Delta is rewriting the rules of airline planning—and handing you the pen

Delta Air Lines is trying something new. It’s letting customers, as well as its employees, choose a new destination for its summer 2026 schedule. 

The airline recently announced that it would host the first-ever “Route Race” contest, which kicks off Monday and runs through August 29. It will let loyalty program members, SkyMiles Members, and Delta employees vote on a new European destination. The winning destination will be added to Delta’s schedule next summer.

“SkyMiles Members and Delta people are at the center of everything Delta does,” said Paul Baldoni, Delta’s senior vice president of network planning in a press release. “The Route Race is a celebration of their influence, giving our community a voice in where they want to fly next and inviting them to help shape Delta’s global network.”

Baldoni added, “The destinations where Delta flies are more than just dots on a map—they’re gateways to culture, connection, and possibility, and this is a chance for our Members and employees to bring one of them closer.”

According to the announcement, Delta flies to over 300 destinations, which, this summer, included its largest transatlantic schedule yet and its first nonstop flight to Sicily. In an effort to continue expanding, it’s now asking its loyal customers and employees to weigh in on the next stop.

Traditionally, airlines choose their destinations by analyzing trends, using market research, and staying competitive with what flights other airlines are offering. According to AeroTime, many airlines will frequently add European flights in the summer, so the new addition will likely already be in line with demand. Plus, since customers and employees are the ones deciding where to fly, the chances that the new destination will be a popular one seem fairly high.

Loyalty members and Skymiles members can cast votes in the Fly Delta App. That hardest part will likely be picking between the three amazing European destinations: Sardinia, Malta, or Ibiza.