"Delta Air Lines will launch its first-ever daily direct flight between Porto and New York-JFK starting May 21, 2026, connecting the two vibrant coastal cities on both sides of the Atlantic," said the company in a statement, adding that the new connection joins "the two annual direct routes from Lisbon to New York-JFK and Boston and is part of Delta's broader transatlantic expansion."

"Delta's new direct flight between New York JFK and Porto is part of seven new European routes launching next summer, offering customers even more opportunities to experience Europe and enjoy our service," said Paul Baldoni, Delta's senior vice president of network planning, as quoted in the statement.

In a statement sent to Lusa, Air France-KLM welcomed "the opening of a new route in the industry's strongest transatlantic joint venture, thanks to the launch of the Porto-New York JFK flight by its partner Delta Air Lines."

According to the carrier, "Together, Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines, and Virgin Atlantic provide more than 300 daily connections between Europe and North America, and this new service reinforces the growing relevance of the Portuguese market to the United States and vice versa."

"If Air France-KLM is chosen to acquire a stake in TAP, this new operation, integrated into the transatlantic joint venture that includes Delta and Virgin Atlantic, will be another indicator of achieving the objectives of increasing connectivity and developing airports beyond Lisbon, as outlined in the privatization process," he emphasized.

According to the company, "any collaboration between TAP and Delta, in the initial phase, will be conducted independently and may be subject to regulatory approval."