Delta Air Lines international flights are expanding across three continents with new long-haul connections to Japan, France and Saudi Arabia starting later this year and continuing into spring 2027.
Delta is launching direct service connecting Atlanta to Riyadh, Seattle to Tokyo-Narita, and Austin to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, company officials announced in recent weeks.
This ambitious expansion will create new travel corridors between major commercial hubs in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Delta’s historic service between Atlanta and Saudi Arabia
The international expansion begins Oct. 23, when Delta begins nonstop service between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
According to a company press release, the route marks Delta’s first direct link to Saudi Arabia and the first nonstop connection between the Saudi capital and the U.S. to be operated by an American carrier.
Flights will operate daily through Oct. 30 before transitioning to a thrice-weekly schedule on Airbus A350-900 aircraft, officials said.
“Delta’s new nonstop service to Riyadh is a meaningful step in connecting our customers to one of the world’s most important and fast-growing regions,” Peter Carter, president of Delta Air Lines, said in the news release.
Airline officials say the route provides travelers nationwide with convenient access to Saudi Arabia for business and cultural travel while offering onward connections across the Middle East.
However, the future of this route appears to be up in the air long before its planes will be.
Reporting from Enilria indicates that the route could be shelved indefinitely due to growing turmoil in the Middle East, particularly in relation to recent strikes against Riyadh by Houthi forces.
For a more detailed breakdown of that report, click here.
Delta adds second Seattle to Tokyo route
In late March, Delta will continue to add new connections over the Pacific Ocean by adding daily nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Tokyo-Narita International Airport.
Scheduled to launch March 27, 2027, the new flight will be offered in addition to its existing nonstop service between Seattle and Tokyo-Haneda, giving passengers two distinct options when flying into the Japanese capital city.
“Japan continues to be one of the most important and beloved destinations in Delta’s global network and adding Seattle-Narita service gives our customers even more choice when planning their travel,” said Jeff Arinder, the airline’s vice president of international network planning.
Port of Seattle Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa added that expanding operations to both Narita and Haneda gives travelers more choices while strengthening economic and cultural ties between the Pacific Northwest and Japan.
The new Seattle–Narita service will operate daily and will utilize Airbus A330-900neo aircraft, which the company says offers customers a “modern, comfortable onboard experience across the Pacific.”
Austin to Paris service coming next spring
Meanwhile, Delta will introduce the very first nonstop flight between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Beginning on March 27, 2027, the daily summer-season route will use Airbus A330-900 aircraft on its transatlantic journey. The new service will also open up a new world of connecting options with nearly 70 destinations across Europe, India and Africa through a partnership with Air France-KLM.
The new service will make Delta the only U.S. carrier offering nonstop flights from Austin to Europe.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said the city’s partnership with Delta has been a “catalyst” in its continued growth as a global destination. “[This] new nonstop service to Paris is the latest example of its commitment to connecting our city with the world,” he said.
Delta officials say the airline is making a concerted effort to invest in Central Texas as a key growing market.
Alongside the Paris service, Delta plans to increase its presence in Austin with new domestic and regional routes, including new daily nonstop flights to San Diego taking off in April 2027.
The current seasonal Austin-to-Cancun service is being expanded to a year-round operation, and a second daily flight between Austin and San Jose, California, will also be added in the spring.
The airline says its total operations in Austin will now total more than 70 peak-day departures by next summer.
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