A Sicilian summer is now just a quick 9-hour flight away from New York City. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines both launched their inaugural flights to the Mediterranean island this week, making it easier than ever for US travelers to escape to the Italian seaside.
United kicked off its new direct service between Newark and Palermo on May 21. The flight will operate three times per week on Boeing 767-400 aircraft on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays through September 24. That same day, Delta officially launched its new flight between New York’s JFK airport and Catania, on the eastern coast of Sicily, which will operate daily through October 24 on the Boeing 767-300.
There are a few key differences between the two new flights to Sicily, the most obvious being that they land at two different airports located on opposite sides of the island. Catania is closer to Taormina, the scenic hillside town near Mount Etna popularized by White Lotus Season 2. Meanwhile, the Sicilian capital of Palermo has its own myriad charms, from grand palaces to charismatic piazzas.
While most travelers will likely opt for the route that brings them closest to their final destination, there’s also the airline’s in-flight products to consider. “For business class passengers, United offers a better in-flight product,” says Gary Leff, aviation expert and Condé Nast Traveler top travel specialist, in to reference to United’s lie-flat Polaris seats. On these routes, “both carriers use Boeing 767s, but in Delta’s case this features a much older seat that isn’t representative of its Delta One suites,” he notes.
It’s no coincidence that both carriers are using older planes for their new flights to Sicily. “Broadly speaking there has been a boom in transatlantic travel and premium leisure travel, so airlines are experimenting with flights they think will appeal to this business,” Leff explains. “And using older Boeing 767s is a less expensive gamble than if they were sending their newest and largest jets.”