en.Wedoany.com Reported - Delta Air Lines announced it will launch direct flights between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) on March 28, 2027, becoming the first and only U.S. carrier to operate this route. The service will initially operate three times weekly using the Airbus A350-900, increasing to daily flights starting June 7.
Flights to Manila will feature four seat products. Delta One offers up to 40 lie-flat seats, while Delta Premium Select (DPS) provides up to 40 seats in a 2-4-2 layout. The remaining seats in Delta Comfort and Delta Main are arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration. Outbound flight DL181 departs Los Angeles at 23:50 local time, arriving in Manila at 5:30 a.m. on the third day, with a flight duration of 14 hours and 40 minutes. The return flight DL180 departs Manila at 7:40 a.m. local time, arriving in Los Angeles at 6:05 a.m. the same day, with a flight duration of 13 hours and 25 minutes.
Delta operates over 160 daily departures from Los Angeles International Airport during peak periods, serving more than 50 destinations. Over the past year, the airline has launched new routes to Chicago, Melbourne, and Hong Kong, resumed flights to Shanghai, and announced plans to connect Vancouver and Newark. Doug Webster, Chief Operating and Maintenance Officer of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), stated that the new route provides travelers with a direct connection to the Philippines, reflecting the partnership between the two entities.
Delta recently opened a second Delta One Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport, featuring 75 seats, upgraded dining services, and a more private environment. Delta One passengers can access dedicated curbside check-in and security lanes. Delta plans to offer a total of four lounge spaces at LAX by 2028, covering over 60,000 square feet and providing more than 1,000 seats. Currently, LAX is Delta's only hub with two Delta One Lounges and one standard Sky Club. Jeff Arinder, Delta's Vice President of Network Planning, stated that the addition of the Manila route solidifies Delta's position as the leading global carrier at LAX and its premier hub on the West Coast.
This route will challenge Philippine Airlines' long-standing monopoly on the Los Angeles-Manila route. Competition is expected to intensify further after Philippine Airlines joins the oneworld Alliance. Delta stated that the new route benefits its joint venture with Korean Air, both members of the SkyTeam Alliance, connecting passengers to over 300 destinations worldwide, including 60 in Asia. Korean Air operates multiple daily flights between its hub at Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Manila.
