With airlines now in full planning mode for the summer of 2025, multiple destinations are coming out as trendy.
Airlines such as United (UAL) and American (AAL) have already announced new routes to smaller cities in southern Europe — Naples in Italy and Porto in Portugal are seeing high demand.
Canada’s flagship carrier Air Canada (ACDVF) recently launched new flights between cities like Vancouver, Nashville, Toronto and Jacksonville, Fla.
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‘More travel options for our community and visitors’
While Delta Air Lines (DAL) has also committed to new flights to different European, Asian and Caribbean destinations, its latest routes focus on a destination that has previously often been overlooked by major airlines: the Last Frontier, or the off-mainland state of Alaska.
The new route announced by the Atlanta-based airline will go from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Fairbanks International Airport (FAI).
While it only has a population of just over 32,000 residents, Fairbanks is Alaska’s second-largest city that is often the gateway for tourists on their way to explore the Alaskan wilderness — Denali National Park is a two-and-a-half-hour drive away.
"I am excited to welcome Delta Air Lines' expanded summer seasonal service, now connecting Fairbanks to Salt Lake City and offering even more travel options for our community and visitors,” Alaska International Airport Director Angie Spear said in a statement.
"This new route enhances our connectivity and reaffirms Fairbanks' importance within Delta's network, building on the existing Seattle and Minneapolis routes,” she added.
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The new route will run on an Airbus A220-100 (EADSF) between June 8 and Sept. 9. As remote Alaska typically gets too cold to visit without special equipment by the late fall months, this will be a seasonal flight that will run throughout the summer.
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As part of Delta’s wider focus to secure its grip on the Alaska market, the airline is also upping the frequency of its seven-hour flight between Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Anchorage International Airport (ANC) from three times a week to daily.
It will also switch the plane used for its flight between Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) and Anchorage International Airport (ANC) to the 226-seat Boeing 767-300ER (BA) .
A Delta spokesperson said that the new routes are also meant to reach Alaskans who need to get between different parts of the state. Due to its remoteness and large stretches of uninhabited territory, Alaska has the highest rate of private jet use in the country.
The new flights will also serve as “a gateway to the Intermountain West and outdoor adventurers direct access to the heart of Alaska,” Delta said.
Last summer, Alaska Airlines (ALK) started running a new flight between Anchorage and New York’s JFK (at almost 11 hours, it is among the longest domestic flights commercially available) and one from Anchorage to San Diego. And United has a new route to the Alaskan capital from Washington, D.C.
While Alaska is the primary carrier serving the state and always looking for new ways to connect it to the mainland, United cited a growing tourist interest in Alaska as the main reason behind launching the flight.
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