Beginning in June 2026, you will be able to fly Delta Air Lines (DL) nonstop from Los Angeles (LAX) to both Hong Kong (HKG) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD).

The new services will operate once and 3 times per day, respectively, beginning June 6 and 7 and underscore the U.S. legacy carrier’s investment in LAX as a major hub for all passenger types, calling it “a premier coastal gateway”, while boosting interline and codeshare relationships.

“Launching service to Hong Kong and Chicago from LAX strengthens our presence in two of the world’s most dynamic markets,” says Delta’s Senior Vice President of Network Planning, Paul Baldoni. “As the largest global carrier at LAX, we’re continuing to invest in routes that matter to our customers and deliver the premium travel experience that they’ve come to expect from Delta.”

To Hong Kong, DL will deploy its flagship Airbus A350-900, and to ORD, Boeing 737-800 jets will be used; however, competition will be fierce for both new routes.

Hong Kong already sees up to 5 daily flights split between Cathay Pacific (CX) and United (UA) on 777-300ERs and 787-9s, respectively, offering up to a combined capacity of 9,628 seats per week up against Delta’s 1,925 weekly seats it will offer once service begins.

One advantage of the Hong Kong flight is that it will strengthen Delta’s joint venture with fellow SkyTeam member Korean Air (KL). In the press release, Delta says the route will “further expand the partnership’s reach and enhance travel options for customers across the Pacific.”

As for Chicago, it’s even more saturated. All three of the U.S. big three will operate the route from LAX (where each has a hub) to ORD, an American Airlines (AA) and United hub. Both American and United operate flights between these cities, alongside Spirit (NK) and Frontier Airlines (F9). All said, LAX-ORD has 26 regularly scheduled flight numbers between four carriers, operated by a range of aircraft, including the Boeing 737, Airbus A321neo, Boeing 757-300, and even the occasional 767-300ER and 787-9.

It will be interesting to see if Delta will be able to sustain 3,360 weekly one-way seats on the O’Hare leg.

In the same press release, the carrier says, “Delta’s new service between LAX and Chicago O’Hare connects two of the nation’s most influential cities, each a hub for commerce, culture, and travel. With schedules tailored for both business and leisure, the route offers Angelenos quick access to Chicago’s manufacturing, insurance, and financial sectors ... For Midwestern travelers, it provides a convenient gateway to LA’s tech and entertainment industries, along with seamless connections to Delta’s growing West Coast and transpacific network via LAX.”

In addition, Doug Webster, Chief Operations and Maintenance Officer, Los Angeles World Airports, says, “As one of the world’s busiest airports, LAX is proud to welcome Delta’s new nonstop service to two critical global hubs, Hong Kong and Chicago. These routes not only enhance our trans-Pacific and domestic reach but also reflect the strength of our partnership with Delta in delivering world-class service to travelers across the Pacific and key destinations throughout the United States.”

Delta at LAX

Currently, Delta’s West Coast hubs include Seattle (SEA), Salt Lake City (SLC), and Los Angeles (LAX). While the former two have built up quite extensive intercontinental networks over recent years, Los Angeles is arguably the most significant, especially for those heading westbound.

Tokyo-Haneda (HND) and the new Shanghai (PVG) service currently comprise the carrier’s offerings to Asia. In contrast, Sydney (SYD), Auckland (AKL), Brisbane (BNE), and Melbourne (MEL), the last of which begins this winter, comprise the Oceania network. The carrier also offers direct connections to over 50 destinations, with more than 155 flights on peak days.

And it's not just in network; Delta has also been updating its ground hard-product experience at the airport. In October, it opened its flagship Delta One lounge at LAX and has invested $2.3 billion (USD) in Terminal 3, now featuring a centralized check-in lobby, an expanded security checkpoint, a Delta Sky Club, and Sky Way, which eliminates the need for buses between T3 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Commenting on the infrastructure upgrades in a press release in 2023, Scott Santoro, Vice President of Global Sales at Delta said “This modern, state-of-the-art facility has been at the center of Delta’s efforts to become the premier airline of Los Angeles, and now, … we are better equipped than ever to provide Angelenos and all of our customers traveling through LA with the truly seamless and elevated experience that they deserve.”

All of these network and ground product updates solidify a part of Delta’s plan to expand its footprint at LAX over the next three years, leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, for which the carrier is the founding partner and official airline. After Paris 2024, one of the airline’s A350s, adorned in a special LA28 colour scheme, carried the Olympic flag to the city of angels for the upcoming games.