Delta Air Lines plans more long-haul flights in 2026 than in any other year. Between June and December, OAG data shows an average of 127 daily departures (double for both ways). Activity has increased by 5% year-over-year and by 16% compared to before the pandemic in 2019.

The SkyTeam member is the US’s second-largest long-haul operator. Only United Airlines has more departures (an average of 165 in the seven months). Delta’s strong position is despite having more seats per flight than the other Big Three US carriers.

This Is Delta’s Longest Nonstop Service

Credit: Shutterstock

The following list is based on the maximum block time, which is taken from the airline’s schedule submission to OAG. The highest figure available at any point between June and December is used, even if only one flight has that time.

It is measured as chocks-off-to-chocks-on, or gate-to-gate or stand-to-stand. It is what’s shown on the airline’s website, in other booking places, and in schedules. Reflecting slot possession, it includes taxi time at both airports, flight time, and a period for shot delays. It balances the need for a competitive schedule, high aircraft productivity, and high punctuality.

At up to 17 hours and five minutes, Johannesburg back to Atlanta remains Delta’s longest nonstop service. It is always first. Flights vary from daily during the northern summer to five weekly services in the northern winter. In all cases, the low-capacity, high-premium, 275-seat Airbus A350-900 is deployed. This configuration was partly designed to overcome Johannesburg’s hot-and-high nature and the consequence on the maximum payload and route performance.

Delta’s Second To Fifth-Longest Flights

Credit: Shutterstock

At up to 16 hours and 35 minutes, Cape Town back to Atlanta ranks second in the airline’s vast network. Flights vary from three weekly during the northern summer to five weekly in the northern winter. Based on the great circle distance, this very long market, which has operated since 2022, covers 7,065 nautical miles (13,084 km) each way. The 275-seat A350 is used.

In this article, only the longest direction of each route is included. After all, each leg of a specific airport pair is not a different route. It is just one part of it. Thus, while flights from Atlanta to Johannesburg (or Atlanta to Cape Town and some others) would also be right up there, they are not mentioned separately.

In third place is Detroit to Shanghai Pudong. At up to 16 hours and 15 minutes, Delta operates daily on both the 306-seat A350 and, in the winter, the 275-seat alternative. A new route is fourth. In December last year, the carrier took off from Los Angeles to Melbourne. Operating year-round, the frequency is mainly three weekly, but rises to daily for Christmas. All flights are on the 275-seater.

At up to 16 hours, Atlanta to Seoul Incheon is fifth and is the only route in the top ten to be served more than daily. This classic SkyTeam market is served twice-daily on Delta’s highest-premium A350 configuration. Korean Air also runs twice-daily on the 777-300ER. Previously, the A380 and 747-8i, among other equipment, were also used.

The Sixth To Tenth-Longest Routes

Credit: Shutterstock

In sixth place is Los Angeles to Hong Kong. At up to 15 hours and 45 minutes, this is a brand-new route on Delta’s map. The first departure from California will leave on June 6. Flights will operate daily using the carrier’s lowest-capacity A350 layout. The Pearl of the Orient was last part of Delta’s network in 2018, when it flew from Seattle. In the past, Seattle services operated via the carrier’s then-Tokyo Narita hub, which was inherited from Northwest.

Delta will compete head-to-head with Cathay Pacific and United. It’ll be the third carrier since 2020, when American, Cathay, and Hong Kong Airlines operated. United’s nonstop flights started in 2023. Given the increasing competition, it is a good job Delta will only use the 275-seat A350. After all, Los Angeles-Hong Kong was among United’s worst-performing long-haul market by load factor, and that was when only two carriers operated.

Another new route is seventh. At up to 15 hours and 35 minutes, it is Atlanta to Riyadh, with the first service leaving on October 23. Except for the first week, the brand-new route, which has never been served, will run three times weekly on the 275-seat A350. Then there’s Detroit to Seoul Incheon (at up to 15 hours and 30 minutes; daily A350), Los Angeles to Sydney (at up to 15 hours and 15 minutes; daily A350), and finally Los Angeles to Brisbane (at up to 14 hours and 40 minutes; three weekly A350 during the nothern winter).