Los Angeles — Delta Air Lines has overtaken United Airlines in the number of long‑haul, nonstop international destinations served directly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), further cementing its role as the dominant legacy carrier at the West Coast gateway.
Delta’s Rapid Expansion from LAX
Delta has recently ramped up its long‑haul operations out of Los Angeles. Notable additions include:
- The return of LAX–Shanghai service in June 2025 via Airbus A350‑900 aircraft
- Announcement of upcoming LAX–Melbourne service beginning in December 2025, also using A350‑900 jets .
- Existing nonstop routes include long-haul links to Sydney, Tokyo (Haneda), Paris, London, Auckland, Papeete (Tahiti), and others
Together, these services have increased Delta’s nonstop long‑haul footprint out of LAX to more cities than United currently flies nonstop from the same airport.
United’s LAX Long‑Haul Network
United maintains a robust international operation at LAX—including current nonstop flights to destinations such as Auckland, Brisbane, Hong Kong, Tokyo, London, Shanghai, and Singapore (LAX–Singapore launched in 2017 as the longest U.S. nonstop route at ~8,700 miles)
However, United recently expanded further, adding flights from LAX to Auckland, Brisbane) and doubling Hong Kong frequencies, though its total count of distinct nonstop long‑haul cities remains slightly behind Delta’s expanding roster .
Why This Shift Matters
- Market share and hub strategy: Delta holds the largest share of LAX traffic—roughly 19.5% of passengers—compared to United’s 15.5% The increase in Delta’s nonstop offerings underscores its deepening hub status at LAX.
- Fleet modernization: Delta’s reliance on efficient long‑range Airbus A350‑900 and A330 aircraft enables extended nonstop operations to high‑demand markets like Shanghai, Melbourne, and Sydney .
- Competitive strategy: United’s vast global network remains unrivaled overall—but in this specific metric of unique nonstop long‑haul destinations out of LAX, Delta has overtaken United by strategically launching new routes and resuming key services post‑pandemic.
Summary Comparison
| Carrier | Nonstop Long‑Haul Cities from LAX | Key Recent Updates |
|---|---|---|
| Delta | More nonstop long‑haul destinations than United | Shanghai resumed; Melbourne launching Dec 2025; established routes to Sydney, Paris, London, Tokyo, Auckland, Papeete |
| United | Slightly fewer than Delta | LAX–Singapore (legacy longest U.S. nonstop), new Auckland and Brisbane routes, expanded Asia‑Pacific service including daily Hong Kong flight |
