Delta Air Lines Planning For Seasonal Boeing 737-800 Flights Between Minneapolis–St. Paul & Tulum, Mexico

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is continuing with its international expansion from its hub at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Pending government approval, the airline has scheduled seasonal service from the airport to Tulum, Mexico, to launch in December.

The news comes just one week after Delta announced that it would begin nonstop flights from the hub to both Aruba and St. Maarten. The route additions are reportedly in response to the surge in international travel at MSP.

Flight details

According to Minneapolis–St. Paul local ABC affiliate KSTP, Delta will offer Saturday-only flights to Tulum International Airport (TQO) beginning December 21st and lasting until April 12, 2024. The TQO-bound flight will depart around 09:00 and arrive just before 14:00, while the return flight is scheduled to leave just after 15:00 and land at MSP around 18:30.

Travelers can book the flights on the airline’s website, but a disclaimer notes that the service is “subject to government approval.” It is unclear when Delta might receive clearance, but the airline appears confident in doing so, considering the flights are bookable.

Interested in this route? Find flights between Minneapolis–St. Paul & Tulum, Mexico, right here!

A spokesperson for the airline confirmed the new route in a statement to Simple Flying on Sunday.

“With the new addition of Tulum, and the recently announced service to Aruba, St. Maarten, and Mazatlán, Delta’s upcoming winter schedule will offer MSP customers four new destinations to explore. This will mark our largest-ever winter schedule from MSP to Latin America and the Caribbean to date and, as we expand our presence in the region, we know our customers will enjoy the enhanced experience consistently provided by Delta.”

Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying

In December, Delta will offer a total of four flights on the route. January and February will see eight, while March will see 10 amid the Spring travel peak period. April will have four flights before the operation wraps up in the middle of the month. In total, the airline will offer 5,440 seats throughout the duration of the service, according to aviation data and analytics provider Cirium.

Inside Delta’s 737-800s

Delta will utilize its Boeing 737-800 on the route, which accommodates a total of 160 passengers in a two-class layout. First class comprises 16 seats in a 2-2 configuration. The large recliner seats have a pitch of 38-39 inches and a width of 20.9 inches. The main cabin has 108 standard seats and a sub-section of 36 seats branded as Delta Comfort+ in a 3-3 layout. These seats have a width of 17.3 inches and a pitch of 34 inches, boasting more legroom. The standard seats have the same width, but have a pitch of 31-32 inches, depending on where they are located in the cabin.

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Delta Air Lines Basks In International Demand With Largest-Ever Transatlantic Schedule

The carrier is also focused on curating more premium travel experiences.

Delta notably offers inflight WiFi, which is complimentary to all SkyMiles members. Other onboard amenities include in-seat USB power and AC ports, personal seatback videos, and satellite TV. Passengers can also choose from hundreds of movies and TV shows to stay entertained during their flight.

Enhancing the premium experience

Earlier this year, Delta unveiled that an improved premium travel experience would be rolled out on select 737-800s. While the refresh does not change the aircraft’s capacity, it introduces the new and innovative first class seat that debuted in 2022 when the carrier received its Airbus A321neos. The seats provide passengers with more privacy, additional storage space for personal items, and a sturdier tray table, according to the airline.

Photo: Delta Air Lines

Delta is also working on improving the efficiency of its 737-800 fleet. The airline has been quietly retrofitting the aircraft with split scimitar winglets, which is a modification of the original blended winglet system.

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