Delta Air Lines will deploy the highest number of seats from the United States to Europe this summer, beating United Airlines’ position as the number one carrier in the transatlantic market over the past few years. Delta is set to operate a record number of services to Europe this summer, indicating a considerable year-on-year growth in the transatlantic market.

Apart from the number of flights, the airline is also operating more routes to Europe than it has ever done before. Indeed, the carrier is deploying more capacity to certain European countries than its American and European competitors.

Delta Is The Largest Transatlantic Carrier This Summer

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The latest scheduling data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, indicates that Delta will have the largest capacity between the US and Europe this summer, snatching the title that United Airlines held for the previous years. During the third quarter of 2026, Delta has over 4.5 million two-way seats scheduled in this market, marking an annual growth from last year, compared to the 4.4 million seats scheduled by United.

The airline will be operating 81 routes to Europe during Q3, compared to 77 routes during the same period last year. The data shows that the airline’s bases in Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) will be deploying 25% and 21% more seats (two-way) to Europe compared to Q3 2025.

Other bases, such as Detroit, Minneapolis, and Tampa, have seen smaller increases. Meanwhile, certain bases, such as New York JFK Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), have also recorded capacity reduction.

Despite this, JFK and ATL still remain the airline’s largest hubs for traveling across the Atlantic, with the airline offering over 1.37 million and 1.14 million two-way seats from its respective hubs. The two hubs alone account for over 2.5 million round-trip seats, which is over 55% of the airline’s overall European capacity for the summer.

Italy Is Delta’s Fastest-Growing European Market

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May 20 marked the launch of Delta’s 15th route to Italy, with the carrier commencing operations on flights to Olbia from New York. Apart from the fact that Delta will be the first airline to offer direct connectivity to North America from Olbia, the airline has also established itself as the leading operator between the US and Italy. Now holding a capacity share of 27.9% in the market, Delta’s presence in this market exceeds that of United and American Airlines, respectively, accounting for 22.4% and 22% capacity share.

This data indicates that Italy is the fastest-growing European market for Delta, with the airline offering 1.64 million seats this summer, which is 6.5% more capacity than summer 2025. Overall, the airline’s operations to Italy see the 15 routes being split across six destinations. JFK and ATL provide the most connectivity to Italy, with Delta serving all six destinations from JFK and four from ATL.

Of the six Italian destinations, Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is the most important city for Delta, as it is served from six of the airline’s bases in the US. Furthermore, when considering the ten Delta routes to Europe with the largest capacity this summer, ATL to FCO and JFK to FCO hold the seventh and eighth place in the list, with the airline scheduling over 230,000 seats (two-way) across the two routes.

Amsterdam Sees The Most Capacity

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When evaluating the data, it becomes clear that the airline deploys most of its capacity to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS). Of the top ten European routes with the highest capacity, AMS is the destination on five of these routes, including the top three, which are services to Amsterdam from Detroit, Atlanta, and Minneapolis.

The Netherlands is the largest European market for Delta, and this summer the airline will connect AMS with eight US cities by deploying 828,856 two-way seats, making up approximately 18.4% of its entire European capacity. Furthermore, with AMS being home to fellow SkyTeam alliance member and one of Delta’s North Atlantic Joint Venture partners, KLM, it makes sense as to why Delta maintains high levels of capacity to Amsterdam.

In partnering with airlines such as KLM, Delta can provide its customers with increased access to Europe and beyond by relying on KLM’s extensive network from Amsterdam and vice versa. Other airlines with which Delta has formed a Joint Venture within the transatlantic market include Air France and Virgin Atlantic.