Delta Air Lines is adding another longhaul flight from its Los Angeles hub with the addition of new service to Auckland, New Zealand.
Delta Air Lines Will Launch New Los Angeles – Auckland Service, Its First New Zealand Route
On October 28, 2023 Delta will launch a daily new nonstop service between Los Angeles (LAX) and Auckland (AKL) using an Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Oddly, Delta will utilize one of its “used” ex-LATAM A350s on the route, featuring:
- 30 Delta One (business class) seats
- 309 economy class seats
- 63 Comfort+ (extra legroom economy)
- 246 standard
Unlike its Delta One Suites featured on its primary sub fleet of A350 jets, the window seats on these jets in business class do not have direct aisle access. No seats have closing doors.
Delta will open its first Delta One Club at LAX in 2024, which will be a dedicated lounge for longhaul Delta One (business class) passengers.
If all previously announced routes do launch, Delta will go from having two longhaul flight from LAX (Sydney and Tokyo Haneda) to six, including:
- Auckland (AKL)
- London (LHR)
- Paris (CDG)
- Sydney (SYD)
- Tahiti (PPT)
- Tokyo (HND)
Justin Erbacci, the Chief Executive Officer of Los Angeles World Airports (which includes LAX), said:
“LAX continues to grow its global network of destinations that are connecting Angelenos to every corner of the globe, and Delta’s addition of nonstop service from Los Angeles to New Zealand is in lockstep with the airline’s commitment to expand and improve service to our region. Coupled with Delta’s international additions to Sydney and Tahiti, this is another exciting result of the ongoing and strong collaboration between LAX and Delta Air Lines as we connect more people across the Pacific and beyond.”
CONCLUSION
While I find Delta’s choice of aircraft on the Auckland route odd, I am excited about the new nonstop service from my home airport. American Airlines tried this route and it did not work and United Airlines has not launched it even though it partners with Air New Zealand. Tickets will go on sale shortly.
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