As Maria Esposito stood in her Atlanta travel agency, booking a family’s trip on Delta Air Lines’ new nonstop flight to Naples, Italy, she felt a pang of joy, imagining her clients tasting her Nonna’s favorite Neapolitan pizza. Launched on May 23, the four-times-weekly Atlanta-Naples service, alongside a three-times-weekly Brussels route set for June 10, is weaving dreams for travelers, airport workers, and local businesses, connecting Atlanta’s heart to Europe’s cultural and political hubs.
Delta’s Naples flight, the first direct service to the southern Italian city from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, operates on Airbus A330 aircraft with Delta One suites and Comfort+ cabins. The Brussels route, resuming after years, will use Boeing 767-300ERs, linking Atlanta to Belgium’s capital. Both are part of Delta’s largest-ever transatlantic schedule, with 700 weekly flights to 33 European cities, including a 10% boost in Italy services. The Naples route opens the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii to Georgians, while Brussels connects to EU institutions, vital for Atlanta’s business community.
For Esposito, whose Italian roots run deep, the Naples flight feels personal. “I’m helping people see where my family came from,” she said, her eyes bright with pride. “It’s like sharing a piece of my heart.” At the airport, baggage handler LaToya Carter, a single mother, sees the new routes as a lifeline. “More flights mean more shifts, maybe enough to save for my daughter’s college,” she said, wiping sweat from her brow. Local diner owner Jamal Reed, near the BeltLine, anticipates more customers from airport traffic. “These flights bring people, and people bring business,” he said, flipping burgers with a grin.
Atlanta, Delta’s largest hub with 968 daily flights, powers Georgia’s $80 billion tourism economy, supporting 463,000 jobs in 2023. The new routes strengthen ties with Italy and Belgium, key trade partners, while Delta’s $12 billion airport investment, including a new Sky Club, enhances traveler experiences. With 36,000 employees in Georgia, Delta’s growth directly impacts workers like Carter.
“We’re building connections that matter to Atlanta’s people,” said Delta’s Senior Vice President of Network Planning, Joe Esposito. Mayor Andre Dickens agreed, stating, “These routes mean jobs for folks like LaToya and vacations for families dreaming of Europe.” Georgia’s economic development chief, Pat Wilson, noted, “Naples and Brussels flights boost our global trade, bringing dollars back to local communities.”
Reactions mix hope with practical concerns. Sarah Thompson, a Decatur teacher planning a Naples trip, feels the route’s promise. “I’ve saved for years to see Italy with my kids,” she said, clutching a travel brochure. But East Point resident Aisha Brown, who lives near the airport, worries about traffic. “More flights clog our roads,” she said, stuck in a morning commute. An aviation analyst, David Lin, cautioned that rising fuel costs could squeeze Delta’s margins. “It’s a bold expansion, but global economics are tricky,” he said.
The routes touch lives deeply. For Thompson’s family, a direct flight means a dream vacation without layover hassles. For Carter, extra shifts could fund her daughter’s future. Reed’s diner, struggling post-pandemic, sees new customers as a chance to stay afloat. The Brussels route, resuming after a long hiatus, supports Atlanta’s tech and trade sectors, helping professionals like Priya Shah, a consultant eyeing EU markets. “Brussels is where decisions happen,” she said. “This flight gets me there.”
Looking ahead, Delta’s Naples service runs through October, with Brussels continuing year-round. Challenges include Brussels Airport’s security delays, requiring early arrivals, and potential trade tensions affecting travel demand. As Esposito books trips, Carter handles bags, and Thompson plans her Italian adventure, Delta’s expansion embodies Atlanta’s aspirations. For Reed, serving airport workers, and Shah, chasing business deals, the routes offer more than travel—they’re a chance to build better lives in a city reaching for the world.
