Delta Austin expansion adds Denver, CMH, and MCI

Published on Aug 22, 2025, 4:17 pm CDT

5 min read

Delta is growing again in Central Texas, announcing three new routes and more frequency on two existing lines from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). Nonstop service to Denver International Airport (DEN) begins November 9, 2025. Daily service to John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) and twice-daily service to Kansas City International Airport (MCI) start June 7, 2026. Delta will also add a second daily flight to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on April 13, 2026, and increase Indianapolis International Airport (IND) to three daily flights on June 7, 2026. A new Austin flight attendant base opens in October 2025.

Key Points

Why it matters: Delta Austin expansion boosts connectivity to key business markets, easing connections beyond AUS.
Travel impact: New AUS routes to Denver, Columbus, and Kansas City, plus added SFO and IND frequency, spread demand and add options.
What's next: An Austin flight attendant base opens in October 2025, supporting reliability and growth.
Aircraft and operators: New routes use Embraer 175s on Delta Connection via SkyWest.
Scale: Delta moves toward nearly 30 nonstop destinations from AUS, pointing to sustained Central Texas demand.

Snapshot

Delta will launch twice-daily AUS to DEN flights on November 9, 2025. On June 7, 2026, AUS to CMH begins once daily, and AUS to MCI starts twice daily. The carrier will increase AUS to SFO to two daily flights on April 13, 2026, operated by an Airbus A319, and expand AUS to IND to three daily flights on June 7, 2026. The new AUS routes to DEN, CMH, and MCI will be flown by Delta Connection partner SkyWest on Embraer 175 aircraft with First, Comfort, and Main cabins. Delta will also open a permanent Austin flight attendant base in October 2025 to support operations and staffing.

Background

Austin's growth has attracted steady airline investment, with Delta positioning itself as a leading global connector at AUS. The carrier says it now serves nearly 30 destinations from Austin, a mix that balances business and leisure demand tied to the region's technology and creative sectors. Denver and Kansas City add scale in Mountain West and Midwest flows, while Columbus strengthens Midwest tech and education ties. More capacity to San Francisco and Indianapolis deepens links between tech and corporate centers, improving day-of-week coverage and schedule utility. The creation of a flight attendant base at AUS signals a longer term commitment to reliability, crew availability, and future expansion opportunities as Austin's passenger volume trends upward.

Latest Developments

Route launches and schedule details for the Delta Austin expansion

Nonstop AUS to DEN launches November 9, 2025 with twice-daily frequencies on Delta Connection, timed to capture both morning and afternoon demand into the Rockies and beyond. On June 7, 2026, AUS to CMH begins as a once-daily link into central Ohio's growing tech corridor, and AUS to MCI starts with two daily frequencies serving Kansas City's business and leisure markets. The E175 equipment provides a 2-2 cabin layout with no middle seats, plus three-cabin service. These markets fill network gaps for Delta customers in Central Texas, offering more one-stop options across the network through Denver, Columbus, and Kansas City.

Frequency increases to San Francisco and Indianapolis

Delta will add a second daily AUS to SFO round-trip on April 13, 2026, operated by the Airbus A319, improving morning and evening connectivity between two tech hubs. The airline also plans to triple AUS to IND to three daily flights on June 7, 2026, better matching corporate travel peaks and improving same day trip viability. Together, the frequency increases address schedule competitiveness and offer travelers more flexibility for connections, returns, and irregular operations recovery.

New Austin flight attendant base, expected October 2025

Delta will open a permanent flight attendant base in Austin in October 2025. Establishing local crew reduces repositioning, can improve on time performance, and adds resiliency during weather or air traffic constraints. A staffed base also supports sustained growth, enabling faster schedule changes and better standby coverage for peak periods. For travelers, an on site crew presence often translates to fewer last minute cancellations and more consistent service levels as the network scales.

Analysis

This growth builds on several trends at AUS. First, Delta is targeting business friendly mid continent links that complement its existing coastal connectivity, which reduces total journey times and improves network utility for Central Texas tech and corporate travelers. Second, the equipment choice matters. The Embraer 175 is optimized for medium stage lengths with premium seating density, which helps sustain higher frequency in developing markets like Columbus and Kansas City without oversizing capacity. Third, the added San Francisco and Indianapolis flights improve schedule depth rather than just adding endpoints, a signal that Delta is focused on frequency relevance in corporate corridors. The October 2025 flight attendant base further underpins reliability, since locally based crews can recover disrupted rotations faster. Competitive responses from incumbents are likely, particularly in Kansas City and San Francisco, where schedule depth and loyalty pull are decisive. For travelers, the near term takeaway is more choice at familiar times, improved connection opportunities, and cabin consistency across the new routes.

Final Thoughts

Delta's announcement is notable for what it adds and when it arrives. The November 9, 2025 Denver launch puts new lift in place ahead of winter travel, while the June 7, 2026 starts in Columbus and Kansas City catch the summer peak. The April 13, 2026 and June 7, 2026 frequency increases to San Francisco and Indianapolis provide the schedule breadth business travelers expect, with a flight attendant base to backstop operations. With practical aircraft, clear timing, and local staffing, the Delta Austin expansion should have immediate benefits for Central Texas flyers.