Hello Los Angeles! Delta makes history with new Australian flight
Delta Air Lines achieved a major milestone today with the launch of its first-ever flights to New Zealand between Los Angeles and Auckland.
Flight DL65 took off from Los Angeles International Airport at 11pm on October 28 (local time), carrying 339 passengers, representing more than 90 percent occupancy.
Departure was celebrated with a festive New Zealand-style gateway event, featuring a traditional Maori powiri ceremony, New Zealand souvenirs and signature Kiwi snacks.
The flight landed at Auckland International Airport at 7:55 a.m., where its arrival was welcomed with a similar bowiri ceremony and speeches from representatives of Delta Air Lines, Auckland Airport, Tourism New Zealand and the US Consulate.
Before departing for its return flight to Los Angeles International Airport at 2 p.m., the DL64 departure featured informal speeches and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, featuring representatives from Delta Air Lines and Oakland Airport, as well as two of the flight’s captains.
The 12-hour flight service will operate year-round, with daily flights from November to March and three flights per week from April to October.
Traveling between Oakland and Los Angeles from November to March will have a choice of three distinct experiences: Delta One, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin.
From April 2024, the carrier will operate its flagship Airbus A350-900 aircraft on this route, which includes Delta One Suites, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and main cabin services.
Notably, the inaugural flight was made special by the impending retirement of Captain Shun Onitsuka, who ended his distinguished 36-year career with the carrier upon his return to Los Angeles on October 31.
What flyers can expect
Delta One and Delta Premium Select passengers on the Los Angeles to Oakland route can enjoy lie-flat seats and premium offerings such as handcrafted products Someone somewhere Amenity kits, eco-friendly bedding, expanded pre-flight beverage options, and chef-supervised three-course meals, among other features.
Meanwhile, Delta Premium Select passengers will get wider seats, deeper recline, adjustable footrests and leg rests on most flights, and an enhanced dining experience. This category also includes luxurious hand-crafted amenities and dedicated service touchpoints.
All passengers will receive personal seatback entertainment screens featuring a range of premium content on Delta Studio, in-seat power outlets, fast streaming Wi-Fi (available for purchase) and free mobile messaging.
Delta It is the largest airline operating out of Los Angeles International Airport, with passengers arriving from New Zealand able to connect to nearly 60 cities across the United States and Latin America.
The carrier, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), revealed it last month The final phase of the US$2.3 billion (A$3.6 billion) Delta Skyway. At Los Angeles Airport.
In June, the carrier announced it would do so Double flights between Sydney and Los Angeles From December 17, 2023.
Read our review To experience the airline’s main cabin between Sydney and Los Angeles.
Also, check out Our review From the Delta Sky Club lounge at LAX.
