As COVID-19 vaccination rates continue to climb in the U.S. and Europe, several countries are now permitting Americans to plan summer vacations, which seemed an impossibility just a couple of months ago. As European borders begin to reopen, Delta Air Lines has announced schedule expansions that will allow travelers starved for an international getaway the opportunity to plan their trip.
Delta earlier released its non-stop Minneapolis-St. Paul schedule to both Reykjavik, Iceland (daily to KEF), and three times weekly to Paris (CDG). Flights from the Twin Cities to Amsterdam and London will resume when Great Britain and The Netherlands reopen their borders, but via a New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), or Atlanta (ATL) connection, travelers can be on their way to other countries quickly.
Specifics of what’s currently available or will be very soon include:
- Athens, Greece – twice daily non-stop now available from JFK: one daily non-stop flight from ATL starts July 2
- Dubrovnik, Croatia – four times weekly from JFK effective July 2
- Barcelona, Spain – three weekly flights currently operating from JFK, daily as of August 5; daily non-stop from ATL begins August 5
- Madrid, Spain -daily now from JFK; new service now from Boston (BOS)
- Paris, France – three weekly non-stops from MSP beginning July 7
- Nice, France – three weekly non-stops from JFK beginning July 8
- Reykjavik, Iceland – daily non-stops from MSP, BOS and JFK
- Milan, Italy – non-stop daily from JFK
- Rome, Italy – daily non-stop from ATL; three weekly non-stops from JFK, increasing to daily beginning July 1; daily non-stop from BOS starts August 5
- Venice, Italy -daily non-stop from JFK begins July 2; five times weekly non-stop from ATL start August 5
Travelers should anticipate having to show proof of vaccination prior to departing the U.S., and may also be required to have a negative COVID test just a couple of days before leaving. Iceland requires a negative COVID test upon arrival, and travelers must remain at their accommodation typically for 5-6 hours before being given the go-ahead to explore the island nation. Check Delta’s website for current details, which are sure to be fluid as Europe begins to open up.
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