Delta cuts another US destination, adds new Boston routes in latest network shake-up

24.09.2024 - 19:47 / thepointsguy.com

The network planners at Delta Air Lines have been quite busy.

Last week, the Atlanta-based carrier shared its hotly anticipated summer 2025 transatlantic schedule, and now the airline is back with another network update — this time, for domestic and short-haul international routes.

Here's everything you need to know.

To start, Delta is cutting flights to Casper, Wyoming, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson. Delta's last flight to Casper will be Dec. 3, 2024, after which the carrier will cease daily flying to Casper/Natrona County International Airport (CPR) from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).

Delta's Casper flights have historically been operated by regional affiliate SkyWest Airlines on board the 50-seat Bombardier CRJ-200 jet.

"Effective Dec. 4, 2024, SkyWest will discontinue its Delta Connection service from Casper, Wyoming. Customers with bookings beyond this date will be contacted directly to modify their travel plans. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause," a carrier spokesperson said.

Without Delta service, Casper will remain served by United Express' multiple daily flights from Denver.

Casper is the latest small U.S. city to lose connectivity with a major U.S. airline. During the coronavirus pandemic, the big U.S. airlines, particularly Delta and United Airlines, slashed their regional networks and dropped more than 50 small U.S. cities.

Delta's flights to Casper have historically been subsidized by the local municipality in the form of minimum revenue guarantees. Earlier this year, the Natrona County Board of County Commissioners decided to stop the MRGs, and now Delta has decided to cut its flights to the city, likely because they weren't profitable without the subsidy.

Elsewhere, Delta is growing in Boston with the addition of two new domestic routes: Asheville, North Carolina, and Bozeman, Montana.

Flights to Asheville kick off May 10, 2025, and will operate on Saturdays and Sundays. Delta Connection affiliate Republic Airways will operate this flight using an Embraer E175 regional jet.

Meanwhile, service to Bozeman will operate during the peak winter and summer periods. From Dec. 21, 2024, to Jan. 5, 2025, Delta will offer one daily flight in each direction. Then, from Feb. 15, 2025, to March 31, 2025, Delta will offer weekend service from Boston to Bozeman.

Delta will also offer weekend flights on this route from June 8, 2025, to Sept. 7, 2025, during the summer season.

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In addition to the new routes, Delta will boost service in existing leisure markets from Boston throughout the spring and summer. The airline is making the biggest changes to its spring break