Delta will add two more Europe routes from Boston next summer, with daily service to Madrid starting May 16, 2026, and three-times-weekly service to Nice beginning May 17, 2026 (operating Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays). Both routes are scheduled on the Airbus A330-900neo, giving Boston travelers Delta One suites, Premium Select, Comfort+, and Main Cabin seating options.

Delta Adds Madrid, Nice From Boston: What It Means For BOS

These additions continue Delta’s steady build-up in Boston. With Madrid and Nice on the map, Delta says it will serve a dozen European destinations from BOS next summer, with additional frequency moves like daily Barcelona from May 7 and four-times-weekly Milan from May 16. That matters in Boston, where Delta has invested in premium ground product, including the Delta One Lounge and expanded Sky Club space, and wants to be the carrier of choice for nonstop Europe. Paul Baldoni, Senior Vice President of Network Planning, explained:

“As Boston’s leading airline, Delta plays a vital role in connecting the city to the world. By adding nonstop service to Madrid and Nice, we’re enhancing our European network and continuing our commitment to providing an exceptional travel experience from start to finish.”

Both routes will utilize a 281-seat Airbus A330-900neo, with:

• 29 Delta One (business class) seats
• 28 Premium Select (premium economy) seats
• 56 Comfort+ (extra legroom economy) seats
• 168 Main Cabin (economy) seats

You can read my review of the A330-900neo in business class here.

From a competitive standpoint, Madrid is a smart play. JetBlue already flies Boston–Madrid seasonally, so Delta’s daily A330-900neo adds year-over-year pressure and more seats in a market that has shown strength. Nice is a leisure-heavy route that Boston has lacked nonstop; three flights per week should be enough to capture peak summer demand without flooding the market. Together, the two routes push Delta’s Boston strategy further into Southern Europe, complementing existing service to major hubs on the continent.

Schedule timing is also deliberate. Starting both routes in mid-May positions Delta to catch shoulder-season travelers and be fully ramped for June and July. Using the A330-900neo helps with costs and customer appeal: modern cabins, solid premium product, and decent cargo capacity. Like the 767, seating in coach is optimized for couples (2-4-2 on the A330, 2-3-2 on the 767), but unlike the 767, this aircraft features Delta’s latest business class suite. If these routes track well next summer, it leaves room for frequency bumps or a longer season.

What does this mean for fares and loyalty? Expect targeted sale activity around the Nice launch and selective matching on Madrid when the schedules overlap. Delta’s growing international slate from Boston won’t make SkyMiles worth pursuing, but will make the program relatively more valuable for local residents (and free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members is an important value add, even if it merely matches what JetBlue has long offered).

CONCLUSION

Delta’s Madrid and Nice launches from Boston are logical extensions of an aggressive BOS strategy that leans into Europe and continues to challenge JetBlue. Madrid adds daily depth against two existing competitors (not only JetBlue, but also Iberia), while Nice opens a high-demand leisure link with measured frequency. If demand holds, Boston’s transatlantic map keeps getting stronger and customers get more nonstop choice to Europe next summer.

image: 4300streetcar / Wikimedia Commons