Delta added nonstop flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Tahiti (PPT) back in the winter of 2022, putting the dreamy French Polynesian islands within reach for millions of diehard Delta flyers. Sadly, that route may not live to see its fourth birthday.
That winter seasonal route had been scheduled to resume in late October, but Delta abruptly dropped it from its schedule over the weekend – the airline’s nonstop flights to Papeete are currently nowhere to be found on Delta.com, Google Flights, or other platforms. A Delta spokesperson declined to confirm the move, saying only: “We don’t have an update to share at this time.”
But it’s clear as can be: Delta’s nonstops to Tahiti will soon be a thing of the past, coming to a close after the current seasonal service ends in early June. The airline had flown that route for the past three winter (and spring) seasons, three times a week on a Boeing 767-300ER.
It’s a bucket list destination deep in the Pacific Ocean known for its world-class accommodations, pristine beaches, and pure solitude. Tahiti itself is dreamy, but it’s also just a stone’s throw from other amazing islands like Moorea, Rangiroa, and Bora Bora.
Part of Delta’s problem? That route was also incredibly crowded.
Air France, a close Delta partner, already flew the same Los Angeles to Tahiti route along with Air Tahiti Nui, which also added nonstop flights from Seattle (SEA) to Tahiti a few years back, too. United and budget airline French Bee offer nonstop service to Tahiti from San Francisco.
That led to some rock-bottom rates on Delta’s flight – especially for travelers looking to cash in some miles for the trip. Delta SkyMiles flash sales of 42,000 miles roundtrip – and sometimes even less – were a frequent occurrence. We sent Thrifty Traveler Premium members more than 10 alerts over the years with dirt-cheap rates, like this one.
It was the epitome of Delta’s “clearance meat” mentality when it comes to SkyMiles, offloading seats on struggling routes at a major bargain in hopes of giving its SkyMiles program a much-needed jolt. And yet despite those frequent discounts, federal records show that Delta’s flights to Tahiti routinely went out less than 70% full, on average.
Bottom Line
Delta appears to be cutting its route to Tahiti next winter.
While the current route is scheduled to continue flying until early June, the airline chopped its planned resumption in late October from its schedule. That’ll spell the end of Delta’s nonstop flights to French Polynesia.
