Delta Expands Flight Service to Melbourne
Hold onto your seatbelts, folks! Delta Air Lines is gearing up to bust into the South Pacific market, a territory where they’ve historically been as dominant as a Goldfish in a shark tank. Hats off to those who’ve been keeping their eyes peeled for this announcement.
Delta was supposed to break the news last week, but a tragic incident in the U.S. airspace threw a wrench in their plans. Despite the hustle and bustle, Delta’s setting the stage for this new route, and we’ve got some insider details for you!
Delta will start flying to Melbourne, Australia
Mark your calendars for December 3, 2025, because that’s when Delta is rolling out a new flight service between Los Angeles (LAX) and Melbourne (MEL). This 7,921-mile romp across the skies will be a tri-weekly affair, boasting the following lineup:
DL11 Los Angeles to Melbourne departing 9:25 PM and landing at 8:15 AM (+2 days)
DL12 Melbourne to Los Angeles departing 10:25 AM and touching down at 6:10 AM
Settle in folks, because this westbound journey will take a good 15 hours and 50 minutes, airing on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The eastbound trek is a bit shorter at 14 hours and 45 minutes, available on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Boarding the flight? You’ll be seated in one of Delta’s swanky premium Airbus A350-900s. That’s 275 seats of pure comfort, including 40 cushy business class recliners, 40 premium economy spots, 36 extra legroom niches, and 159 regular economy seats.
It looks like tickets will be dropping soon, likely by this weekend, but inventory is still in the wings.
For those keeping score, this will be Delta’s third longest flight, following behind its marathon runs from Atlanta to Cape Town and Johannesburg. Once this bird takes off, Melbourne will be Delta’s fifth notable touchdown in the South Pacific, joining the ranks of Sydney, Auckland, Brisbane, and Papeete.
How this fits into the competitive landscape
In the battle of the skies, Delta’s been the underdog when it comes to South Pacific routes, trailing behind its big three brethren:
- American Airlines doesn’t flex much of its own fleet muscle to the South Pacific, but thanks to a joint venture with Qantas, it’s well-covered.
- United stands tall with the most flights in the sector, fortified by its team-up with Virgin Australia.
As for the Los Angeles to Melbourne circuit, Delta’s going head-to-head with two titans: Qantas and United. But, Delta might find themselves tripping over the frequency hurdle. While their rivals serve up daily flights during high-demand seasons, Delta’s offering is a modest thrice-weekly service.
But why the sudden leap into Melbourne’s arms, Delta? Well, let’s just say Delta loves following the scent of subsidies. They started this trend with their subsidized flights to Brisbane in 2024, and now they’re doing a similar fandango in Melbourne. Who can blame them for chasing easy money?
This venture is a collaboration between the Allan Labor Government and Melbourne Airport, fueled by a fresh funding initiative announced in the Labor Government’s Economic Growth Statement. Through the Industry Partnerships Program, Visit Victoria gets to match funds from industry players for destination marketing.
Will these new services to Brisbane and Melbourne hold up after the financial carrots disappear? Or is Delta just fattening up their balance sheet temporarily? Only time will tell.
Bottom Line
Come December 2025, Delta is charting a new flight path from Los Angeles to Melbourne three times a week, soaring sky-high in their shiny Airbus A350s. While Delta’s been expanding slowly but surely in the South Pacific, their latest moves have been spurred by government incentives.
Ultimately, this route gives Delta a chance to make the most out of their wide-body airliners, especially off-peak. Sounds like a savvy move to me.
What’s your take on Delta’s latest Melbourne-bound adventure? Explore and unwind at the Val Seny ski resort.