Delta Just Made It Way Easier to Visit These Dreamy Mediterranean Islands
- Delta will be flying nonstop to Malta and Sardinia from JFK starting next year, after winning votes from both SkyMiles members and employees in a recent "Route Race" competition.
Call it the White Lotus effect. Or the Euro Summer IG trend in general. But everyone, it seems, is itching to get to Mediterranean Islands like Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and Malta for sun, sea and seriously good aperitivo . Now, Delta will be flying to two of the biggest 2026 Mediterranean hot spots—Malta and Sardinia— out of JFK starting next year.
The decision to add the two Mediterranean island escapes comes after Delta's recent "Route Race" vote where it asked both SkyMiles members and employees where the next Delta route should go. The winning votes were split—Delta employees chose Malta and Miles members chose Sardinia, so both were tapped as the next routes for Summer 2026.
"The Route Race invited SkyMiles Members and Delta people to shape the airline's network in a way no other airline has done before," shared Delta in a statement. "Sardinia, Malta and Ibiza each lined up on the starting line, and over five days of spirited voting, nearly one hundred and fifty thousand people made their voices heard."
Starting next May and June, Delta will inaugurate three weekly nonstop flights to Malta and four weekly flights to Sardinia—the first direct Transatlantic flights by any US carrier. To celebrate the new European stops, Delta's offering introductory deals for both spots right now. Here's why the two Mediterranean islands are traveler hotspotsright now:
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Why Is Malta the Next Travel Hot Spot?
Popeye Village Malta has grown from its days as a Film Set of the 1980 Musical Production 'Popeye' into one of the major tourist attractions on the Maltese Islands
Travelers have their hands full when deciding what to see and do on the three-island archipeligo, which includes the main island of Malta, with its capital city of Vallettaand the Grand Harbor, the smaller Gozoand less developed Comino, home to the increasingly popular tourist site, the Blue Lagoon. Plus, it's also only 60 miles from Sicily and a booming cruise destination, so it's easier than ever to fit into your Medi-summer travel itinerary.
Malta's many picturesque, tiny, winding streets are a mix of cultural influences from Italian to Arabic. Visitors will be fascinated by the UNESCO site Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, an underground temple and burial site spanning back to 4,000 BCE that's famous for its intricate architecture and red-ochre prehistoric wall paintings.
Another must-see is the walled town of Mdina, the country's former capital and fortress—it has a certain Medieval fairytale quality to it, especially at night. From art—see Carravagio's The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist —to history to its burgeoning local, seasonal food scene, Malta is gaining in popularity in recent years, and the new nonstop flight makes it even easier to visit.
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Why is Sardinia So Popular Right Now
Photo taken in Bosa, Oristano, Sardinia, Italy.
Sardinia, one of Italy's two largest islands, along with Sicily, is famous for its crystal-clear beaches, history and fascinating and distinctive heritage with inhabitatants dating from millennia BC, including the Phoenicians, Byzantines, Aragonese, Romans and even more ancient cultures.
Parts of its Nouroprovinceare one of the world's original Blue Zones, and its traditional Mediterranean diet using distinctive ingredients and local wine called Cannonau has long-been studied for its health-affirming properties. There are a variety of hands-on cooking classes for people ready to appreciate its distinctive cuisine first-hand.
Sardinia has more than 1,000 miles of coastline, and many of its beaches are encircled by mountains and rock formations, making them beautiful and scenic coves. La Pelosa Beach is world-famous for its soft-white sand and shallow, crystal clear water. Just off Sardinia, the pristine beaches of the Maddalena Archipelagohave more than 700 plant species and the area is popular with boat tours. Snorkeling and scuba diving is also top-notch here, and many come to the La Maddalena Archipelago National Parkfor its rich marine life, including tuna, dolphins, octopus and more.
The Costa Smeraldaregion, or Emerald Coast, is known as a hub for luxury travelers and the yacht-club set. Its scenic coves, white-sand beaches and turquoise waters are becoming a little more known in recent years thanks to Insta-tourism. You can wander the charming alleys of Porto Cervo, browse luxury shops and admire the impressive yachts in the marina, then partake in its Michelin-starred restaurants and buzzing nightlife. Now, with nonstop routes starting next year, you can do it all in a long-weekend.
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This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 17, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
