Delta Air Lines Expands South Pacific Presence With New Los Angeles-Brisbane Route

Delta Air Lines is expanding its presence in the South Pacific region with an upcoming service to Australia's third-largest city, Brisbane.

[LAX, BNE]

Expanded Australia Schedule

Delta will inaugurate seasonal service from its Los Angeles (LAX) hub to Brisbane (BNE) on December 6, 2024. This route will operate three times per week through March 28, 2025.

Brisbane, the capital of Australia's Queensland state, will be Delta's second Australian destination after Sydney (SYD).

Delta operates two daily flights between Los Angeles and Sydney using its Airbus A350-900 fleet. The upcoming route to Brisbane will also utilize the A350-900, one of Delta's newest and most modern widebody aircraft. The carrier offers four cabin classes on its A350-900s: Delta One Suites, Delta Premium Select (Premium Economy), Delta Comfort+, and Main Cabin.

Joe Esposito, Delta's Senior Vice President of Network Planning, said about the new service:

"With this addition of Brisbane, Delta's upcoming winter schedule will offer our customers up to 17 weekly flights between the U.S. and Australia. This marks our most extensive schedule to the South Pacific to date, and as we build our presence in the region, we know our customers will enjoy the enhanced experience consistently provided by Delta."

Brisbane's tourist attractions include top-tier art galleries, scenic cycling trails, vibrant food markets, and the world's largest koala sanctuary. Visitors can also embark on day excursions to Moreton Island, the world's third-largest sand island, offering activities such as dolphin feeding. Brisbane also provides easy access to Australia's Gold Coast and Noosa resort area. Tourists can also take excursions to the Great Barrier Reef or westward towards the Outback.

Delta will be the third U.S. carrier serving Brisbane once its LAX-BNE service launches in December. United Airlines currently offers daily service to San Francisco (SFO) and a seasonal route from Los Angeles. American Airlines recently announced seasonal service from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), starting on October 29. 

Delta will become the fourth option for travelers from Brisbane who want to visit the United States. The carrier will compete with Qantas and United on the Los Angeles route, while United remains uncontested from San Francisco, and American will remain such from Dallas/Fort Worth.

South Pacific Schedule

Delta's Los Angeles hub has become its sole gateway to the South Pacific. In addition to increasing its LAX-SYD service to twice daily and inaugurating seasonal service to Brisbane, Delta has made other strides in servicing the South Pacific region. In October 2023, the carrier launched daily service from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand (AKL) with the Airbus A350-900. In December 2022, Delta added a thrice-weekly service from LAX to Papeete, Tahiti (PPT) using the Boeing 767-300ER.

Airlines adding new routes every so often shows the industry's strong comeback following the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in Australia, New Zealand, and the broader South Pacific region. This region experienced some of the strictest lockdowns and restrictions during the pandemic. Introducing new intercontinental routes showcases these countries' commitment to attracting tourists and encouraging their citizens to travel internationally.