Delta resumes Paris, Cancun flights in hint of improving demand

Delta plans to restore 100 flights in June, providing a hint that travel demand may be poised to inch up after almost disappearing because of the coronavirus pandemic. The additions are based on “customer demand,” federal health guidelines and government travel restrictions, Delta said Monday. The company cautioned that the schedule remains subject to change “due to the evolving nature of Covid-19.” Delta’s capacity this quarter will be 85% below last year’s level, including a 90% reduction on international routes. But adding flights on a handful of marquee routes suggests the potential for the beginnings of a rebound. In addition to Paris flights, Delta plans to resume dropped service next month from New York to Amsterdam, Paris and Tel Aviv. The carrier has been flying from Atlanta to Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris, and between Detroit and Amsterdam and London. Delta also will restore daily flights to Shanghai from Detroit and Seattle, subject to government approval. The company already is flying to Seoul from Detroit and Seattle, and from Seattle to Tokyo. The airline will restart a dozen routes to the Caribbean, including Aruba, Jamaica and the Bahamas; four between Atlanta and cities in Central America, and five to cities in Mexico including Cancun and Mexico City. Delta said it was increasing domestic flights as well, particularly from its Atlanta hub to cities in Florida and the western U.S. and between its New York hub and Florida.<br/>