Delta Air Lines is adding a new long-haul route from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Starting on June 1st, the airline will launch daily long-haul service to Stockholm's Arlanda Airport (ARN). Delta will utilize a Boeing 767-300ER and run this route through the fall. This will be a return of the route, which has not flown for a few years, even before the crisis hit.
Delta adds Stockholm to its network next year
Delta Air Lines loaded schedule updates seen at Cirium this weekend showing the airline's newest route addition. From June 1st, Delta will run a new nonstop service from JFK to ARN daily. Based on schedules filed at Cirium, Delta's flights to ARN will depart JFK at 19:30 and arrive the following day at 09:30. The return flight to JFK will depart ARN at 11:30 and arrive in JFK at 14:10. All times are local.
Delta Air Lines confirmed the route addition to its summer 2022 network, stating the following:
"We’re focused on bringing back the routes and destinations our customers love. Customers planning next summer’s European vacation will discover more routes, premium seats and destinations in 2022. This will include daily service to Stockholm from New York-JFK starting June 1, 2022 with Boeing 767-300 aircraft."
According to data at Cirium, the last time Delta flew to Stockholm was in 2017. The airline operated summer seasonal flights using a Boeing 757-200 featuring lie-flat business class seats.
The aircraft
Delta Air Lines will use a 216-seat Boeing 767-300ER to operate flights between New York and Stockholm. This aircraft is the airline's reconfigured layout that offers three cabin classes. These planes feature 26 lie-flat seats in Delta One business class. This is a staggered, forward-facing configuration in a 1-2-1 layout. It is different from the airline's product on the Boeing 767-400ER. The 767-300ER product has received a cosmetic refresh, but the fundamental structure of the product remains the same.
Following this are 18 premium economy seats, sold as "Premium Select." This cabin is laid out in a 2-2-2 configuration and is similar to a recliner-style domestic first class seat. Following this are 21 extra-legroom economy seats and 151 standard economy seats - both in a 2-3-2 configuration. All passengers will have access to on-demand entertainment via seatback screens. WiFi and both USB and power outlets are also available for all customers.
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A growing transatlantic schedule
Delta Air Lines will serve a total of 20 European destinations, according to Cirium, next year. Adding in Africa and the Middle East, the airline will have 24 transatlantic routes next summer. It will have 25 long-haul destinations when considering Sao Paulo in Brazil. With daily flights to Stockholm, Delta will have up to 30 daily transatlantic flights from JFK.
The route will not be without its competition. Next summer, Finnair has also scheduled daily flights between JFK and ARN using 336-seat Airbus A350 aircraft. Over in Newark (EWR), United Airlines will run daily service using a Boeing 757-200 to ARN. SAS will also offer service from EWR to ARN on 266-seat Airbus A330-300 aircraft.
Europe has long been Delta's strongest international market, and 2022 is a testament to the airline's continued bet on the market, coupled with the support of its joint venture partners in Virgin Atlantic, Air France, and KLM. Stockholm is a traditionally strong leisure destination during the summer, and Delta has been able to sell flights to Sweden with a stop in Europe. With the return of nonstop service to Stockholm, Delta continues to grow its position at its competitive JFK hub.