Delta Air Lines is saying goodbye to one of its longest-running European routes: The carrier will permanently end service between New York’s JFK and Brussels Airport in January 2026, closing the book on a nonstop connection that’s been around since 1991.
The final JFK–Brussels flight departs January 5, 2026, with the return from Belgium the following day. For now, Delta runs the route four times a week using a Boeing 767-300ER, but after the cut, the only direct option from JFK will come via Brussels Airlines. United, meanwhile, will continue offering up to two daily flights from nearby Newark.
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The move marks the first time in over three decades—excluding a pandemic pause between 2020 and 2022—that Delta won’t fly between New York and Brussels. The decision comes as the airline shifts focus southward, making Atlanta its exclusive U.S. gateway to Belgium.
Starting March 8, 2026, Delta will run four weekly flights from its Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport hub, ramping up to daily service in April for the busy summer season. Delta relaunched Atlanta–Brussels service earlier this year after a five-year hiatus, positioning it as a more strategic play than competing with Lufthansa Group and its transatlantic partner United out of New York.
It’s a surprising pivot, given the route’s long history and New York’s importance to premium travelers. Brussels is home to the European Union and NATO headquarters, drawing steady demand for corporate travel. But Delta faces stiff competition: Lufthansa and Brussels Airlines dominate Brussels, while United’s Newark service has been a fixture for more than 25 years.
By consolidating in Atlanta—where Delta controls over 200 connections versus fewer than 80 at JFK—the airline can funnel more U.S. travelers into Brussels without going head-to-head with its European rivals in New York.