Delta to fly LAX-MEL x3 Weekly from NW25/26

[HS-TQE]

Flights will operate from December 2025. Proudly funded by the Victorian Government and Melbourne Airport under the Aviation Fund and the Industry Partnerships Program (IPP)

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-01/250201-New-Direct-Los-Angeles-Flights-A-Win-For-The-Whole-State.pdf?utm_source=miragenews&utm_medium=miragenews&utm_campaign=news

 

[jrfsp]

Long lead time! Can the market support a 3rd airline.......especially with a declining AU$

 

[markis10]

Long lead time! Can the market support a 3rd airline.......especially with a declining AU$

Good question, LAX - MEL declined from 21700 to 17500 pax carried from Nov 23 vs Nov 24

 

[AIRwin]

Can the market support a 3rd airline.......especially with a declining AU$

Same frequency as VA previously?

 

[HS-TQE]

Same frequency as VA previously?

VA/DL was 4x weekly previously (SYD was double-daily (daily each from DL and VA) and BNE was 5-6x weekly).

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Great news. Hopefully it becomes a permanent fixture.

 

[levelnine]

Excellent news. More competition on Transpac is very welcome.

 

[Mwenenzi]

As a Victorian tax paper would rather my tax $$ were spent on other more important things. Like a city to airport rail link.

MEL airport news release (dated 02 Feb, but its 01 Feb here in Melbourne)
--> Melbourne Airport lands a US giant, with Delta to launch flights to LAX

One of the world’s largest airlines will add Melbourne to its extensive network, with Delta Air Lines confirming it will launch direct flights from Los Angeles later this year.

The new service will initially operate three times per week from early December, with plans to grow as further long-haul A350 aircraft enter the fleet. Delta will become the first airline to fly the Airbus A350 non-stop from Melbourne and the United States, with the 275-seat aircraft fitted with Delta’s brand-new four-class cabin, including 40 premium Delta One suite
<snip>

 

[levelnine]

As a Victorian tax paper would rather my tax $$ were spent on other more important things. Like a city to airport rail link.

'The Industry Partnerships Program (IPP) allows Visit Victoria to match funding from industry partners for destination marketing'

My guess is Delta is not proposing to spend tens of billions of dollars on this route.