- Deploys Airbus A330neo on long-haul route today
Delta Air Lines will today, Monday December 1, get its Atlanta to Accra long haul route back in the skies, 13 years after it last operated the route, per this report by Simple Flying.
The resumption means that Delta, a member of the SkyTeam, will be doubling its routes to the capital of Ghana.
The North America to Africa market has seen multiple changes recently. For example, Delta recently began the first-ever flight between Atlanta and Marrakech, while Air Transat has announced the first flight from Canada to Accra. The Canadian leisure carrier is also launching service from Montreal to Dakar and from Montreal to Agadir. Meanwhile, United Airlines will end its Washington Dulles to Dakar operation after less than a year.
Delta is back on Atlanta to Accra
This transatlantic market covers 4,935 nautical miles (9,140 km) each way. Delta will serve it daily aboard the 281-seat Airbus A330-900, but only temporarily. To meet the increased traffic between the US and Ghana around Christmas, only 46 round-trip services are scheduled. The last departure from the US’s top airline hub will be on January 15.
When Delta previously flew between Atlanta and Accra, the A330-200 and 767-300ER were deployed. Cirium Diio data shows the carrier’s frequency varied from just twice-weekly (!) to four times a week.
Delta would have evaluated the route’s prior performance to decide when to operate. According to the US Department of Transportation, its previous operation had an average seat load factor of 79 percent. Generally, winter months had busier flights, including in the first year, with fares and yields probably higher, too. However, some peak months did not do as well as expected, as frequencies and seats for sale were increased, which reduced loads. Given the new daily operation, this could be problematic.
Relaunching Atlanta flights, while only temporary, will open up the US to more one-stop Accra flights again. Many dozens of cities across the country will now have one-stop service. Moreover, passengers in some markets will be encouraged to fly via Atlanta rather than JFK. This will free up Delta’s capacity on its JFK flights at the peak time. After all, booking data shows that the Big Apple is by far Accra’s top North American market, accounting for 30 percent of the total traffic.
| Frequency | Atlanta To Accra; Local Times | Accra To Atlanta; Local Times |
| Daily | 5:55 pm-9:25 am+1 (10h 30m) | 11:35 am-7:25 pm (12h 50m) |
Delta has 8 routes to Africa in this period
Between December 2025 and January 2026, Delta will have eight routes to Africa. This is more than at any other time. They have risen from six in December 2024-January 2025 and from five in December 2019-January 2020.
It’ll operate from Atlanta to Accra (daily A330-900; until January 15 only), Cape Town (five weekly A350-900), Johannesburg (five weekly A350-900), Lagos (daily A350-900), and Marrakech (three weekly to daily 767-400ER). It will also operate from JFK to Accra (daily A330-900), Dakar (four to five weekly 767-300ER), and Lagos (daily A330-900; until January 15 only).
Delta’s 50 weekly departures to Africa
Delta plans up to 50 weekly departures to Africa in December-January. Frequencies have risen from just 36 weekly services a year ago to become what is by far the carrier’s largest offering to date. It will comfortably be the top airline between North America and Africa by flights, with a third of the market. Its share has risen from a quarter year-over-year.
In order of departures, Ethiopian, United, Royal Air Maroc, EgyptAir, Air Canada, Kenya Airways, Air Algérie, Tunisair, and Air Transat also operate. Azores Airlines serves Boston-Praia on a one-stop, same-plane, same-flight-number basis via Ponta Delgada. Air Transat’s African offering will grow markedly next summer, while Royal Air Maroc is likely to expand its US footprint in 2026, and EgyptAir has said it will, too.
