Delta Air Lines is planning to launch nonstop service next summer to a beautiful southern European island where no U.S. airline currently flies.
Exactly which one? That’s up to you.
Next week, Delta will let its SkyMiles loyalty members cast their vote for which of three destinations they’d like to see the carrier fly to next summer.
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And the airline is vowing to launch flights to whichever one wins.
The three contenders are:
- Malta, the Mediterranean island between Sicily and northern Africa
- Sardinia, off the coast of Italy
- Ibiza, off the coast of Spain
SkyMiles members will be able to cast their vote for their favorite of those three destinations next week.
Delta will open voting Aug. 25 through its mobile app, and members will have until Aug. 29 to make their pick.
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An exciting new destination … regardless of which one wins
Whether the Atlanta-based carrier ultimately ends up flying to Malta, Sardinia or Ibiza, it’ll be a groundbreaking new route.
No airline currently flies between the U.S. and any of those three destinations.
But in recent years, airlines (including Delta) have taken note of how unrelenting the demand has been for travel to southern Europe — including more off-the-beaten-path cities across the Atlantic.
That trend led Delta to launch nonstop service this past summer from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Catania, on the Italian island of Sicily.
Meanwhile, top competitor United Airlines has launched a slew of routes to less-well-known destinations, from Bilbao and Palma de Mallorca in Spain to Greenland and Mongolia.
For its part, Delta is framing this “Route Race” as a way to give its members a voice in where the carrier flies.
“The destinations where Delta flies are more than just dots on the map — they’re gateways to culture, connection and possibility,” Paul Baldoni, Delta senior vice president of network planning, said in a statement announcing the news.
The carrier plans to announce the winner within 30 days of when voting closes.
Ibiza, Malta or Sardinia … take your pick!
What would be your pick?
Each has appeal and novelty — not to mention hotels you can book on points.
“Personally, I’d love a direct route to Sardinia,” TPG Senior Travel Editor Lyndsey Matthews offered. “It has all the delicious cuisine and gorgeous beaches travelers seek on the coasts of mainland Italy, but with way fewer crowds.”
Worth noting: Sardinia is home to the brand-new W Sardinia — Poltu Quatu (part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio). But there are other alluring options in Ibiza and Malta too, including a Westin (Marriott Bonvoy) in Ibiza and a Hilton in Malta.
Bottom line
Which contender will come out on top? That’s up to SkyMiles members next week — a rare opportunity for customers to weigh in on an airline’s route map.
Delta did not yet reveal which U.S. city would be connected with the new destination, so count that (along with the destination itself) as a key development to watch.
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