Delta Air Lines will increase its services in Melbourne to daily flights during the year-end peak.
The US airline, which began year-round Melbourne-Los Angeles services in December, currently flies three times a week to LAX, but will gradually increase its frequency seasonally between October this year and March 2027.
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Flights will go from three to four a week from October 13, then to five a week from October 27, then daily from December 22 and back to three a week after March.
LAX is one of the most popular hub airports in the US, offering connections to more than 190 domestic and international destinations.
“It is a pleasure to see Delta increase its commitment to Melbourne so soon after launch,” said Melbourne Airport head of aviation Jim Parashos.
“Delta’s capacity increase between Melbourne and Los Angeles reflects the demand we see for premium products between Victoria and the United States.”
Delta is challenging both Qantas and United Airlines, each of which operates services from Melbourne to LAX; United also flies to San Francisco, while Qantas flies to Dallas-Fort Worth. It comes ahead of the Los Angeles Rams game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground this year.
“We expect the NFL game being played at the MCG later this year to further stimulate travel demand to Melbourne, and Delta is now well positioned to capitalize on that,” Parashos said.
The new flights were enabled through the Victorian Government’s $7 million Industrial Partnership Programme. More than $385 million in visitor spending comes from the United States to Victoria each year, making it the state’s fifth-largest international market.
According to Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing Colin Brooks, the deal would “improve trade links and provide new opportunities for exporters, with producers now able to more reliably and directly access one of the world’s largest consumer markets.”
“This deal delivers an additional 86,000 seats a year between Victoria and the United States – a big win for travelers and tour operators, and a big boost for jobs with increased carrying capacity, opening up new opportunities for food, technology and manufacturing producers,” he said in December.
Delta currently flies 275-seat A350-900s between Melbourne and Los Angeles.
