Delta will soon put another pin on the map in Australia, opening up more options for travelers looking to get to the land down under.
On Friday (Saturday in Australia), the government of Victoria, Australia, announced Delta will launch nonstop flights between Los Angeles (LAX) and Melbourne (MEL) beginning in December 2025.
“Delta confirms it will be launching new nonstop service between Los Angeles and Melbourne on the Airbus A350-900, beginning in December 2025. We look forward to sharing more details in an official announcement in the coming days,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement.
Flights between Los Angeles and Melbourne will operate three times weekly, departing Los Angeles at 9:25 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and arriving in Melbourne at 8:15 a.m. local time on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Return flights from Melbourne will depart at 10:25 a.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, arriving in Los Angeles at 6:10 a.m. local time the same day.
The new 7,921-mile route will be operated by one of Delta’s longest-range Airbus A350-900 aircraft, featuring a mix of Delta One Suites, premium economy (dubbed Premium Select), and regular economy class seating.
Delta currently operates daily service between Los Angeles and Sydney (SYD) and Brisbane (BNE), so this new route adds yet another destination in Australia for U.S.-based travelers. Delta has been steadily growing its network in the South Pacific over the last several years, launching daily service from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand (AKL) in October 2023, and three times weekly flights to Tahiti (PPT) in December 2022.
“This is a win for the whole state – for tourism operators, businesses, hotels and restaurants, and for families and travelers. These new Delta flights will bring thousands more tourists from the whole of North America to Victoria.” Steve Dimopoulos, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, said in a statement.
Melbourne is Australia’s second-most populous city and home to the Australian Open tennis tournament. It is also one of the country’s most vibrant and culturally rich cities, known for its diverse population, world-class dining, thriving arts scene, and love of sports.
Delta will have some competition on its new LAX to MEL route from Australia’s flag carrier Qantas, which operates year-round between the two cities. United also flies to Melbourne from Los Angeles three times per week, but the airline plans to bump that up to daily service beginning Dec. 1, 2025. All this competition is a good thing for customers, though: When airlines compete, it almost always results in cheaper fares.
Much like the route to Brisbane, this new one to Melbourne is heavily subsidized by a partnership between the state of Victoria and Melbourne Airport. Only time will tell if these new routes stick around when the government assistance runs out.
Bottom Line
The government of Victoria, Australia, just announced that Delta will begin flying a new route from Los Angeles (LAX) to Melbourne (MEL) beginning in December 2025. This new flight further bolsters its South Pacific network, flying nonstop from its Los Angeles (LAX) hub.
