Democracy is coming to Delta Air Lines. Delta SkyMiles members and Delta employees will get to choose which island destination joins the transatlantic network for summer 2026.
Democratic Experiment At Delta Air Lines: Vote On Next European Destination
From August 25-29, 2025, SkyMiles members can cast their vote in the Delta app over Delta’s next European destination. Once voting opens, simply navigate to the “Explore and Trip” pages within the app, confirm your SkyMiles credentials, and cast your vote.
Each destination is represented by a Delta jet, and “every vote helps determine which route will be taking off next summer.” Final results will be announced around 30 days after voting closes.
Three European Destinations Under Consideration By Delta Air Lines
Here are the three destinations you can choose from:
- Sardinia, Italy: “For customers who love a slower pace but still want adventure, Sardinia is the ultimate mix. Days here can start with a hike along rugged cliffs, move to a hidden swim, and end with fresh pasta and local wine in a seaside village. It’s a place where natural beauty, history, and food all share the spotlight.”
- Malta: “Perfect for customers who want their trip to feel like a story, Malta blends centuries of history with sunny Mediterranean charm. One day you might wander ancient fortresses or UNESCO-listed streets, the next you’re on a boat headed for turquoise bays. It’s a destination for those who want culture, scenery, and relaxation all in one place.”
- Ibiza, Spain: “For customers who love a destination that comes alive after dark, Ibiza is a global capital of nightlife with world-famous DJs, beach parties, and sunset-to-sunrise energy. But the island also knows how to slow things down with hidden coves, laid-back beach bars, and day trips to nearby Formentera for a quieter balance. It’s perfect for those who want their trip to be equal parts relaxation and revelry.”
Paul Baldoni, Delta’s Senior Vice President of Network Planning, explained:
“SkyMiles members and Delta people are at the center of everything Delta does. The Route Race is a celebration of their influence, giving our community a voice in where they want to fly next and inviting them to help shape Delta’s global network. The destinations where Delta flies are more than just dots on a map – they’re gateways to culture, connection and possibility, and this is a chance for our members and employees to bring one of them closer.”
Clever Marketing, But…
Conceptually, I like this promo very much (my vote is for Malta…a beautiful nation) but I do find it strange that you would put it up for a vote rather than carefully consider which of these specific markets could best support air service.
My prediction is that Delta has already decided it will launch service to all three destinations. Let’s wait and see…
(and since United likes to copy Delta, I’m expecting United serve to these destinations as well).
CONCLUSION
From 7:00 am EDT today (August 25) to 5:00 pm EDT on August 29, you can vote on the next Delta transatlantic destinations by logging in to the Delta app. My vote is for Malta, but my guess is that next month I’ll be writing about new service to all three destinations.
Which new Delta destination are you voting for?
image: Delta
I don’t know how Malta could sustain even a seasonal route. It’s all low-cost airlines serving that destination with maybe some minor exceptions. Sardina seems the most likely but even then Delta’s service to Croatia lasted one season.
I’m thinking DL can offer 2-3x weekly service on a 767 and make it work…but yeah, Malta is a low-cost haven.
Don’t forget the appeal of not having to add another connection in Europe.
I doubt it would be Sardinia. I have been to Sardinia many times, it is amazing but extremely diverse. The island has 3 main airports, Cagliari is in the south, the biggest one and the capital, Alghero is in the west coast, small airport and Olbia is in the Northeast and gets mostly budget airlines. I only see American tourists going to Olbia which is the airport for the fancy Porto Cervo which is in my view the Ibiza of Italy. Now, I am not an expert but I think the only airport that could handle a large plane coming from the US is Cagliari and that is not a place Americans would want to go. BTW, Sardinia has very very limited options of American hotels and it is easier to win the lottery than redeem points to any of them.
OK, reading on another blog, it appears Olbia can handle larger planes so Delta could fly there. Now, I’ve been to Olbia a few times (I was there 3 weeks ago) and although the place is stunning, it is not the Sardinia one would expect. Olbia is the airport that serves Porto Cervo which is a man made place built by billionaires back in the 60’s. It is absolutely gorgeous but it feels fake like a mix of Las Vegas and Ibiza. It is all about night life, super high end shopping, the most amazing yachts, exotic cars, etc… But, the place is totally underserved in terms of hotels and you will pay over EUR2k per night for something decent but not memorable. Also, restaurants are very expensive and the place is full of European tourists coming from all over Europe in budget airlines. If anyone wants to get to know the real Sardinia, do not go to Olbia as you won’t even feel you are in Italy.
This might coincide with moves by AF/KL to add service for the routes that don’t get selected.
and, yes, DL is probably trolling UA who can’t stand to see DL add something UA doesn’t serve.
United likes to copy Delta? I think it’s the other way around especially with routes like Marrakesh and Hong Kong. Delta is not known for its exotic route map Delta is know for giving flying to partners and codesharing. If I had to guess Ibiza would be the most logical selection and something United would consider out of EWR. I still think United should fly to Pisa and should expand even more in Italy with the help of ITA.
DL inherited service to HKG via NW just as UA did from Pan Am. DL is still in the process of rebuilding its TPAC system as a result of Japan’s decision to open HND to US flights again and not allow beyond HND flights.
feel free to tell us the percentage of AA, DL and UA’s international networks which include JV partner hubs – you will find that UA flies as much of its network to JV partner hubs as DL does.
UA has copied DL’s AVOD and premium strategy and is copying DL’s nationwide domestic presence which is far larger than UA’s.
Italy is a destination, not a viable connecting hub for US airlines. There is more than enough to demand to fly US passengers to Italy in the summer and nowhere near enough demand in the winter; so hubbing doesn’t work well on a year round basis.
Oh Tim don’t get butt hurt because I’m pointing out the obvious. What TPAC? United owns them in that in every regard and always will. Their Hub SFO will always be a leader in Asia and Australia flying and EWR for European flying. IAD will be expanding more to add even more international
United is the leader in exotic international routes that people actually want to fly to not the purple cult! Timmy this is about summer 2026 for European flying most routes to Europe are slower in winter that should be obvious to you . Italy is always a red hot destination in spring and summer and ITA has major growth plans and I suspect United will be growing more in Italy in summer 2026 and beyond. Delta will continue to bland and vanilla and suspend a new route after one season again. Next!
the UA arrogance is palpable
First, ATL is the largest US international hub, not EWR or SFO.
second, UA doesn’t ‘own” anything. They have twice the TPAC revenues that DL has – but UA is larger than everyone else on both sides of the Pacific and has been for a decade.
but I bet you’ll argue with me that UA also lost money flying the Pacific in the late 2010s and DL still makes more money on its international network than UA does.
and third, UA’s international network is propped up by the most fuel INEFFICIENT fleet among global airlines – and UA is the ONLY US airline that STILL uses 757s to fly to the UK and beyond from the US. and UA even uses domestic configured 737s to fly a number of TATL and intra-Asia routes. Of course, DL ONCE did that kind of stuff but went w/ a more customer-centric model.
someone please tell the LA nut that LOT is not a US airline. and even including LO, precisely how many YEAR ROUND routes are there from the US to Eastern Europe.
i knew you were dumb but alzhiemers?!
which village idiot wrote this
“how much other service is not just on US airlines but also on any airline between the US and Eastern Europe”
go suck an egg
The instant kill to anywhere in the world. When U. S. Airlines want to fly there.
They are all overrun as it is. Add this to the heap. And then cruise ships to boot.
I’m getting more and more focused on destinations that require two connections, a prop, and a long drive to get to. The rest of you can fight it out with your non stop destinations to overrated crap.
how do you explain why eastern europe, including berlin, was completely ignored by us airlines for the last 20 years? if its the lack of business travel what chnaged now
The Joint Ventures. CDG/AMS & FRA/ZRH are not big detours to Eastern Europe (and AA doesn’t care), whereas they are comparatively large for Southern Europe like Italy/Spain. Also fares are low compared to distance, which is why premium Dubrovnik is the exception.
DL does serve Berlin and has for more time than not since it bought Pan Am’s German operations. UA does now as well.
DL does serve PRG and has pretty consistently.
DL also briefly served Kiev but you can guess why that isn’t happening any time soon.
Isn’t DL’s entire prescence at both Berlin and Pravue just seasonal routes to JFK?
exactly
let us know how much other service is not just on US airlines but also on any airline between the US and Eastern Europe.
Americans are going to southern Europe and are paying good money to get there; that is why these routes are being proposed on top of DL (and UA’s) pretty extensive networks to southern Europe, a large portion of which is not operated on a year round basis.
That has nothing to do with what I said. Last time I checked, neither Prague nor Belin were in southern Europe. And while UA doesn’t fly to Prague, it does offer year round service (not seasonal) to Berlin.
TIM DUMB, ever heard of LOT?
tell us how many flights LO operates on a year round basis to the US and how that number has changed over the past 5 years.
Eastern Europe to the US is not growing because there isn’t anywhere near the demand for more service than there is to southern Europe, even on a seasonal basis]
aaron,
your question was about seasonal service to Berlin and PRG. You can put those two cities in whatever bucket you want but there is no meaningful growth to northern or eastern Europe in comparison to southern Europe.
None of which is relevant to the fact that DL only operates seasosnal flights from JFk to both Berlin and Prague.
aaron,
not everything is in response to just your comment.
A person made a comment that there has been no growth of service to Eastern Europe.
BER and PRG are seasonal markets for DL and none of the big 3 don’t even serve both year round.
the same someone then brought up Lot as if that explains the lack of growth of US to Eastern Europe flights and they just resort to name calling rather than demonstrating that even LO is not growing its US network.
Southern Europe is where Americans are going and that is what drives these summer seasonal flights.
There are indications that there are incentives on the table for DL for at least one of these markets; the whole exercise could well have been to play one city against another and also to drag UA into the mix so DL doesn’t start cities that UA doesn’t also serve.
I really would prefer it if US airlines didn’t increase European destinations and kept you all on the other side of the pond. In fact, cuts in routes would be the best outcome.
What’s it about? Are you all so desperate to escape Criminal Trump? I mean, the UK even had the ill mannered lout, Vance inflict himself on them for a holiday. Is the US so rotten?
Sadly, yes … Please have mercy on us…. I may be coming over to claim ‘asylum’ instead of just visiting !
… lol