dailynewsnblog
Delta Air Lines has disclosed another new long-haul route: 
Los Angeles to Manila. While it has not been officially announced yet, it was revealed in the airline’s response to Philippine Airlines’ application to the US Department of Transportation to begin flights from Manila to Chicago O’Hare.
This is déjà vu, of sorts. After all, Delta has a long history of previously flying to the Philippines, albeit primarily from its then-Tokyo hub, which was inherited from Northwest. And the commencement of nonstop service from the US mainland has been rumored for a long time. Now the plan is advancing.
Delta Nonstop From Los Angeles To Manila
As first identified by Enilria, 
Delta plans to service this long market, which covers 6,348 nautical miles (11,757 km) each way, daily using the Airbus A350-900. Flights are due to begin in the summer of 2027. That’s right: in more than 12 months’ time.
The amount of work involved in launching a brand-new long-haul route, from initial idea to first revenue flight, is usually considerable. As such, it is not uncommon for a significant amount of lead-in time to be given. Then again, Delta has not announced this route yet.
In February, American Airlines disclosed that it’ll fly the Airbus A321XLR from Philadelphia to Porto in 2027. Both routes have something else in common: they’re not currently bookable. That’ll change closer to the time.
Currently, no further details about Delta’s Manila route—the exact start date, schedule, operating period, fares, etc.—are currently known. They’ll be revealed in a few months or so. It’s similar to Riyadh Air, which just revealed its intention to begin a raft of new routes, without details.
Hang On: Why Los Angeles To Manila?
There is no denying it. As you might expect, it is an enormous market. In 2025, booking data suggests that 550,000 round-trip passengers flew between the two cities. That was equivalent to around 1,500 passengers daily. It was Los Angeles’ third most-trafficked Asian city, after Tokyo and Seoul. And by far the number one market between North America and the Philippines.
Most travelers were, of course, Filipinos and Filipino Americans. The market revolves around diaspora and visiting friends and relatives. While such segments are great for filling aircraft, they tend to be the lowest of the lowest for airline fares and yields. That’s because they don’t tend to involve much premium travel.
When all passengers flying all airlines in all cabins are included, the average one-way fare was $765 (including a fuel surcharge). In contrast, much more premium markets had much higher fares, such as $1,041 for Tokyo Haneda. And yet, Manila flights cover a third more distance each way, meaning they’re also significantly more expensive to operate.
Aside from the city pair’s sheer size, it is perhaps perplexing why Delta chose this market over other, higher-yielding opportunities. That’s especially the case given the sheer dominance of the incumbent operator, Philippine Airlines, which operates up to three times daily, nearly always on the Boeing 777-300ER.
|
Philippine Airlines’ Operations In July* |
Manila To Los Angeles; Local Times |
Los Angeles To Manila; Local Times |
|---|---|---|
|
Daily |
11:05 am-9:30 am (777-300ER) |
12:25 pm-6:00 pm+1 |
|
Four weekly |
3:15 pm-1:45 pm (777-300ER) |
4:55 pm-10:35 pm+1 |
|
Daily |
10:15 pm-8:40 pm (777-300ER) |
11:55 pm-5:30 am+2 |
Riyadh Air Reveals 15 New Global Routes: See All Flights Now
With 12 of the 15 routes already served by other airlines, Riyadh Air will face an uphill battle to establish itself in the crowded market?
Delta Plans Four Asian Routes From Los Angeles (For Now)
As of March 12, and subject to change, the SkyTeam member plans four Asian routes from its Los Angeles hub. It already serves Shanghai Pudong and Tokyo Haneda, while Hong Kong service will commence on June 6. And then there’s Manila.
It’ll be the first time that Los Angeles-Hong Kong has had three carriers since American pulled out six years ago. But Manila will be very different. Until now, it seems that only Philippine Airlines has ever had nonstop flights from Los Angeles. Delta will thus be the first US operator with nonstop service. It’ll capture passengers flying across the US.
What about San Francisco? Philippine Airlines competes directly with United’s double daily service. United’s first nonstop flights began in 2023. According to the US DOT, it filled a whopping 91.3% of Manila seats between December 2024 and November 2025. While this says nothing about yields, perhaps that contributed to Delta’s decision to fly from Los Angeles.
