Americans Love Sardinia: 7,091 Flew Nonstop From JFK to Olbia

More than 7,000 U.S. citizens flew nonstop from New York JFK to Olbia between May and July 2026, according to an exclusive analysis by The Sardinia Guide of U.S. government passenger data. Americans accounted for about 90% of passengers arriving on the JFK–Olbia route.

For Americans searching for flights to Sardinia, the numbers provide something that did not exist before this summer: an early measure of what happens when the island becomes directly accessible from the United States.

More Than 7,000 Americans Flew From JFK to Sardinia

Between May and July 2026, Delta’s nonstop JFK–Olbia service carried 7,837 passengers from New York to Sardinia.

Of those, 7,091 were U.S. citizens. In other words, about nine out of every ten passengers flying from JFK to Olbia during the route’s first three months were American.

The numbers come from the I-92/APIS U.S. International Air Passenger Monitor, produced by the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce and analyzed by The Sardinia Guide.

The data give a first quantitative view of American demand for a connection that is changing how travelers from the United States can reach the island.

Until the launch of the New York–Olbia service, Americans planning a Sardinia vacation had to build the island into a wider flight itinerary. In 2026, travelers can fly directly from JFK into Northeast Sardinia.

For schedules, airport information and practical planning, see our complete guide to flights to Sardinia. For Delta’s 2026 and 2027 service, read our guide to Delta’s nonstop flights to Sardinia

Nearly 13,000 Passengers in Two Full Months

The scale becomes clearer when both directions are considered.

In June and July, Delta’s New York JFK–Olbia route carried 12,995 passengers.

Of those, 11,850 were U.S. citizens, representing 91.2% of all passenger traffic.

During the two months:

• 6,709 passengers flew from JFK to Olbia
• 6,286 passengers flew from Olbia to JFK
• 70 flights were counted across the two directions
• estimated available capacity was 14,770 seats

The overwhelming U.S. share is one of the most revealing findings.

This is not simply an international route that happens to connect New York with an Italian island. In its first full months, it has been used predominantly by Americans.

14,846 Passenger Movements Since the Route Began

Including the partial launch month of May, the New York JFK–Olbia route recorded 14,846 passenger movements through the end of July.

Of these, 13,513 involved U.S. citizens, equal to 91% of the total.

There is an important distinction here.

The figure of 13,513 does not mean that 13,513 different Americans arrived in Sardinia. It combines passenger movements in both directions, so a traveler flying to Sardinia and later returning to New York can appear in both counts.

For Americans actually traveling from JFK to Sardinia, the relevant figure is 7,091 U.S. citizens between May and July.

Across the entire route during the first three months:

• 85 flights were counted
• estimated available capacity totaled 17,935 seats
• passenger traffic reached 14,846

That final figure includes May, when the route had only just begun operating. The 88% average recorded during June and July therefore gives a better picture of performance once the service was fully underway.

What These Numbers Say About American Demand for Sardinia

The most important story is not simply that the planes are relatively full.

It is who is on them.

More than 90% of the passengers arriving from JFK between May and July were U.S. citizens. During June and July, more than 6,000 Americans flew nonstop from New York to Olbia in only two months.

For Sardinia, this begins to put a number on something that was previously difficult to measure: direct access from the United States is translating into actual American passenger demand.

It also changes the practical geography of a Sardinia trip.

The Delta flight arrives in Olbia, the gateway to Northeast Sardinia, Gallura and Costa Smeralda. American travelers who are unfamiliar with the island should think of the geography in a simple sequence: Sardinia is the island; Olbia is the arrival gateway; Gallura is the wider northeastern area; and Costa Smeralda is the famous coastal destination within that part of Sardinia.

Our Olbia Sardinia guide explains how to use the city and airport as the starting point for a trip, while the Costa Smeralda Guide covers the best-known coastal area north of Olbia. (The Sardinia Guide)

For travelers still deciding how Sardinia fits into a first Italy trip, our Sardinia Travel Guide for Americans provides the broader island context. (The Sardinia Guide)

Flights to Sardinia Are Changing for American Travelers

For years, an American searching for flights to Sardinia, Italy had to think first about connections.

The New York–Olbia route introduces a different option: fly nonstop from JFK and arrive directly in Northeast Sardinia.

The first passenger data suggest American travelers are responding to that possibility.

That matters beyond the aviation statistics. A direct flight makes Sardinia easier to consider as the destination itself rather than simply one additional stop inside a longer European itinerary.

And for travelers already considering Costa Smeralda or Northeast Sardinia, Olbia places them at the gateway to the part of the island they intend to explore.

The practical details — operating dates, schedules, Sardinia’s three main airports and arrival information — remain in our main Flights to Sardinia guide. This analysis answers a different question: now that Americans can fly nonstop to Sardinia, are they actually using the flight?

The first numbers say yes.

How The Sardinia Guide Analyzed the JFK–Olbia Data

This article is based on an exclusive analysis by The Sardinia Guide of passenger information from the I-92/APIS U.S. – International Air Passenger Monitor, produced by the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The data were consulted by The Sardinia Guide on August 13, 2026, when figures were available through July 2026.

Passenger counts were analyzed separately for:

• JFK → Olbia
• Olbia → JFK
• U.S. citizens
• total passengers
• May, June and July
• the complete May–July period
• the two full operating months of June and July

Because May was a partial operating month, June and July are also analyzed separately to provide a clearer view of the route during its first two full months.

The Bottom Line

The first hard data from the new JFK to Sardinia connection point to strong American demand.

Between May and July, 7,091 U.S. citizens flew nonstop from JFK to Olbia.

For Americans researching flights to Sardinia, that changes the picture considerably. Sardinia is no longer simply an island that requires an additional European connection from the United States. There is now a direct New York–Olbia route — and its first passenger numbers show that Americans are using it.

FAQ

How many Americans flew from JFK to Sardinia between May and July 2026?

A total of 7,091 U.S. citizens flew from New York JFK to Olbia between May and July 2026.

How many passengers used the New York–Olbia route in its first three months?

The route recorded 14,846 passenger movements in both directions between May and July 2026.

What percentage of passengers on the JFK–Olbia route were Americans?

U.S. citizens represented 91% of total passenger movements across both directions between May and July. On the JFK-to-Olbia direction, 7,091 of 7,837 passengers were U.S. citizens.

How do you get to Sardinia from New York?

Delta’s seasonal nonstop service connects New York JFK directly with Olbia. For schedules, airport information and arrival planning, read our complete Flights to Sardinia guide.