Delta Boosts A350 Flights From Los Angeles

Delta is boosting its Los Angeles (LAX)-Shanghai Pudong (PVG) route from October 2026, with additional Airbus A350-900 flights planned.

The change will increase the airline’s three weekly flights to five, effective 6 October 2026, as reflected in a recent schedule update and flagged by Aeroroutes.com.

For scheduling between 4 November 2026 and 31 December 2026, the following flight details apply.

DL39 departs Los Angeles at 1155, arriving in Shanghai at 1800 the following day; operations are on Monday and Tuesday for the additional flights.

DL38 departs Shanghai at 2015 and arrives in Los Angeles at 1605. Departures are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday for the two additional frequencies, given the time change.

Benefits For Passengers and The Network

Delta’s commitment to additional frequencies results in more flexible scheduling options for passengers flying to Shanghai or Los Angeles on this route.

Additionally, with the airline’s Airbus A350 cabin configuration featuring Delta One suites, there’s additional upper-class capacity between the two locations.

Delta, with the two additional weekly flights in time for the Northern winter schedule 2026/27, also adequately meets peak holiday demand and cuts the requirement for connections between California and China on specific days.

As Delta expands its global network, increasing capacity to key locations such as Shanghai Pudong with next-generation aircraft like the A350, it hopes that not just its bottom line but also customers will benefit.

Delta’s 2025 Service Relaunch To Shanghai

Delta’s decision to increase service to Shanghai follows the official recommencement in June 2025, after many years of suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Los Angeles-to-Shanghai service offered by the U.S. carrier could’ve resumed much earlier. In 2023, the airline announced plans to relaunch flights as of March 2024; however, the launch date was postponed several times.

At the time of the relaunch, Delta said it would operate the flight three times weekly; just over six months later, the airline is increasing capacity to Shanghai, enhancing its weekly nonstop flights between California and China.

The U.S. carrier’s commitment to the relaunch and to increasing capacity reaffirms its long-term relationship with the Chinese market. It underscores the importance of leveraging California as a hub to reach cities like Shanghai for both leisure and business travel.