Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is doubling down on its Los Angeles stronghold even further with a new long-haul route. The legacy airline announced on Friday that it will launch new nonstop flights to the Philippines next year – a journey that has never before been operated by a US-based carrier.
It comes amid Delta’s continued growth of its network from its secondary West Coast hub, and an expansion of premium experiences on the ground. The new route will also strengthen its existing joint venture partnership with Korean Air.
Delta’s New Nonstop Long-Haul Route To Manila Begins In March
Delta will launch flights between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila on March 28, 2027, becoming the first and only US airline operating the route. It will use its Airbus A350-900 between the two destinations with three weekly frequencies initially. Then, the service will shift to daily flights on June 7. The duration of the flight in both directions will be between 13 and 14 hours. The widebody, which has become Delta’s flagship equipment, has four different seat products onboard. Delta One, its top-tier cabin experience, features up to 40 business class lie-flat seats. Delta Premium Select (DPS), its own version of premium economy, also has as many as 40 seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration. Delta Comfort and Delta Main seats comprise the remainder of the cabin in a 3-3-3 layout, albeit the former has a higher pitch for more legroom.
With over 160 peak-day departures to more than 50 destinations, Delta is LAX’s leading airline, beating out its legacy competitors – United Airlines and American Airlines – which also call the airport a hub. Its network, which it says is “built for both leisure and business travelers,” has been the subject of major growth recently. In the past year, Delta launched new service to Chicago, Melbourne, and Hong Kong. The airline also reinstated flights to Shanghai, while unveiling new plans to connect Vancouver and Newark, and is preparing to operate its largest-ever schedule to Florida this winter.
Doug Webster, Los Angeles World Airports’ (LAWA) Chief Operations and Maintenance Officer, praised the new route in a statement on Friday.
“As a primary gateway to the Pacific, LAX is proud to welcome Delta’s new nonstop service to Manila. This daily service gives our guests another direct link to family and culture in the Philippines, and reflects the strength of our partnership with Delta in delivering world-class service to one of Southern California’s most deeply connected international markets.”
Investing In A Premium Footprint In Los Angeles
The news comes on the heels of Delta opening its second Delta One Lounge at LAX. The new space features an elevated dining experience and a more intimate feel, with seating for only 75 guests. Passengers traveling to Manila in Delta One will have access to an exclusive curbside check-in and security checkpoint before arriving at the lounge.
International terminal inside the Delta Sky Club, near gate E13
Daily, 4:30 AM-11:00 PM (Brasserie operating hours are 11:00 AM-9:30 PM)
LAX is currently the only Delta hub to feature two Delta One lounges and one standard Sky Club location. It is part of the carrier’s major investment in loyalty and premium experiences. It plans to offer a total of four lounge spaces at LAX by 2028, which will provide over 1,000 seats across more than 60,000 square feet.
Delta continues its premium product expansion at LAX. What does the new Terminal 2 Delta One Lounge have to offer?
Competing With Philippine Airlines & oneworld
Although Delta will not face any competition from other US airlines, it will be knocking on the door of Philippine Airlines’ longtime monopoly between LAX and MNL. Manila serves as one of Southeast Asia’s vital commercial and cultural cities. While it attracts business travelers, the capital also plays a role in the country’s tourism, as visitors seek diverse landscapes, rural communities, and island destinations. It is known as one of Asia’s fastest-growing markets.
The global competitiveness will begin once Delta commences the new route, but will be amplified when Philippine Airlines joins the oneworld Alliance. Once integrated, passengers on partner airlines, such as American, will have expanded connectivity to and from Los Angeles. Delta, on the other hand, says its new route benefits its joint venture with Korean Air. Both carriers, which are part of the SkyTeam Alliance, connect travelers to over 300 destinations worldwide, 60 of which are across Asia. Korean Air operates multiple daily flights between its hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul and MNL. Delta said its new route will provide more “flexibility” for travelers, whether they fly with the carrier or with Korean Air by connecting through Seoul.
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