Delta asked SkyMiles members (and staff, too) to help pick a hot new transatlantic destination for next summer from a trio of options. The people have spoken … and they picked two out of three.
The Atlanta-based carrier announced Tuesday it would add nonstop routes to both the Italian isle of Sardinia (OLB) as well as Malta (MLA) in the Mediterranean. That leaves only the party-hardy Spanish island Ibiza (IBZ) on the losing side.
Both routes will run seasonally starting next spring through the summer and into fall 2026, with service from New York City (JFK). Service to Sardinia kicks off May 20 with four flights a week, while flights to Malta will begin June 7, crisscrossing the ocean three times weekly.
Both new flights will operate on one of Delta's older Boeing 767-300ERs, with woefully out-of-date business class seats at the front of the cabin but a comfortable 2-3-2 arrangement for economy flyers. They're already available for sale for a 2026 trip.
Delta says more than 150,000 SkyMiles members and Delta staffers voted in the poll, with SkyMiles members choosing Sardinia as their favorite while Delta's employees chose Malta.
That won't be the end of Delta's transatlantic expansion for 2026, either.
The carrier already announced its plans to add nonstops from Boston (BOS) to both Nice (NCE) and Madrid (MAD) next May. And it's likely that even more will join the list – like most airlines, Delta typically unveils a full slate of new international routes for the following year in September or October.
Those additions are the latest reminder that airlines are increasingly looking beyond the major cities as they expand and add new routes overseas. And the smaller Boeing 767 Delta is using is a perfect plane to test things out.
Both Delta and United added their first-ever nonstop flights to the Italian isle of Sicily this year, with Delta flying nonstop from New York to Catania (CTA) and United flying between Newark (EWR) and Palermo (PMO) this summer. United has gone further than any other U.S. carrier with nonstops to destinations like Madeira (FNC) and Faro (FAO), Bilbao (BIO) in northern Spain, and even Greenland with a nonstop flight to Nuuk (GOH)!
A Word About Sardinia
Can you really have too many flights to Italy? No, you cannot.
Airlines love flying to Italy because travelers love flying to Italy! The Sicily flights must have gone reasonably well for Delta this summer as the airline eyes up another Italian destination. Everyone wants to go, and why not try someplace new? Milan, Venice, Rome, and even Naples are tried and true, but they're tired. Give people a reason to visit a new island in the Mediterranean Sea, and they'll probably do it.
The place looks spectacular by the way, with huge, rocky coasts and sandy beaches throughout. I'll admit this was never on my radar until now, but this nonstop Delta flight has piqued my interest.
Why We Like Malta
Before the vote, I officially endorsed Malta.
We look for Malta flight deals all that time for our Thrifty Traveler Premium members, and that's because it's an exceptionally cool destination where it's not always easy to find cheap flights. Another Mediterranean island of great interest to our team, it's also full of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, archeological hotspots, and some of the most ancient free-standing structures in the world.
But you don't need a history book to love Malta. It's dripping with Mediterranean vibes, scenic rocky beaches, and plenty of tourist-friendly vacation spots.
Bottom Line
Sardinia and Malta are the two islands Delta has chosen for its new nonstop routes to Europe in 2026 – expanding the airline's nonstop presence to the Mediterranean from New York City (JFK).
The flights will be onboard Boeing 767s and run three or four times per week starting late next spring.
