Delta Air Lines is reintroducing a popular transcontinental route that has been absent for seven years. The airline will be offering nonstop flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California, starting this spring. This route will provide competition for American Airlines, which has traditionally operated premium-heavy flights on this route.

Delta’s flights between New York and Santa Ana will begin on May 7, with service running six days a week (Sunday through Friday). The airline plans to use its Boeing 757-200 aircraft with the “75S” configuration, which includes 16 lie-flat Delta One seats in the front, 44 extra legroom Comfort seats, and 108 standard coach seats.

Delta’s decision to offer lie-flat seats on this route is in response to American Airlines’ long-standing practice of flying its three-cabin Airbus A321T, with Flagship First and a flatbed business-class cabin. American is planning to replace this aircraft with the new Airbus A321XLR, featuring its latest Flagship Suites in business class. However, no official date for this change has been announced yet.

This reintroduction of the JFK-SNA route marks Delta’s return to transcontinental service between these two cities after a two-year hiatus. The airline previously operated this route in 2019, but discontinued it due to a loss of takeoff and landing rights through SNA’s slot allocation process.

Currently, Delta offers flights to several of its hubs from SNA, but the addition of this Delta One-equipped 757 service will be a highlight of the airline’s offerings at the airport.

SNA is located around 13 miles south of Los Angeles and approximately 40 miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which is also a Delta hub. For business-class travelers, LAX offers a premium ground experience. However, the new nonstop flights between New York and SNA will provide a convenient option for travelers living in the southern part of Los Angeles.