Getting from the United States to the Philippines is about to become a little easier for Delta flyers.

Delta Air Lines has announced its first-ever nonstop service between Los Angeles International Airport and Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, adding the Philippines to its network from a mainland U.S. gateway.

The new route is scheduled to begin on March 28, 2027, with three flights per week. Delta plans to increase the route to daily service beginning June 7, 2027.

Delta will use its flagship Airbus A350-900, offering Delta One, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort and Main Cabin.

Delta’s New Los Angeles-to-Manila Route

The new flight will connect:

• Los Angeles International Airport: LAX
• Ninoy Aquino International Airport: MNL
• Service begins: March 28, 2027
• Initial frequency: Three flights per week
• Daily service begins: June 7, 2027
• Aircraft: Airbus A350-900

Delta will become the only U.S.-based airline operating nonstop service between Los Angeles and Manila. Philippine Airlines also serves the market, so Delta will not be the only airline offering a nonstop flight between the two cities.

That distinction matters because some early coverage has described the route simply as the only nonstop option. More accurately, it will be the only nonstop option operated by a U.S. carrier.

What the Airbus A350 Means for Travelers

The Airbus A350-900 is one of Delta’s primary long-haul aircraft and will provide four distinct cabin choices on the Manila route.

Delta One

Delta One is the airline’s international business-class cabin, offering lie-flat seating, upgraded meals, premium bedding and access to eligible Delta One ground services.

At Los Angeles, passengers confirmed in Delta One on the transpacific flight should be eligible to use Delta’s dedicated Delta One check-in facilities and Delta One Lounge, subject to Delta’s access rules at the time of travel.

Delta Premium Select

Premium Select provides a wider seat, additional recline, an adjustable footrest and more personal space than economy. It can be a useful compromise for travelers who want more comfort on a very long flight but cannot justify the cash or mileage cost of Delta One.

Delta Comfort and Main Cabin

Delta Comfort offers additional legroom and earlier boarding compared with standard Main Cabin seating. Main Cabin will remain the lowest-priced traditional economy option on the aircraft.

The exact seating layout and onboard amenities can vary between individual A350 aircraft, so check the seat map before selecting a flight or paying for a particular seat.

Why This Route Matters

Los Angeles is home to one of the largest Filipino communities outside the Philippines, creating substantial demand from travelers visiting friends and relatives.

The route may also be useful to passengers connecting from other Delta cities across the United States. Instead of connecting through Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei or another Asian gateway, travelers may be able to connect once at LAX and continue nonstop to Manila.

Delta described Los Angeles as a growing Asia-Pacific gateway. The Manila announcement follows other transpacific additions from LAX as the airline continues building its international network on the West Coast.

What This Means for Points and Miles Travelers

A new long-haul flight creates additional award inventory in theory, but it does not guarantee that reasonably priced awards will be easy to find.

Delta uses dynamic award pricing for flights booked with SkyMiles. The number of miles required can change based on travel dates, cabin, demand and cash pricing.

That means there may not be a fixed SkyMiles price for the new Manila route.

Watch for Schedule-Opening Availability

New routes can sometimes provide better award availability when flights first go on sale, particularly before the broader public has begun planning around them.

It may be worth searching soon after Delta loads the flights into its booking schedule, then checking again periodically as the launch date approaches.

Travelers with flexible dates should search the first few weeks of service as well as the period after daily flights begin in June. Increasing from three weekly flights to daily service adds substantially more seats to the market and could create additional award opportunities.

Compare SkyMiles With Cash Prices

Because Delta awards are dynamically priced, compare the number of SkyMiles required with the equivalent cash fare.

For example, a 100,000-mile award replacing a $1,000 fare produces roughly one cent per mile before accounting for taxes. A 100,000-mile award replacing a $3,000 fare provides much stronger value.

There is no single mileage price that is automatically good or bad. The value depends on the cash fare avoided, award flexibility and other ways you could use those miles.

Do Not Transfer Points Speculatively

American Express Membership Rewards points can be transferred to Delta SkyMiles, but transfers are generally permanent.

Even when a new route is exciting, transfer flexible points only after confirming that the specific flight and cabin you need are available at a price you are willing to pay.

Could Partner Miles Be Useful?

Delta is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, so the flight may eventually be bookable through participating partner programs when saver-level partner inventory is released.

Potential programs to watch include Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. However, partner availability is controlled by Delta and may be limited or completely unavailable in premium cabins.

Partner programs also have their own award pricing, taxes, fees and change policies. Do not assume that a partner booking will always cost fewer miles than booking through Delta.

The best approach will be to compare:

• The Delta cash fare
• The Delta SkyMiles price
• Any available Flying Blue award
• Any available Virgin Atlantic award
• Alternative flights through another Asian gateway

Delta’s Expanding Los Angeles Presence

Delta has invested heavily in its Los Angeles operation, including improvements across Terminals 2 and 3 and expanded premium lounge facilities.

The airline recently opened an additional Delta One Lounge in Terminal 2. Delta says Los Angeles is now the first airport in its network with two Delta One Lounges.

By 2028, Delta expects to operate four dedicated lounge spaces at LAX totaling more than 60,000 square feet and more than 1,000 seats.

Those facilities are particularly relevant on a long-haul flight such as Manila, where eligible premium passengers may spend several hours at the airport before departure.

Alternatives From the United States to Manila

Delta’s new route will not be the only way to reach the Philippines nonstop from the United States.

Philippine Airlines currently operates nonstop service between Manila and several U.S. gateways, including Los Angeles. Depending on your origin, destination, fare and award availability, Philippine Airlines or a connecting itinerary may still be a better fit.

Other common options include connecting through:

• Tokyo
• Seoul
• Taipei
• Hong Kong
• Singapore

Those connecting flights can open additional award possibilities through programs such as Air Canada Aeroplan, American Airlines AAdvantage, Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards and United MileagePlus, depending on the operating airline and available inventory.

Do not focus only on the nonstop flight. A well-timed connection may cost fewer miles, offer a better premium cabin or provide more schedule flexibility.

Should You Plan Around This Route Yet?

The route has been formally announced, but it does not begin until March 2027.

Airlines can adjust schedules, frequencies and aircraft assignments before launch. Travelers should avoid making separate nonrefundable plans until their flights are ticketed and should continue monitoring the reservation afterward.

It is also worth leaving extra time when booking positioning flights to Los Angeles. A separately ticketed domestic flight provides less protection if a delay causes you to miss the international departure.

Getting to the Point(s)

Delta’s new Los Angeles-to-Manila flight is a meaningful addition for travelers heading to the Philippines, particularly those based in Southern California or connecting through Delta’s domestic network.

The route begins three times per week on March 28, 2027, before increasing to daily service on June 7. Delta’s Airbus A350 will provide four cabins ranging from Main Cabin to lie-flat Delta One.

For points travelers, the biggest question will be pricing. Delta’s dynamic SkyMiles model can produce wildly different award rates, and partner-program availability may be limited.

Search early, compare multiple programs and avoid transferring flexible points until the exact award you want is available. And remember that the nonstop flight may be convenient without necessarily being the best value.

Sources & Further Reading

• Delta News Hub: Meet Manila
• Delta News Hub: Los Angeles International Airport Updates
• Delta: Los Angeles Airport and Lounge Information
• The Points Guy: Delta Announces Nonstop Manila Route
• Upgraded Points: Delta Confirms Manila Flights
• thePointsPage Transfer Bonus Master List

Airline schedules, aircraft assignments, award availability, mileage prices, transfer-partner rules and lounge-access policies can change before travel. Verify the current operating schedule and program terms before transferring points or booking nonrefundable arrangements.