Delta To Launch New A350 Flight

Delta has outlined plans to deploy its Airbus A350 on a forthcoming long-haul route between Los Angeles and Manila for Summer 2027.

The airline would thus position itself across what it calls a lucrative corridor in response to Philippine Airlines’ equally ambitious bid to expand its own air service to North America.

But a new route is easier said than done, with many complications to work through before service can launch. What are they, and why is it this way?

A350 To Be Key For Delta’s Manila Flights

Delta’s proposed daily LAX-Manila flight underscores a commitment to continue evolving its transpacific network with more connectivity between the U.S. and Southeast Asia destinations.

Additionally, using the Airbus A350 for this service is part of the airline’s broader efforts to bring its state-of-the-art cabin experience to more destinations and to continue the shift towards greater reliance on new planes.

The A350’s capabilities make it the ideally suited option for the Los Angeles to Manila segment, and, with an already strong West Coast presence, it offers lower operating costs than older twin-aisle jets while maintaining a flexible payload.

Philippine Airlines Also In The Equation?

In the published filing, much of the discussion focused on Philippine Airlines, with Delta confirming that it does not oppose PAL’s Manila-to-Chicago application.

However, the U.S. carrier urges the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to defer approval until Philippine authorities can guarantee commercially viable slots, gates, and infrastructure for U.S. carriers like Delta.

This U.S airline has faced persistent hurdles in attaining this, as highlighted in its recent filing, and wants greater assurances despite the bilateral agreements in place. The airline also highlights the barriers to obtaining commercially viable slots, gates, and other infrastructure in Manila that would allow a service not just to launch but to be sustainable in the long term.

This is in contrast to what Delta has felt, where Philippine carriers have had greater ease in expanding their presence across the United States through new nonstop services and increased frequencies at major US gateways, including a recently launched Manila-to-Seattle nonstop service.

What Would Delta’s New Route Do?

Despite the ongoing tensions with the Philippines and, more specifically, Manila over access, Delta argues that there are strong positives to its proposed daily service between LAX and Manila in 2027 with the Airbus A350.

The carrier argues that its newly launched service would not only provide additional competition but also fresh routing options and expanded connectivity for those in the US and the Philippines.

However, Delta is also very aware that those benefits will only be felt by customers if carriers from both countries can offer the same level of service and a replicable opportunity to access Manila on commercially viable terms.