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Delta Is Launching 2 New Nonstop Flights to the Mediterranean--and Travelers Picked the Destinations

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 15:46 GMT by Travel + Leisure
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Delta Expands Its European Footprint with New Flights to Sardinia and Malta

Delta Air Lines has announced a fresh extension of its transatlantic network, adding daily flights to Italy’s largest island, Sardinia, and to the Mediterranean’s most popular archipelago, Malta. The move, unveiled in a recent Travel + Leisure feature, comes as part of the airline’s broader strategy to tap into the growing leisure travel market in Southern Europe and to offer U.S. passengers a wider array of vacation destinations without the need to hop through a third‑country hub.

The New Routes

• New York (JFK) → Cagliari, Sardinia
  Delta will begin operating daily round‑trips to Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, with flights scheduled to depart from JFK in the late afternoon and arrive at Cagliari in the evening. The return leg leaves Sardinia in the late afternoon and arrives back in New York in the early morning. The aircraft on this leg will likely be a Delta‑operated Airbus A321neo, a model the airline has deployed on its European‑regional routes.

• New York (JFK) → Olbia, Sardinia
  In addition to Cagliari, Delta will offer daily flights to Olbia, a major commercial gateway in the north of the island. These flights operate on a slightly earlier schedule, arriving in Olbia around noon local time and returning to New York in the early morning hours.

• New York (JFK) → Malta International Airport
  The Malta route will be less frequent, with two weekly round‑trips. Departures from JFK occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays, arriving at Malta in the afternoon. The return flights depart Malta in the late afternoon and arrive in New York in the early morning. These flights will be operated by a partner carrier—most likely Air Italy—under a codeshare agreement with Delta, allowing passengers to purchase the tickets directly through Delta’s website while still enjoying a seamless connection experience.

Strategic Context

Delta’s expansion into Sardinia and Malta aligns with its recent “Global Growth Plan,” which targets an increase in leisure traffic from the United States to Southern Europe. The airline has already added routes to Spain, Italy’s mainland, and Portugal in the past two years, and the new flights to Sardinia and Malta further solidify its presence in the Mediterranean.

According to a Delta spokesperson quoted in the Travel + Leisure article, “Sardinia and Malta are top vacation destinations for U.S. travelers, and we’re excited to offer direct connectivity for our guests.” The spokesperson also noted that the partnership with Air Italy for the Malta leg “provides a cost‑effective way to serve high‑demand markets while maintaining the high service standards our customers expect.”

Delta’s expansion also dovetails with its existing SkyTeam alliance, which includes KLM, Air France, and Alitalia (now part of ITA Airways). The airline has leveraged these partnerships to offer codeshare flights to other parts of Italy and beyond, and the new Sardinia and Malta routes will be integrated into the same network, allowing passengers to earn and redeem miles on both Delta and partner flights.

What Passengers Can Expect

• Seamless Booking: Travelers can book the Sardinia flights directly through Delta’s website, with the option to add Delta SkyMiles as a payment method or to earn miles on the trip. For the Malta flights, booking can still be completed via Delta’s platform, but the flight will be operated by a partner carrier.

• Comfort and Service: The A321neo aircraft used on the Sardinia routes will offer Delta’s classic “First Class” seating in a 2‑2 configuration, as well as a spacious economy cabin with standard amenities such as complimentary snacks, drinks, and in‑flight entertainment. The partner-operated Malta flights will mirror this experience, with additional perks such as priority boarding for SkyMiles elite members.

• Flexible Connections: Both Sardinia and Malta flights will connect to Delta’s extensive network of U.S. hubs—including JFK, LAX, ATL, and ORD—making it easy for passengers to link onward to other U.S. destinations or to other international points of interest.

Industry Implications

Delta’s move into Sardinia and Malta is significant in a broader context where U.S. carriers are increasingly targeting the leisure segment of the European market. While low‑cost carriers such as Ryanair and EasyJet dominate the domestic European skies, full‑service airlines like Delta are carving out niche opportunities by offering higher‑quality service and direct transatlantic flights to popular vacation spots.

Moreover, the addition of these routes may spur increased competition in the Italian market, prompting other U.S. airlines—including United and American—to re‑evaluate their European offerings. The partnership with Air Italy, in particular, demonstrates Delta’s willingness to collaborate with smaller carriers to broaden its network footprint without overextending its own fleet.

A Look Ahead

Delta has indicated that the Sardinia and Malta routes will serve as testing grounds for potential future expansions. If passenger demand proves robust—particularly during the peak summer months—Delta could add additional weekly flights or even extend service to other Mediterranean destinations such as Sicily, Cyprus, or Greece.

Meanwhile, travelers who have always dreamed of sun‑baked Italian beaches or the historic streets of Malta’s capital now have a more convenient, single‑ticket option for a cross‑Atlantic holiday. With the new Sardinia and Malta routes, Delta is not just expanding its map; it’s reshaping the way Americans experience Southern Europe.

For full flight details, booking options, and service information, visit Delta Air Lines’ official website or consult the Travel + Leisure feature that first announced these new routes.