Delta (DAL) To Expand Boston Operations By Adding 4 Routes

In a bid to strengthen its operations at the Boston Logan International Airport, Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) has decided to add four non-stop routes from the airport next year. The new destinations from Boston are Chicago O'Hare; Newark, NJ; Washington, D.C. (Reagan) and Cleveland, OH.

While the flights connecting Boston and Cleveland will start operating from Apr 1, 2019, the ones to Chicago, Newark and Washington will take to the skies from Sep 9. According to a media report, Delta will start operating on the Boston-Cleveland route barely a few days after United Airlines — the subsidiary of United Continental Holdings (NASDAQ:UAL) — withdraws its service between Cleveland and Boston.

Even though the withdrawal of United Airlines from the Boston-Cleveland route reduces competition for Delta, the same is likely to be very intense in the other proposed routes. This is because the likes of American Airlines Group (NASDAQ:AAL) and JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:JBLU) already offer flights on the Boston-Chicago route, and JetBlue and United Airlines operate between Boston and Newark. With all airline heavyweights operating on Delta’s proposed routes, it remains to be seen how this Atlanta-based carrier performs when the new flights become operational.

Delta Air Lines, Inc. Price

Delta Air Lines, Inc. Price | Delta Air Lines, Inc. Quote

Apart from its expansion-related initiatives, Delta was in the news recently when it tweaked its policy pertaining to emotional support animals on long flights. This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company stated that on flights longer than eight hours passengers cannot be accompanied by an emotional support animal. Moreover, service and support animals under four months of age will not be allowed on Delta flights. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The new policy will take effect from Dec 18, 2018. However, the stricter policy will be relaxed till Feb 1, 2019, for those who purchase tickets before Dec 18 and have already sought permission to travel with an emotional support animal.

We remind investors that Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) too had revamped its emotional-support animal policy earlier this year. The new policy, which had taken effect from Sep 17, permits a passenger to carry only one cat or dog (either in a carrier or on a leash) as an emotional support animal on its flights.

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