Delta confirms to close 34-year old route between New York and Brussels on Jan. 5
It was a surprising announcement from Delta Air Lines in the midst of September. The U.S. carrier has decided to terminate its route between New York JFK and Brussels. The carrier will end this service in early January after 34 years of operations between the capital of the European Union and New York.
Delta Air Lines final flights departing JFK on January 5, 2026, and Brussels on January 6, 2026. The decision closes a historic route that has linked the two cities since 1991, aside from a temporary suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Strategic Realignment and Market Factors
In Brussels, Delta has been facing robust competition from Star Alliance carriers, including Brussels Airlines. The carrier maintains 5 weekly services to New York as well as its Star alliance partner United Airlines. The US carrier offers also 9 weekly non-stop flights, however to Newark International airport. After Delta’s withdrawal, Brussels Airlines will remain the only carrier offering direct flights to JFK.
In place of the New York connection, Delta will launch a new Brussels–Atlanta (ATL) route on March 8, 2026. The carrier plans to start with four weekly flights, ramping up to daily service from April through October 2026 to meet expected peak-season demand. The flights will be operated by Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring Delta One, Premium Select, Comfort+, and Main Cabin seats.
According to the airline, the shift reflects a broader strategy to strengthen transatlantic performance and optimize hub connectivity. Delta’s leadership noted that while JFK remains a key transatlantic gateway, Europe’s leisure-heavy, fare-sensitive market has recently weighed on profitability—particularly in economy cabins.
Relocating the Brussels route to Atlanta enables Delta to capitalize on stronger connecting flows from its largest hub, serving passengers from the U.S. South, Midwest, and Latin America. The move also better aligns with Delta’s partnership network, allowing smoother onward travel via joint ventures with Air France–KLM and Virgin Atlantic.
TravelMole Editorial Team
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