DELTA AIRLINES: Starts Melbourne to LAX flights from today

Starting today, Saturday 6 December 2025, Melbourne’s long-haul travellers have a new way to cross the Pacific. Delta Air Lines has officially launched flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles. That makes the route a three-horse race alongside Qantas and United Airlines. It’s the first time an Airbus A350 has flown non-stop between Melbourne and the United States, at least a year ahead of Qantas and its Project Sunrise version.

If Qantas and United thought they could quietly split the market between them, Delta has arrived to remind everyone that competition is alive.

A premium heavy A350

Delta is sending one of its most luxurious aircraft down under. The A350 is equipped with 40 Delta One suites, each with closing doors, plus 40 Delta Premium Select seats in their own cabin. That’s more business and premium economy seating than the carrier typically installs on its long-haul A350s. There’s also a refreshed main Economy cabin.

Delta operates from Melbourne every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 10.20am, touching down in Los Angeles at a 6 am the same day. Not a glamorous hour, but it puts you in a perfect position to connect deeper into the Delta network, or head to your first work meeting.

40 onward destinations

Jeff Moomaw, Delta’s Vice President for Asia Pacific, says that only about half of passengers actually end their journey in Los Angeles. The other half head onward across Delta’s sprawling domestic network of more than 40 non-stop destinations. Think New York, Boston, Seattle, Minneapolis, Detroit and Atlanta, Delta’s home and one of the busiest hubs in the world.

Your transit experience is at the airline’s upgraded Sky Way precinct at LAX. Premium passengers have access to the Delta One Lounge, while others have access to the Delta Sky Clubs. For anyone who dreads the international transfer obstacle course at LAX, Delta promises a smoother experience.

The Flights

Delta operates the Melbourne–Los Angeles service using its premium-configured Airbus A350-900, featuring 40 Delta One suites with closing doors, 40 Delta Premium Select seats, and 226 Main Cabin seats for a total capacity of 306 passengers. This is Delta’s largest and most premium-heavy A350 layout, tailored for long-haul, business-heavy markets like Australia. From 6 December 2025, the flights are:

• DL11: Melbourne (MEL) 10:20 → Los Angeles (LAX) 06:00 (Wed, Fri, Sun)
• DL12: Los Angeles (LAX) 22:30 → Melbourne (MEL) 08:00+2 (Tue, Thu, Sat)

Melbourne–Los Angeles route comparison

Airline	Aircraft	Seats	Business	Premium	Economy	Frequency	Departure MEL	Arrival LAX
Delta	A350-900	306	40 Doored	40	226	3× weekly	10:20	06:00
Qantas	B787-9	236	42SkySuite	28	166	6× weekly	16:00	09:30
United Airlines	B787-9	257	48 Polaris	21	188	Daily	12:20	08:30

Delta now offers the most premium seats on the route, with the largest Business and Premium cabins. It’s followed by United, with its 48 Polaris seats. Qantas has the smallest cabin, but probably the highest loyalty and brand preference, plus it has connectivity with fellow OneWorld member American Airlines. The early arrival of Delta flights at 6 am probably gives them the edge on connections, while United has the most frequency with daily flights.

Delta has the advantage of these new high-spec A350s from Airbus, which may give it the edge, especially for premium passengers.

Melbourne’s tram culture

Delta says the flight numbers DL11 and DL12 are a quiet tribute to Melbourne tram routes 11 and 12, which run through St Kilda, Collins Street, Spring Street and Brunswick Street. Cute.

Victoria welcomed more than 200,000 visitors from the United States during the 2024–25 financial year, generating roughly USD$1,275 in spending per traveller. That’s the kind of tourism figure state governments and airlines both like to brag about.

What this means for Qantas and United, and for you

Delta’s arrival creates competition on the Melbourne to LAX route. Qantas and United have been plodding along with their Boeing 787-9s, offering respectable premium products. Delta’s A350, with more doored suites and a larger premium cabin, instantly becomes the most luxe aircraft on the route.

Qantas still offers the more extensive US partner network via American Airlines, but there’s no denying that Delta’s US coverage is convenient and fully integrated. If your ultimate goal is a city like Seattle, Nashville or Raleigh-Durham, Delta will get you there with less fuss.

Delta now services Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in Australia. The success of the new route may invite greater frequency.

2PAXfly Takeout

I always welcome increased competition on a route because it puts downward pressure on airfares. Adding a new competitor on this route is great in itself, but having a much superior aircraft and a premium product is even better. Armed with doored suites, a heavy premium skew, and a smooth transit experience in LAX is going to keep Qantas and United on their toes, and probably on the back foot for competition.