbean and south of Florida at Delta Air Lines, Luciano Macagno, said:
“The Argentine market is resilient. The traveler profile can vary at times. But no matter what happens, there is always traffic. And after the pandemic, there is greater demand for high-end products. Half of our global revenues come from this segment.”
