Delta adds Memphis-Toronto service

So Delta Airlines has announced it is adding daily service from its Memphis hub to Amarillo, Texas, Indianapolis and Toronto. I’m a bit indifferent about the flights to Amarillo and Indianapolis. As a Memphis resident, I believe it’s always good news when the airline that dominates Memphis International Airport adds more service here. But because of a recent announcement from Air Canada, I’m more interested in the Toronto service.

It wasn’t that long ago that Delta stopped its nonstop service between Memphis and Toronto. Possibly seeing the void, Air Canada a few weeks ago announced it would add nonstop service between Toronto and Memphis, beginning May 17. I wondered – and hoped – when that announcement was made that it would be good news for Memphis, possibly creating a competing option in Memphis.

And it seems that time has come with Delta’s announcement. A month ago, there were zero options to fly nonstop from Memphis to Toronto. Today, there are four daily flight options. The flights aren’t exactly cheap: Roundtrip on Delta is $498.30 and Air Canada is $498.07. I used May 18 as a departure date with a return on May 21 (The Air Canada service begins May 17 but May 18 is the first day that two flight options are offered).

Hopefully these two carriers will, at least on occasion, have sales on the flight thanks to the minor competition. We’ll see.