Delta Air Lines is the US's second-largest carrier by November flights. According to Cirium Diio information, it has an average of 4,600+ movements daily. Unsurprisingly, most of these—4,200+ or 91%—are domestic.
Delta has 680+ domestic routes this month, with a typical flight covering 672 nautical miles (1,245 km). This means it ranks as only the 11th longest among fellow US operators for average distance.
On November 21, the SkyTeam carrier will start its longest domestic service, from Boston to Honolulu. This is the longest US domestic airport pair by any airline.
In November, it will also cover more distance than any of Delta's other A330-300-operated services, even surpassing Salt Lake City-Paris CDG on a Great Circle basis.
Until March 2019, the 4,427 nautical mile (8,199 km) market had never had flights. Now, it will have two carriers, with Delta joining Hawaiian, which has served it since April 2019.
In the year to July 2024, it had 171 passengers daily each way, both those who flew nonstop with Hawaiian and those who transferred to another flight at a hub en route. Of course, both airlines will gain connections at the respective ends of each route.
The 282-seat Airbus A330-300
When Delta announced the route in February 2024, the Boeing 767-300ER was to be flown. However, it has since switched to the A330-300, of which it has 31, each with 282 seats:
- 34 Delta One seats
- 21 in Premium Select
- 24 in Comfort+
- 203 in Main Cabin
Depending on the specific week and month, Delta will operate the route either four times weekly or daily. Its November schedule is as follows, with all times local. The aircraft will arrive in Hawaii from elsewhere, operate to/from Massachusetts, and then fly somewhere else.
- Boston-Honolulu: DL438, 10:15-16:31 (11h 16m block time)
- Honolulu-Boston: DL962, 17:20-08:09+1 (9h 49m)
Delta's five longest domestic routes
They are as follows, based on November:
- 4,427 nautical miles (8,199 km): Boston-Honolulu (daily A330-300 in November)
- 4,330 nautical miles (8,019 km): New York JFK-Honolulu (five times weekly 767-300ER)
- 3,912 nautical miles (7,245 km): Atlanta-Honolulu (daily A330-300)
- 3,889 nautical miles (7,202 km): Detroit-Honolulu (daily A330-300)
- 3,850 nautical miles (7,130 km): Atlanta-Kahului(daily 767-300ER; see comments below the map)
Notice #5: Atlanta-Kahului
The long route returns to Delta's network on November 21, having last been served in March 2023. DL368 will leave the world's busiest airport at 13:12 and arrive in Hawaii at 18:00 local time. Returning, DL535 will depart at 16:45 and arrive at 06:11+1.
According to the US Department of Transportation, Delta inaugurated flights in December 2005 and they operated until January 2007. It filled 75% of the available seats.
It returned in November 2022 but only existed until March 2023, when it filled 80% of seats (in contrast, Atlanta-Honolulu was 92%, and all Atlanta routes were 85%). On both occasions, the route lasted for a very short period. Will it be third time lucky?!
