Delta has announced its return to the Philippines, with nonstop flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila. This move marks a significant expansion of the airline's transpacific service, which has been identified as a key area for growth in the coming years.
The airline's chief commercial officer, Joe Esposito, highlighted the high demand for travel to destinations in South Pacific and Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong and Melbourne, Australia, which Delta has recently launched nonstop service to. This new route will offer travelers an additional option for getting to Manila on points and miles.
Delta's return to Manila is not its first foray into the Philippines. The airline previously operated fifth-freedom service to MNL from Seoul and Tokyo, but those routes ended during the COVID-19 pandemic and never returned. This new service will make Delta the second airline to link LAX with MNL, following flag carrier Philippine Airlines, which is expected to become the next member of the Oneworld alliance.
The LAX-MNL route will be operated by an Airbus A350-900, which can accommodate as many as 40 Delta One suites depending on the cabin configuration. This announcement comes weeks after the airline unveiled its newest upscale Delta One Lounge at LAX, its second at the hub and the fifth in its network.
Delta's expansion into the Philippines is part of its broader strategy to strengthen its position as LAX's leading global carrier and premier West Coast hub. The airline's vice president of network planning, Jeff Arinder, said that the addition of Manila builds on the world-class travel experience that Delta's customers have come to expect.
The airline's transpacific service has been identified as a key area for growth in the coming years, with executives predicting significant opportunities for expansion. This latest announcement is expected to be followed by further developments in the region.
