Key Takeaways
- Delta plans daily nonstop service between LAX and MNL.
- Airbus A350-900 aircraft will operate the route.
- US-Philippines market is one of the largest long-haul travel corridors for the Philippines.
Delta Air Lines has announced plans to launch a new daily nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Manila International Airport (MNL), using an Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The announcement comes as Philippine Airlines seeks approval to launch its own Manila to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) route, which would establish the first direct air link between the Philippines and the American Midwest. According to AeroTime, Delta has asked regulators to delay approval of Philippine Airlines’ flights until commercially viable airport slots are guaranteed. The airline argues that securing slots, gates, and related airport infrastructure at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport is a challenge for US carriers.