Delta Air Lines to Resume Nonstop Manila-Los Angeles Flights in 2027

MANILA, Philippines — Delta Air Lines, a major airline in the United States, announced that it will launch nonstop flights between Manila and Los Angeles next year. "We have an update," it wrote in an Instagram post. "You asked. We listened. Now book it starting 7/18," the carrier added, announcing that bookings for the route are now open. A post shared by Delta Air Lines (@delta) Jeff Arinder, Delta’s Vice President of Network Planning, said the addition of Manila "builds on the world-class travel experience our customers have come to expect from Delta while strengthening our position as LAX’s leading global carrier and premier West Coast hub." The New Ninoy Aquino International Airport Infra Corp. said Delta will resume its MNL-LAX flight beginning March 28, 2027, operating three times a week before expanding to daily service on June 7. The airline will operate the route using the Airbus A350-900. According to New NAIA Infra Corp., Delta will be the only U.S. airline operating nonstop flights between Manila and Los Angeles. The airport then welcomed the airline's return that adds to the growing number of international carriers expanding services to Manila. "Welcome back to NAIA, Delta!" it said. The Department of Tourism also welcomed Delta's announcement of the new route. "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. "The goal is to grow the overall market," she added. "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." According to eTravel data cited by the DOT, the United States remains the Philippines' leading source market, with 707,394 recorded visitor arrivals as of July 18 this year. Apart from tourism and business exchanges, the agency said the new route is expected to make homecomings easier for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the Filipino-American community while providing another gateway for American travelers to visit the Philippines. "For many Filipino-Americans, coming to the Philippines is more than a vacation. It is a journey home," Angara-Mathay said. She added that the DOT will continue working with international and Philippine carriers to expand connectivity, open new markets, and make it easier for more people to experience the Philippines. The DOT also said it is working to curate travel experiences for balikbayans and second- and third-generation Filipino-Americans seeking to reconnect with their heritage. Delta previously served Manila through its former hub at Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT), but discontinued the service in 2020.