Delta Air Lines will return to the Philippines market in March 2027, connecting Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL).
Flights will begin March 28, operating three times per week using Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The frequency will increase to daily from June 7. Delta will be the only U.S. airline flying nonstop between Los Angeles and Manila—although Philippine Airlines already serves the route.
The launch will mark Delta’s return to the Philippines after a seven-year absence. The airline previously served Manila from Tokyo Narita Airport, ending the fifth freedom route in March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic.
The new Los Angeles-Manila service targets the largest Philippines-U.S. city-pair market. Sabre Market Intelligence data shows that Manila-Los Angeles generated about 368,000 two-way O&D passengers in 2025, down 7.7% from almost 399,000 in 2024.
About 150,000 of those passengers traveled nonstop during 2025, while approximately 218,000—59% of the market—used connecting services. Taipei was the largest connecting point, accounting for about 116,000 passengers, followed by Seoul Incheon Airport with 40,000 and Hong Kong International Airport with about 19,500.
The data suggests Delta will be competing not only with Philippine Airlines’ nonstop operation but also with a range of one-stop options. Delta’s joint venture partner Korean Air is significant, given Seoul Incheon’s role as the second-largest connecting hub in the market.
The broader Philippines-U.S. market is also expanding. OAG Schedules Analyser data shows that airlines are offering about 1.01 million two-way nonstop seats during the summer 2026 season, up 22.4% from 826,000 a year earlier.
Philippine Airlines accounts for about 72% of summer 2026 capacity, serving Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Honolulu and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport. United Airlines has the remaining 28% through its San Francisco-Manila service.
Delta first revealed its intention to launch Los Angeles-Manila service in a March 11 filing with the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT), submitted in response to Philippine Airlines’ application for authority to begin flights between Manila and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
In the filing, Delta said it planned to operate daily service during the summer 2027 season. However, it urged the department to defer Philippine Airlines’ application until the Philippine government provided written assurances that Delta would receive commercially viable slots, gates and infrastructure access at Manila.
Philippine Airlines subsequently told DOT that Philippine aviation authorities supported Delta’s planned entry. A letter from the Philippines’ Civil Aeronautics Board said it stood ready to act favorably on Delta’s applications for schedules and slots, subject to applicable regulations.
Delta withdrew its objection on April 3, requesting instead that any exemption granted to Philippine Airlines be limited to one year. DOT approved the Manila-Chicago authority on April 9 through April 9, 2027, saying it saw no reason to delay the application.
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