Delta Air Lines recently introduced two new routes that expand options for domestic and international travelers.
Starting in April 2019, Delta began offering non-stop service three times daily between Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Departures from Raleigh are scheduled at 7:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., with flights arriving in Chicago after approximately two hours and 20 minutes. Return departures from Chicago are at 8:55 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 7:55 p.m., with an average flight time of two hours to Raleigh.
The route is operated with a 70-seat Embraer E-175 regional jet configured with 12 first class seats, 20 Delta Comfort+ seats and 38 economy seats. Every seat has a power port, and passengers can access onboard WiFi and entertainment streaming throughout the flight.
“Delta is already the number one airline in RDU and we’re pleased to add a new non-stop link to our largest unserved destination from the Research Triangle area,” said Joe Esposito, senior vice president of network planning at Delta. “With the addition of our new service to Chicago-O’Hare, Delta will offer RDU customers access to the majority of top destinations in the United States.”
In addition to the RDU–ORD service, Delta celebrated the launch of a daily non-stop flight between Atlanta (ATL) and Shanghai Pudong (PVG). This long-haul route enhances connectivity to Asia and is coordinated with codeshare partner China Eastern to provide expanded access across the region.
Delta operates the Atlanta–Shanghai route with a Boeing 777-200LR configured to serve a mix of travelers: 37 lie-flat Delta One seats with direct aisle access, 36 Delta Comfort+ seats and 218 economy seats arranged in a nine-abreast layout. Every seat offers on-demand in-flight entertainment, WiFi and a power port.
To better serve customers on flights departing China, Delta provides Chinese-speaking flight attendants, locally sourced Chinese meal options and an extensive selection of more than 50 Chinese-language movies. These services aim to create a more comfortable, culturally aware travel experience for passengers on the route.
Both route additions reflect Delta’s focus on strengthening its domestic hub connectivity while expanding long-haul international service. The new RDU–ORD frequency gives business and leisure travelers more flexibility for travel within the U.S., while the ATL–PVG service opens additional options for passengers traveling between the southeastern United States and Asia.