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The airline will become the only U.S. carrier offering direct service between Los Angeles and the Philippine capital.
Delta Air Lines will launch flights between Los Angeles and Manila, Philippines, next year, becoming the only carrier in the United States to operate direct service between the two cities.
The new route will take off starting March 28, 2027, flying between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), the airline shared with Travel + Leisure. The service will initially operate three times per week before increasing to daily service on June 7, 2027.
“Manila is a natural addition to our growing international network from Los Angeles, one of the world’s leading gateways and home to one of the largest Filipino communities outside the Philippines,” Jeff Arinder, Delta’s vice president of network planning, said in a statement shared with T+L. “Whether customers are traveling for business, visiting loved ones, or discovering everything the Philippines has to offer, this new service makes those journeys even easier.”
The carrier will operate the flight aboard an Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which includes four cabins: Delta One, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort, and Delta Main. The flight will depart LAX at 11:50 p.m., arriving in Manila at 5:30 a.m., with a 14 hour and 40 minute flight time. The return flight will take off at 7:40 a.m. and is scheduled to land back in Los Angeles at 6:05 a.m. following a 13 hour and 25 minute flight.
One-way fares start as low as $702 throughout the spring and early summer, according to a T+L search on Google Flights.
Besides Delta, Philippine Airlines currently operates multiple flights between Los Angeles and Manila each day.
The Philippines, known for its stunning beaches and thousands of incredible islands, is an outdoor lover’s paradise where visitors can go hiking, enjoy top-level surfing, and more. In fact, the 4,550-square-mile island of Palawan was named T+L readers’ favorite in Asia last year, described as “paradise” thanks to its interior rainforests, rugged limestone cliffs, mountainous terrain, and rich biodiversity. Palawan is also home to the No. 1 beach in the world—Entalula Beach—according to The World’s 50 Best Beaches. And in Manila, travelers can explore the city’s amazing dining scene from hot spot fine dining restaurants to cozy wine bars.
Last year, more than 5.9 million foreign travelers visited the Philippines, according to the Philippine News Agency, a government newswire service. That remains below pre-pandemic levels from 2019.
The new service announcement comes on the heels of Delta’s decision to introduce discounted “Basic” fares for select premium cabins, removing perks like advance seat selection and lounge access in favor of a more affordable price tag.
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
