Delta Air Lines to fly nonstop between Los Angeles and Manila in 2027

The airline becomes the only US carrier flying nonstop between Los Angeles and Manila, challenging Philippine Airlines on the route

MANILA, Philippines – Delta Air Lines will begin flying nonstop between Los Angeles and Manila in March 2027, adding another US airline to the Philippine market.

The service will launch on March 28, 2027 with three flights a week before expanding to daily operations on June 7.

Delta will use an Airbus A350-900, offering economy, comfort, premium economy, and business-class cabins.

Delta will become the only US carrier flying nonstop between Los Angeles’ LAX and Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). It will, however, compete directly with flag carrier Philippine Airlines, which increased its own Manila-Los Angeles service from 14 to 18 flights weekly beginning in June 2026 amid growing demand between the Philippines and the US West Coast.

“More flights and more choices are good for travelers. Greater competition can help make air travel more accessible and affordable for Filipinos,” Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said in a press release on Saturday, July 18.

“We want our airlines to grow and succeed. At the same time, we welcome more airlines and more routes because a bigger market benefits everyone — travelers, airlines, airports, tourism enterprises, and the economy,” she added.

The United States remains the Philippines’ largest source of foreign visitors, with 707,394 arrivals recorded as of July 18, according to eTravel data cited by the Department of Tourism.

The new route is also expected to serve the large Filipino-American community in Southern California, making it easier for balikbayans and overseas Filipinos to travel home without passing through another airport.

Delta would become the second US-based passenger airline serving the Philippines. United Airlines is currently the only US carrier operating in the country, with services covering both Manila and Cebu.

Delta network planning vice president Jeff Arinder said the Manila route would also strengthen Los Angeles’ position as the airline’s main West Coast gateway as it expands its network across the Asia-Pacific region. – Rappler.com