ATLANTA- Delta Air Lines (DL) is canceling its nonstop service between Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Honolulu International Airport (HNL).
The carrier previously announced plans to suspend the route after April 30 with intentions to resume service on November 20, but the airline has now removed all future flights from its booking system.
Photo: By Magic Aviation – Airbus A330-323X Delta N817NW, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25921833Delta to Cancel Longest Route
At 5,095 miles, the Boston-Honolulu connection holds the distinction of being the longest domestic route within the United States. Hawaiian Airlines (HA) will continue to operate on this route, maintaining service between the two cities.
Delta’s decision follows earlier service reductions on this route. The airline had already decreased frequency from daily service to just four flights per week during January and February, signaling potential profitability concerns.
Current pricing for the remaining Delta flights reflects competitive pressure. Round-trip economy fares for March and April are available for approximately $500, a relatively modest fare for a route of this length. These pricing levels likely reflect competition from Hawaiian Airlines in the market.
Travelers with existing reservations beyond the April 30 suspension date should contact Delta regarding rebooking options.
Photo: Clément AlloingHawaiian Airlines Left Alone
Hawaiian Airlines now operates as the sole carrier on the Boston-Honolulu route following Delta’s exit, raising questions about the route’s future under Hawaiian’s new ownership. Alaska Airlines’ recent acquisition of Hawaiian creates uncertainty about the continuation of this transcontinental service.
Hawaiian Airlines maintains a codeshare partnership with JetBlue on this route, providing East Coast connectivity. The longevity of this arrangement remains uncertain as Alaska Airlines evaluates Hawaiian’s network.
The Boston-Honolulu route performs adequately for Hawaiian but faces scrutiny under Alaska’s network priorities. Alaska may prefer deploying widebody aircraft on potentially more profitable routes like Seattle-London or Los Angeles-Anchorage instead of continuing the lengthy Boston service.
Delta’s departure complicates Alaska’s decision-making process regarding Hawaiian’s operations. Removing Hawaiian from this route becomes more challenging now that it represents the only nonstop option between the cities.
Recent traffic data reveals consistent demand with approximately 181 passengers daily each way during the year ending September 2024, generating average round-trip fares of $1,571. This represents a slight decrease from the previous year’s 187 daily passengers at $1,580 round-trip.
Market share analysis shows Hawaiian’s dominance with 58% of bookings, followed by United at 15% and Delta at 11%. Boston generates 79% of bookings while Honolulu accounts for 21%, indicating significantly stronger demand from the East Coast.
Current scheduling shows limited service with just 1.1 daily flights in February 2025 dropping to 0.7 daily flights by May 2025, offering 320 and 199 daily seats respectively. February operations consist of Delta using Airbus A330-300 aircraft and Hawaiian using Airbus A330-200 aircraft, each operating approximately 0.6 flights daily.
Photo: Clément AlloingNew Route
In a separate development reported by Ishrion Aviation, Delta Air Lines will expand its international presence from Austin with new service to Cancun, Mexico. The carrier plans to introduce the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Cancun International Airport (CUN) route for the upcoming winter season.
This addition places Delta in direct competition with American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, both established carriers on this international corridor from the Texas capital. The new service strengthens Delta’s position in the growing Austin market while providing Central Texas travelers with another option for reaching Mexico’s popular vacation destination.
The timing aligns with peak winter travel season when demand for warm-weather destinations typically surges. Austin continues to attract airline investment as the city’s population and business presence expand.
Feature Image by Clément Alloing | Flickr
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The post Delta Air Lines to Cancel the Longest Domestic Route appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
