Delta axes Sydney-LAX flights
The US airline and Virgin Australia partner will pull out of Australia until at least mid-April.
By David Flynn, March 17 2020
Delta Air Lines will join American Airlines in suspending daily flights between Sydney and Los Angeles from this week as the coronavirus and related travel restrictions apply a chokehold to demand on the trans-Pacific corridor.
In an advisory note to travel agents today and sighted by Executive Traveller, Delta writes that "as a result of the impact of COVID-19 on travel demand and following restrictions issued by the Australian government, Delta Air Lines is temporarily suspending service from Sydney to Los Angeles beginning 20 March 2020 through to 13 April 2020."
(This note originally read "18 March", but travel agents received an update on March 18, revising this to "20 March".)
The 13-hour trek is currently flown by a Boeing 777-200LR jet featuring the flagship Delta One business class suites.
While the SkyTeam member adds that "our partner Virgin Australia still continues to provide services to Los Angeles from Australia, and codeshare flights may be booked over the period Delta is not in operation," Virgin has today revealed it will cease all international flying from March 30 following tough new travel restrictions enacted in recent days by both the US and Australia governments.
Read more: Virgin Australia grounds all international flights
Qantas has also flagged extensive cuts to its international network to take effect by the end of this month, with the USA expected to figure prominently in a scything of almost 90% capacity and a grounding of up to 150 long-range jet including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787.
American Airlines will pause its own Sydney-LAX flights from March 18 through to at least May 6. United Airlines could follow suite, and has today revealed it will close all five flagship Polaris international lounges in US as of March 18.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
05 Sep 2013
Total posts 47
Thank you for updates David. Hopefully you and your team are safe and healthy. Stay strong everyone and wash your hands.
17 Mar 2020
Total posts 2
Hi there, Where did you get this info? I am on the SYD-LAX flight on. 18 March, as of now, I haven't received any notification that the flight is cancelled. I'm checked in and showing a completely full flight. Would they really cancel a full flight?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2555
Hi TitleFight 88 – this was an advisory sent from Delta to local travel agents today via its 'faresheets.au' mailing list. It cites SYD-LAX as being suspended from March 18, so that's what we have listed, but the change has yet to appear on Delta's website and it could be that March 18 is the final leg of LAX-SYD, which would make March 20 the final SYD-LAX service.
17 Mar 2020
Total posts 2
I am seeing that now. When looking to book SYD to LAX on the 19th on, the only option is the VA flight. Good info! Thanks for sharing.
09 Apr 2020
Total posts 1
Has this now been extended until June 1?
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Delta axes Sydney-LAX flights