RDU and Austin will be Delta’s only “focus cities” as it adjusts to a post-pandemic future.
No longer focus cities: Nashville, San Jose (Calif., Silicon Valley’s airport) and Cincinnati. Focus cities aren’t hubs, but have more resources.
Here’s why: According to a consultant quoted by Airline Weekly, it goes beyond being growing areas. Neither RDU nor Austin are “dominated by another network carrier.”
Nashville and San Jose both have a strong Southwest presence, and San Jose is a focus city of Alaska Airline. In North Carolina, Charlotte is an American Airlines hub.
New routes added this spring: Despite passenger traffic being down 70%, according to RDU’s January year-over-year numbers, Delta launched a direct flight from RDU to Jacksonville (JAX) in February. Direct flights to Las Vegas (LAS) begin in March.
But Delta isn’t the only airline focused on RDU.
Jet Blue also recently increased its routes with RDU, its head of revenue calling it “a standout in a successful region,” Airline Weekly quotes.
JetBlue’s new direct flights include: Austin (AUS), Jacksonville (JAX), Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA) and Newark (EWR).
Sun Country is also announced as a new airline at RDU, and launch a direct flight to Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) in May. It will be RDU’s 11th airline.
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