LEXINGTON, Ky. — Blue Grass Airport has resumed year-round nonstop service to New York LaGuardia Airport via Delta Air Lines, marking the return of a route that had been unavailable since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted travel schedules.

The flights began May 7, 2025, responding to consistent community demand for direct access to one of the nation's major business and cultural centers. The early morning departure from Lexington at 6:55 a.m. allows business travelers to conduct meetings in Manhattan and return home by 9:51 p.m. the same day, according to airport officials.

"We've consistently heard from community members eager for the return of non-stop service between Lexington and New York, so we're excited that Delta Air Lines has reinstated this flight," said Eric Frankl, president and CEO of Blue Grass Airport. The six-day-per-week service supplements Delta's existing routes to Atlanta, Detroit and Washington, D.C.

The New York route has already proven popular. Delta announced in February 2026 that it would add a second daily flight beginning June 7, 2026, citing strong demand since the initial service launch. The expansion comes as Blue Grass Airport set a passenger record of 1,614,053 travelers in 2025, a 2.7 percent increase from the previous year.

The airport's growth reflects expanded service beyond New York. Allegiant also introduced new nonstop flights to Sarasota/Bradenton in April 2025, while United Airlines expanded its Chicago schedule with a fifth daily flight. The airport is investing in infrastructure improvements to handle increased traffic, including an expansion project that adds 815 new long-term parking spaces and includes a second covered walkway to the terminal.

Tickets for the New York flights are available at delta.com. The airport, which celebrates nearly 80 years of commercial air service, supports the region with approximately 4,745 jobs and generates total economic output exceeding $709 million.