Delta to compete on Glasgow-New York route

Delta Air Lines announced today it will launch summer flights between Glasgow and New York next year in competition with United's long-established year-round service.

Delta is to take on United's Glagow to Newark service by launching its own daily route to New York's John F Kennedy Airport between May and October. Picture: Getty Images

Delta is to fly daily to John K Kennedy airport between May and October, taking on United’s daily flights to Newark in nearby New Jersey, which launched 18 years ago.

The news comes less then two weeks after Delta resumed its year-round Edinburgh-JFK route after a gap of seven years.

However, in what may be a reflection of more limited demand from Americans to travel to Glasgow, Delta will operate a smaller aircraft on the route than on its Edinburgh flights during the summer.

Glasgow will have a 164-seat, single aisle Boeing 757-200, while the Edinburgh flights will be stepped up from that to a 210-seat, twin aisle Boeing 767-300 between June and September.

Delta will offer Glasgow passengers connections from its JFK hub to 60 other cities, where around half of passengers are expected to fly on to or from, including Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Glasgow Airport managing director Amanda McMillan said: “The arrival of Delta Air Lines in Glasgow is fantastic news for Scotland and we really cannot underestimate the significance of this announcement.

“Not only will it play a major role in supporting our growing tourism industry, it will provide Scottish businesses with yet another direct link to what is the world’s largest economy.”

VisitScotland chief executive Malcolm Roughead said: “This announcement for Glasgow is a fantastic endorsement by one of the world’s biggest airlines for Scotland and the important growth opportunity that is Scottish tourism.

“This new service will be well timed to exploit the increased interest in Scotland and Scots heritage stimulated by the highly successful Outlander TV series and our Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology in 2017.”

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