Delta Launches New European Flights From Boston and Detroit

Delta Air Lines is launching new European flights in 2027 from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).

The decision comes as part of a broader European expansion, with the business previously announcing plans to launch Austin (AUS)-Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) service and extend operations on selected services.

Furthermore, Delta’s decision to ramp up scheduled service to Europe during the Northern Summer season follows in the footsteps of competitor United Airlines, which has overhauled its European schedule with the most ambitious and largest expansion in company history planned for 2027.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, United Airlines and Delta have been able to stride ahead of American Airlines, which, while attempting to close the gap, has fallen behind in network, customer satisfaction, premium quality and scale. With United and Delta therefore positioned to extend the gap further, both are investing heavily to maintain it.

Boston gets new service to Venice with Delta

Delta will firstly launch a scheduled seasonal service on 7 May 2027 between Boston and Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) with four flights a week across the Northern Summer season.

The route, which remains seasonal, is expected to be flown by the Airbus A330-300; however, it will operate until 29 October 2027 and in time for the changeover to the Northern Winter 2027/28 schedule, when widebody capacity can be shifted elsewhere.

Through launching service to Venice, it becomes the 13th long-haul destination from Boston during her peak northern summer schedule and is the 12th destination across continental Europe from the airport.

Delta’s commitment to Boston makes it the third US gateway served to Venice, with the airline positioning the service to help feed traffic across nearly 20 domestic destinations.

Effective 7 May 2027, the four-times-a-week flight will depart as DL344 from Boston at 1940, arriving the following morning at 0930 in Venice. The return flight, DL345, departs Venice at 1140 and arrives in Boston at 1440, all times local.

Delta says launching Venice flights from Boston also adds a new international connection within Italy, with 17 peak daily departures from the United States to the European country, totaling more than 30,000 weekly nonstop seats during peak periods.

Beyond the Venice launch, Delta has committed to ramping up its Boston-to-Milan Malpensa (MXP) service, with daily flights to begin in 2027.

Delta commits to a Detroit-to-Athens flight

Focusing on deeper European services, Delta will also launch thrice-weekly seasonal flights between Detroit and Athens International Airport (ATH) on 8 June 2027, with the route operating through 28 October 2027, covering the peak summer months.

Deploying the Airbus A330-200, the airline will offer four cabin classes, including its popular Delta One, Premium Select, Comfort and Main Cabin products, to meet leisure, business and those leisure travellers also seeking a more luxurious experience.

For Detroit, this becomes the first nonstop connection offered to the Greek capital and the 12th unique long-haul destination from the Michigan hub during the peak summer period. Through this, Delta will also make Athens the seventh continental European destination from Detroit as it continues to the city.

DL308 is the scheduled flight departing Detroit at 1800 and arriving in Athens at 1100 the following morning. The return flight, DL309, departs Athens at 1255 after a just-under-120-minute layover, arriving back in Detroit at 1747 the same day; all times are local.

Detroit is, for Delta, the perfect market to use its additional widebody capacity and improve seasonal flying to target specific leisure demand available only during the peak summer schedule but not warranting year-round service.

These changes follow the airline’s 27 March 2027 launch, expected to be daily between Austin and Paris Charles de Gaulle on the brand-new Airbus A330neo jets, and represent the first nonstop link to Paris from the U.S. carrier’s hub.