Delta Launches First Direct JFK-Porto Flight in May 2026
Delta Air Lines is set to introduce a new direct route from New York's JFK Airport to Porto, Portugal, commencing May 21, 2026. This will be the first direct flight from JFK to Porto, offering a convenient option for Europe-bound travellers departing from JFK, similar to the existing service from Newark Liberty International Airport.
The new route is expected to boost tourism in Portugal, which saw a 5.2% increase in visitors in 2024 compared to the previous year. Porto, ranked the seventh best city to visit in Europe in 2025 by Travel + Leisure readers, is Portugal's second most-popular destination after Lisbon. The new service will operate on a Boeing 767-300, offering four cabin experiences: Delta One (business class), Delta Premium Select (premium economy), Delta Comfort (economy plus), and Delta Main (economy).
The new route is part of Delta Air Lines' expansion for summer 2026, which also includes six other new direct services to Barcelona, Madrid, Malta, Nice, Rome, and Sardinia from JFK. The Executive Vice President of the Network Planning Office at Delta Air Lines, Peter Carter, announced the new direct connections.
The new direct flight from JFK to Porto is anticipated to further strengthen the ties between the US and Portugal. With the US being the third largest source of tourists for Portugal, with a 11.9% increase in US visitor numbers in 2024, the new route is expected to cater to the growing demand for travel between the two countries.
