en.Wedoany.com Reported - Delta Air Lines plans to launch nonstop service from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) as early as 2028, further expanding its route network. The carrier recently confirmed it will launch a route to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on April 12, 2027.

This move will position Delta to directly challenge American Airlines at its Philadelphia hub and United Airlines at Washington Dulles, while strengthening its strategy of making Los Angeles a coast-to-coast hub to attract high-profit business and premium travelers. According to industry insider xJonNYC on social media platform X, the new routes are planned to launch within the next two years, tentatively set for 2028. Earlier this month, Delta indicated its intention to add more transcontinental routes from Los Angeles, while also planning to expand its long-haul international network, including a new route to Incheon International Airport (ICN) and expansion of existing routes to Auckland Airport (AKL) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).

On the transcontinental front, the airline announced last week it will launch two daily flights from Los Angeles to Newark, entering a market long dominated by United Airlines. The route was originally planned to launch no later than 2030, but Delta moved it up by three years. This month, Delta launched service from Los Angeles to Chicago O'Hare (ORD), and adding Philadelphia and Washington Dulles would complete its coverage of key domestic markets from Los Angeles. Simple Flying contacted Delta and received a statement, with a spokesperson saying: "Delta continuously evaluates opportunities to expand its network and better serve customers. There is nothing to announce at this time."

Although Delta does not hold a majority market share in Los Angeles, it remains the largest airline at the airport by seat capacity, accounting for approximately 18%. United Airlines ranks second with over 16%, followed closely by American Airlines at about 15%. As American Airlines has gradually lost corporate market share in recent years, Delta and United remain the primary competitors for high-profit transcontinental business demand. On the Newark and Washington routes, Delta will face intense competition: United operates up to 10 daily flights from Newark and up to 6 daily from Washington Dulles, carrying nearly nine out of every ten passengers in that market.

Delta's expansion in Los Angeles also includes ground investments, such as a planned second Delta One Lounge. The facility is expected to be relatively low-key and is scheduled to open to the public in 2028. If Delta launches Philadelphia and Washington Dulles flights around the same time, the timing of the facility's opening would be well-aligned.

Delta plans to use its subfleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft equipped with new premium cabins to operate many of its high-profit transcontinental routes. This subfleet includes 21 aircraft, featuring 16 lie-flat Delta One Suites. Due to certification hurdles with the Safran Vue seats used in the cabin, these aircraft have been unable to enter service, forcing Delta to use a temporary configuration of 44 domestic first-class recliner seats. The first premium A321neo was delivered in October 2024 but has been parked due to unresolved certification issues. Since then, Delta has used reconfigured narrowbody aircraft to operate routes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Los Angeles, San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Diego International Airport (SAN), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Whether the lie-flat A321neo will be ready by the time the Philadelphia or Washington Dulles routes launch remains uncertain, with some speculating that Delta may abandon the Safran Vue seats entirely in favor of the Thompson Aero VantageSOLO seats already adopted by airlines such as Iberia and JetBlue.

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