Delta Air Lines Shuts Down Longest Route from Santa Barbara

Delta Air Lines will end its service between Atlanta and Santa Barbara, marking the cessation of the longest scheduled passenger flight from the Californian airport. The final flight will take place on January 19, 2024, with the concluding return to Atlanta on January 20, 2024. This decision comes as airlines continue to reevaluate their route networks in response to passenger demand and operational efficiency.

The route, spanning 1,757 nautical miles (approximately 3,254 kilometers) each way, has been operational since June 2024, with all flights utilizing the 130-seat Airbus A220-300. Initially, Delta had intended to maintain this service throughout 2026. Despite this, the airline has now removed all related flights from its booking systems.

Delta’s service from Atlanta to Santa Barbara was a year-round offering, but data from the US Department of Transportation indicates that only 11,800 round-trip passengers traveled this route from July 2023 to June 2024. This figure increased significantly to 21,900 round-trip passengers in the following year, illustrating a strong growth in demand. Delta captured a substantial share of the market, rising from 16% to 77% during that period.

With the termination of this route, Dallas/Fort Worth will temporarily hold the title of Santa Barbara’s longest link. American Airlines currently operates daily flights to Dallas, covering 1,144 nautical miles (around 2,119 kilometers) primarily on the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Looking ahead, a significant change is on the horizon. On March 29, 2024, United Airlines will reinstate its seasonal service from Chicago O’Hare to Santa Barbara, a route that has been dormant since 2022. This flight will cover 1,567 nautical miles (approximately 2,902 kilometers) and will become Santa Barbara’s new longest service, using the 737-700 and 737 MAX 8.

The following are the details for the final Delta flights in January:

Flight Schedule: Atlanta to Santa Barbara
– Flight DL720: 18:43-20:56 (5 hours 13 minutes)

Flight Schedule: Santa Barbara to Atlanta
– Flight DL735: 08:45-15:58 (4 hours 13 minutes)

Despite the end of the Atlanta route, Delta will continue to serve Santa Barbara through its connection to Salt Lake City. This service, offered double to triple daily, primarily utilizes the A220-100 along with Embraer E175 aircraft operated for Delta Connection by SkyWest. The Salt Lake City route has a long history, having been suspended during the pandemic before resuming in 2024.

In terms of local traffic, Santa Barbara’s top markets over the past year included San Francisco (107,000 round-trip passengers), Seattle (100,000), Denver (98,500), and Las Vegas (67,900). This data underscores the competitive landscape of air travel in and out of Santa Barbara, where demand fluctuates based on seasonal and operational factors.

As Delta Air Lines adjusts its service offerings, the airline industry continues to adapt to changing travel patterns, ensuring that airlines remain responsive to passenger needs.