Delta wants to be more competitive in Texas, a longtime stronghold of American and Southwest.
So far, the carrier is focusing on Austin and might turn the city into a hub. Delta secured 15 gates at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, opened a base with 100 flight attendants, and has plans to open another lounge. And if you check Delta’s merch store, it sells Austin-themed pint glasses, keychains, and t-shirts under its “Hub Love” page.
CEO Ed Bastian told the “Airlines Confidential” podcast earlier this week that the carrier is even interested in San Antonio.
“Whether it’s the buildout in Austin or looking even further down the road for me in San Antonio, looking for places to continue to grow and expand into Texas — we’re not as big in Texas as we’d like,” Bastian said. “Those are two markets that we have found some really good reception.”
Loyalty has driven much of Delta’s Austin expansion, with executives noting an increase in credit card sign-ups in the region. Austin has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., seeing more investment from AI and tech companies.
Growing in Austin and San Antonio would give Delta the chance to compete in one of the largest states in the U.S., without directly going against American or United. American has a major hub at Dallas-Fort Worth, while United has one at Houston Bush Intercontinental.
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