dailynewsnblog
October is nearly here. 
Delta Air Lines will be the United States’ (and the world’s) second-largest operator in that autumn month by flights, although it’ll rank third for seats for sale and available seat miles. Obviously, passenger traffic for future months is unavailable.
Cirium Diio data shows that Delta will have a total of 5,096 daily movements (takeoffs and landings combined) next month. However, as is always the case, the number will vary dramatically depending on the day, from as few as 3,988 to as many as 5,365. Compared to last October, the 
SkyTeam member’s activity has risen by 64 daily movements (+1.4%). New routes help.
Delta Begins Or Resumes These Routes In October
The carrier’s schedule submission for January 2025 to September 2026 was compared to what’s available in October 2026. This process identified that the following five routes will all take off, nearly all in the first week of the new month. Given Northern Hemisphere carriers switch to winter schedules on October 25, it is perhaps surprising that more new links are not going to begin on or around then.
To qualify for inclusion, at least five departures must be available. This rules out various airport pairs which will be served on a one-off or otherwise extremely time-limited basis, even if flights are bookable in the usual ways. This includes between Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Albuquerque, with SkyWest Embraer E175 departures from the Texas taking place on October 2, 4, 9, and 11. It is not clear if this is for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta or for another reason.
Start Or Relaunch Date | Delta Route | Operations* | Served By The Airline Before? |
|---|---|---|---|
October 1 | Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Moab, UT | Daily SkyWest CRJ550 (the route pauses on November 30 and resumes on March 8, when there will usually be fewer flights) | Yes: 2014-2015, then again 2021-2023. Third time lucky?! |
October 6 | AUS to San José Mineta International Airport (SJC), CA | Daily A319 | No: it is brand-new to Delta’s network. More on this route below |
October 6 | New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Bermuda | Four weekly A319 | Yes: Delta served this market in 2007 and again 2013-2014. The airline is shifting from JFK-Bermuda to LGA-Bermuda |
October 6 | SLC to Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS), CA | Two daily SkyWest E175 | No: it is brand-new to Delta’s map, with STS being a new airport for the airline in CA. However, Avelo Airlines served the route in 2024/2025 |
October 23 |
| Three weekly A350-900 (daily in the first week of service); questions exist about whether flights will materialize | No: it is a brand-new route, influenced by funding from the Saudi Air Connectivity Program |
* In October. Might vary at other times |
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Delta From Austin To San José, California
Delta’s growth at its AUS focus city continues to be significant. In October 2026, the carrier plans an average of 121 daily movements. That’s a record for the month, and it’s 9% more than the previous high, which was set last October. Compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, movements have more than doubled (+147%). AUS is now Delta’s 11th most-served airport, up from 37th seven years ago.
Based on having at least five departures, 27 routes are available next month. The network includes Memphis and New Orleans, although flights to both places end on October 5. Compared to the same month in 2025, Delta now serves Bozeman (flights started in June 2026), Columbus (June 2026), Denver (November 25), Kansas City (June 2026), Miami (November 2025), Phoenix (July 2026), and now SJC.
In the 12 months to June 2026, the US Department of Transportation shows that AUS-SJC had 223,714 round-trip local passengers. They only flew between the two places, whether nonstop with 
Southwest Airlines or by connecting on the way. It was the 24th largest market to/from AUS. Influenced by premium demand from the tech sector, it had the second-highest fare of the 23 larger markets, after 
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Various carriers have flown between AUS and SJC over the years. American Airlines did so until 2009 (SJC was once a hub), while Alaska Airlines operated from 2009 until 2024. Southwest debuted in 2010 and will now compete directly with Delta. It’ll be the first time two carriers have had nonstop flights since Alaska Airlines pulled out two-and-a-half years ago.
Delta Will Now Serve 14 Airports In California
In October, Delta will have scheduled flights to 51 US states and US territories in the Caribbean. For very obvious reasons, Georgia, New York, Michigan, and Minnesota will be the top five states for flights. They’ll collectively have 3,812 daily movements, and thus account for three-quarters of Delta’s 5,096 daily movements across the carrier’s entire network.
California ranks fifth, one place ahead of Florida. 584 daily California movements will exist next month, up by 1.5% year-over-year to the highest level yet for October. Due to the launch of SLC-STS, Delta will now fly to 14 airports in the Golden State. Of course, most of the growth is from doubling down at Los Angeles, at which the airline’s movements have risen by nearly 4.8% compared to last October.
