NEW ROUTES 2026 #4: Delta Airlines East Coast to Los Angeles on A350 with Delta One Business Class

• NEW ROUTES 2026 #1: Turkish Airlines plays long game—Australia’s almost-direct route to Europe
• NEW ROUTES 2026 #2: Cathay Pacific returns to Adelaide
• NEW ROUTES 2026 #3: Korean Air’s new Prestige Suites for Sydney
• NEW ROUTES 2026 #4: Delta Airlines East Coast to Los Angeles on A350 with Delta One Business Class
• NEW ROUTES 2026 #5: Singapore Airlines with new A350 business class with doors — late 2026

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Delta began operating its new A350 aircraft to Melbourne late last year, giving travellers a third option, alongside Qantas and United, for direct flights to Los Angeles. The airline now flies from Melbourne and Brisbane three times a week, and daily from Sydney. Its Delta One Business Class seat has the edge on other US airlines, featuring full-height sliding doors, Missoni bedding and amenity kits, lumbar pillows for extra support, chef supervised menus and sommelier-selected wine pairings.

Background

I’m doing a series of posts on new routes in and out of Australia. Some are actually new routes, and some are new in the sense of having new aircraft, updated interiors, changed frequencies or other innovations. Looks like there will be nine posts in the series. I’ve already covered, and you can read about Turkish Airlines’ soon-to-be nonstop flights between Australia and Europe and Cathay Pacific’s revived route between Adelaide and Hong Kong. You can also read about Korean Air’s new Business Class Suites 2.0 coming to Sydney.

Introduction

For years, the Australia–Los Angeles corridor has been a fairly predictable market. If you were Australian, wanted familiarity and a strong loyalty program, you flew Qantas. If you wanted more flight options or Star Alliance benefits, you chose United Airlines.

Then Delta Air Lines quietly expanded its presence with Airbus A350-900 aircraft across Australia giving an additional choice of airline. What was once the ‘third option’ across the Pacific is now competing for the best option, putting the Qantas A380 to one side.

Routes and schedules

Delta currently operates multiple routes linking the Australian East Coast to Los Angeles, all timed to connect into the airline’s domestic US network.

Sydney (Daily)

• DL40 Departs Sydney at 09:25, arrives Los Angeles 06:00 same day
• DL41 Departs Los Angeles 22:30 arrives Sydney 06:30 (+2 days)

Melbourne (seasonal)

• DL12 Departs Melbourne at 10:25 arrives Los Angeles at 06:15 (same day)
• DL11 Departs Los Angeles at 21:25 arrives Melbourne at 08:15 (+2 days)

Brisbane (seasonal)

• DL92 Departs Brisbane at 10:40 arrives Los Angeles at 06:00 (same day)
• DL93 Departs Los Angles at 23:40 arrives Brisbane 08:20 (+2 days)

Aircraft and configuration

Delta normally deploys the Airbus A350-900 on the route. The aircraft typically seats around 306 passengers and features multiple cabins including 32 Delta One business class suites, 48 Premium Select premium economy, 36 Comfort+ extra-legroom seats and the Main Cabin economy section of 190 seats.

Seasonal operation

The Brisbane service is seasonal, generally operating during the northern winter schedule (roughly October or November through March). The route originally launched with three weekly flights when Delta introduced the service from Los Angeles to Brisbane. The typical weekly pattern is:

• Wed / Fri / Sun – Brisbane → Los Angeles
• Tue / Thu / Sat – Los Angeles → Brisbane

Delta One

Delta’s flagship Delta One suite has become one of the stronger premium offerings among US airlines. Each suite features sliding privacy doors, fully flat beds, high-definition screens, direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 layout and Missoni-designed bedding and amenity kits.

Premium Select and Economy

Delta’s Premium Select cabin is closer to international premium economy than the “extra legroom” products seen on some airlines. Passengers get wider seats in a 2-4-2 layout, increased recline, upgraded meals and larger entertainment screens.

Economy sits in a 3-3-3 configuration typical of the A350, but the aircraft’s quieter cabin and modern lighting system make long sectors noticeably less tiring than older widebodies.

Why travellers are choosing Delta

The real advantage often appears after landing.

Delta’s Los Angeles hub offers extensive onward connections across the United States — including New York, Seattle, Chicago, Atlanta and Austin — without needing to switch terminals or airlines.

For travellers heading beyond California, that connectivity can save several hours of travel time.

2PAXfly Takeout

Delta is making a mark in defiance of the sad reputation that most American airlines have. The Delta One service, and convenient transfers at LAX make this a viable option for Australians travellin to the USA. The Business Class suites are certainl vying for the best product over the Pacific.

The other downside is for Australians obsessed with collecting their Qantas status credits and loyalty points, are not going to get them with Delta. To get those its either Qantas, or the dreaded AA, or the long way round with Fiji Airways.