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Back in March, I wrote about a rumor that Delta Air Lines was planning to expand its Asia-Pacific network with the launch of its first-ever nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL). Today, the airline confirmed that this route will be launching next winter.
The new route will begin on March 28th and will initially operate 3x times weekly using Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Service will increase to daily flights on June 7th. The Airbus A350-900 offers 32 Delta One®, 48 Delta Premium Select, 36 Delta Comfort, and 190 Delta Main seats. With the launch, Delta will become the only US airline offering nonstop flights between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL). The market is driven by strong family, business, and cultural ties between Southern California and the Philippines.
The announcement follows weeks of speculation after Delta disclosed its plans in a filing with the US Department of Transportation (DOT). The filing came in response to Philippine Airlines’ proposal to launch nonstop service between Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL). Rather than oppose the application, Delta asked regulators to delay consideration until the Philippine government confirmed the airline would receive commercially viable slots at Manila’s busy airport.
The new service further strengthens Delta’s growing international presence at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where the airline has continued investing in long-haul flying and recently opened its second Delta One® Lounge. It also complements Delta’s joint venture with Korean Air to give customers the choice of flying nonstop to Manila or connecting through Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN).
While this marks Delta’s first nonstop flight from the United States to the Philippines, it is not the airline’s first service to Manila. Delta previously served Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) to/from Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) before ending the route in 2020.
Delta will face competition in the broader US/Philippines market from Philippine Airlines, which already operates nonstop flights to/from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as well as several other US cities and United Airlines to/from San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
Jeff Arinder, Delta’s Vice President of Network Planning, said:
Customers traveling through Los Angeles continue to benefit from Delta’s investments in LAX, including an expanding Asia-Pacific network and the opening of our second Delta One® Lounge. The addition of Manila builds on the world-class travel experience our customers have come to expect from Delta while strengthening our position as LAX’ leading global carrier and premier West Coast hub.”
Anthony’s Take: The addition of Manila continues Delta’s steady expansion across the Pacific from Los Angeles, following the recent launch of service to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). With another major Asian destination joining its route map, Delta is continuing to position Los Angeles as one of its premier international gateways.
(Image Credits: Delta Air Lines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
