Delta to Start RDU-AUS 3/9/17
 

Already loaded on Delta.com. Daily CR9:

DL 6222 Lvs RDU 0830 Arr AUS 1040
DL 6222 Lvs AUS 1115 Arr RDU 1510

Nice to have the route but that is one long CRJ-900 flight (1,162 miles). Wish they had decided to use a 717 instead.

Definitely a long time in a CR9.

FC is fine, but that's a long fight in Y.

It bothers me that DL frequently uses the E-Jets on short routes, while the 2-cabin CRJs are used on flights this long.

Nice add.

AUS is a common work trip and combined with the new LAS direct for trade shows, it's getting hard to ignore DL as the ideal option ex-RDU.

I would prefer an E-Jet but wouldn't be surprised if this eventually gets upgauged, there are a number of tech companies (including mine) with offices in both locations.

Outbound timing are good too - much better than the 545am to ATL you currently have to take to get to AUS by mid-morning.

Return is too early though if you need to spend a good chunk of the day in Austin.

Good addition to Delta's growing presence in RDU. Granted, the CR9 is a bit small, and PDEW is in the low 100s (as of 2014), so we'll see.

I think AA had this service in 2004-08, but as long as DL keeps RDU as a "focus city," this flight should last.

They did. At first it was an ERJ-135/140 but in 2007 it was an MD-80 that ran LGA-RDU-AUS.

I shudder at the thought of an 1100 mile flight on one of those...

I'm really liking this RDU expansion. Adds another place I can connect through exDCA. More options are always great.

FWIW, if anyone is looking to go to SWSX, pricing is favorable at the moment relative to other carriers RDU - AUS...

I remember when CO put a 145 on IAH-Bakersfield, CA. Talk about an awful route for an ERJ.

That's absurd. Only the ignorant would take that flight.

Thats an everyday occurrence for half the flights out of iah. Id hate to be a hub captive there.

Not to mention that when you finally get off the plane, you are in Bakersfield.

OKC-EWR (~1350 miles, probably 3+25 flight time) was not fun either
+1

There are plenty of flights in the DL system that are 1100+ miles operated with CRJ-900s. Off the top of my head I know there's SEA-PHX, DTW-SAT/AUS (and IAH falls just short of 1100 miles at 1075), MSP-JAX, SLC-IAH, and SLC-ORD. MSP-SAT IS 1096 miles so close enough to 1100 miles. Among others that I'm sure I've left out.

It's not too bad. I've done RDU-MSP twice in a CR9 and that's 980 miles, worst part of that flight was waiting in what felt like a 20 degree jetway to pick up pink tagged bags.