HONG KONG, June 8, 2026, 18:03 HKT
- Delta resumed daily Los Angeles-Hong Kong flights, returning to Hong Kong after several years out of the market.
- The route is one piece of a broader attempt to take on United’s dominance over the Pacific.
- The main tests are high fuel costs and tough competition from United and Cathay Pacific.
Delta Air Lines resumed its Hong Kong service Monday with daily nonstop flights to Los Angeles, moving to boost its position in Asia. Delta’s DL89 flight departed Los Angeles late June 6 and landed in Hong Kong at 5:05 a.m. on June 8, the airline said.
Delta isn’t calling Asia a niche play anymore. Peter Carter, who just became Delta’s president, told CNBC during the IATA meeting in Rio de Janeiro that Delta wants to be “stronger, better, faster” in the trans-Pacific — meaning flights between the Americas and Asia or Oceania — and is aiming to be the top U.S. airline in that market. LinkedIn
Delta gets closer to United Airlines here, as United still has the bigger Pacific reach of any U.S. carrier. United sells more flights to Australia than rivals, and it’s the only U.S. airline flying to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. Its booking site lists Hong Kong routes from both San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Delta is flying its new daily Hong Kong route using Airbus A350-900 jets fitted with Delta One Suites, Premium Select, Delta Comfort and Main Cabin. The airline said travelers have more than 30 one-stop options via Los Angeles.
“This service marks another step in Delta’s long-term growth across Asia-Pacific,” said Jeff Moomaw, Delta’s vice president for Asia Pacific, in the company’s launch statement. Moomaw said the airline is offering an “elevated, premium experience” on the new route. PR Newswire
Delta is adding another long-haul route out of its Los Angeles hub, which it calls its biggest global operation by seats and departures. When the airline announced Hong Kong and Chicago flights last year, it pitched them as part of a larger LAX expansion. “These additions strengthen Delta’s presence in two of the world’s most dynamic markets,” Paul Baldoni, the airline’s senior vice president of network planning, said then. Delta News Hub
Delta is adding more than just passenger capacity in Hong Kong. The airline said the route will help build up its cargo operations, calling it a new link for freight between Hong Kong and the U.S. On each A350 flight, Delta can move over 20 tons of cargo — including electronics, e-commerce, and perishables.
Cathay Pacific has three nonstop flights a day from Hong Kong to Los Angeles. United runs two nonstops daily on the same route, according to Upgraded Points. Delta hasn’t flown to Hong Kong from Seattle since October 2018, the travel site said.
Delta is counting on Korean Air, too. The two run a trans-Pacific joint venture, sharing revenue and syncing routes. That deal now connects over 80 cities in Asia and 290-plus in the Americas, according to Delta. With Korean Air taking in Asiana, the partnership gets bigger in Seoul, which is a major hub for connections.
Delta’s overnight westbound flights leave Los Angeles at 11:05 p.m. as DL89 and land in Hong Kong at 5:05 a.m. two days later. The DL88 runs the opposite direction, leaving Hong Kong at 9:25 a.m. and arriving in Los Angeles at 7:55 a.m., the airline said.
IATA’s latest numbers put the industry into a tougher cost environment. The group slashed its 2026 profit outlook to $23 billion—almost half the earlier forecast—blaming the Iran war for higher fuel prices and disrupted routings. Director General Willie Walsh told Reuters the hit from Gulf region turmoil and pricier fuel forced the cut. If capacity shrinks, airlines could pare back underperforming routes and keep fares high, Walsh said.
Delta is looking at Hong Kong as a trial to see if its focus on premium cabins, cargo and flights through Los Angeles can challenge United’s size and Cathay’s edge at home. The first flight is ceremonial, but the real test is getting passengers on board day after day.
