Delta Air Lines to begin nonstop Los Angeles-Manila flights in March 2027

Delta Air Lines will launch nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport and Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 28, 2027. The airline plans three flights per week at launch before expanding to daily operations on June 7.

Delta will operate the route with Airbus A350-900 aircraft configured with economy, comfort, premium economy, and business-class cabins. The carrier will become the only U.S. airline offering nonstop flights on the Los Angeles-Manila route.

Competition and market context Philippine Airlines currently operates 18 weekly flights on the same route after increasing service from 14 flights in June 2026. Delta's entry will place the two carriers in direct competition. United Airlines remains the only U.S. passenger airline currently serving the Philippines, with flights to both Manila and Cebu.

Tourism and community impact The United States is the Philippines' largest source of foreign visitors, with 707,394 arrivals recorded as of July 18, 2026, according to eTravel data cited by the Department of Tourism. The new route is also expected to serve the Filipino-American community in Southern California.

"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 July 18 press release. "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. Delta network planning vice president Jeff Arinder said the Manila route would strengthen Los Angeles' position as the airline's main West Coast gateway as it expands its network across the Asia-Pacific region.