Delta Air Lines plans to launch nonstop service between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Northwest Arkansas National Airport near Bentonville on March 7, 2027. The route will provide Austin with a direct connection to northwest Arkansas and nearby areas of Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas.
The flights will operate on an Embraer 175 regional jet operated by SkyWest under the Delta Connection brand. Departures from Austin are scheduled for just before 9 p.m., with the return flight from Northwest Arkansas beginning the following morning, March 8.
Northwest Arkansas National Airport is the closest airport for travelers visiting the University of Arkansas and serves the area around Bentonville, where Walmart has its corporate headquarters.
The new route is the latest addition to Delta’s rapid expansion at Austin. The airline has identified Austin as a major non-hub focus city and plans to operate up to 70 daily departures there by March, compared with 28 peak daily departures in 2019, according to comments from Delta chief commercial officer Joe Esposito.
Delta’s Austin growth has also included plans for its first nonstop service from the city to Europe, with flights to Paris scheduled to begin in April. The airline has added or announced routes to San Jose, Bozeman and Cancun as well.
Luis Guitart, Delta’s Austin-based regional sales manager, said the Northwest Arkansas route reflects the airline’s continued investment in Austin and its effort to improve connections for local travelers. Delta has not said that Austin will become a hub, but Esposito has described the airline’s goal as becoming a leading corporate carrier in the city.
Southwest Airlines remains the market leader at Austin airport and also plans to operate its largest-ever schedule there in 2027. Delta is planning a second, larger Sky Club at the airport in the coming years.
The new Austin service will add to Northwest Arkansas National Airport’s broader growth. The airport is expected to handle 28% more total flights this year than it did two years ago, according to Cirium data. Delta also serves the airport from Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
Sources: The Points Guy.