According to Raleigh-Durham International’s blog, Delta Air Lines will add new nonstop services from Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to the warm weather destinations of Miami and Nassau later this year. Per the blog, “Nonstop service to Nassau is scheduled daily for the peak holiday travel period of Dec. 20, 2014-Jan. 20, 2015. Miami nonstop service will operate on Saturdays from Dec. 20, 2014- Aug. 15, 2015.” However, my own look at the schedules shows both services as Saturday only at the moment, with the last Nassau flight on January 10, 2015.
While these markets might seem a little odd at first glance, RDU is a bit of a focus city for Delta with a big number of flights to Delta’s major hubs and large markets like Los Angeles. Delta has operated a Saturday only nonstop from RDU to Cancun for a few years, and these new Saturday only flights are likely using aircraft that have some spare time on the weekend. Miami is well served from RDU by American, but I guess Delta could capitalize on its inherent strengths in the local RDU market, and deliver a few folks to weekend departing cruises too.
Now for the next big question – will Delta revive its idea that never took flight from years back of 757 service to Paris from RDU? Hmmm.
-MJ, August 20, 2014
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Being BOS based, but from Raleigh, I would like to see an international European option from RDU. AA seems to own it now, out of default maybe. Raleigh does have a lot of ex pats from other countries who come to work and go to school there (UNC, Duke, NC State), so DL may be able to make a go of it.
I think RDU might be able to make one more city work, CDG or FRA, with the right airplane.
Thanks for the update MJ. I’ve been flying Delta out of RDU now for almost 5 years. The transformation and addition of flights is great. I believe it keeps RDU area travelers loyal to the Delta brand when they continue to see options added. I never knew about the Paris consideration. It would be nice to compete with AA on their LHR daily service on the 76.
I don’t know if that Paris flight ever even became bookable, but it was in the cards at one time. I think the financial crisis and subsequent recession took it out b4 it ever took off.