Delta adds Hong Kong, new Chicago service in big LA expansion
While it's been rumored for a few days, Delta Air Lines will officially commence service to Hong Kong next year.
The airline announced Wednesday that it'll start flying from its hub at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) on June 6, 2026. Delta will deploy its flagship Airbus A350-900 on the new 7,260-mile route. The aircraft is configured with 40 Delta One Suites, 40 Premium Select recliners, 36 Comfort+ extra-legroom seats and 159 standard economy seats.
Delta will offer 30 one-stop connection options for travelers from across North America looking to get to and from Hong Kong.
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Interestingly, this isn't Delta's first foray into Hong Kong. The airline last served the market in 2018 with nonstop service from Seattle, but it pulled out at the time due to weak demand and other factors.
While the airline has been busy in recent years growing its transpacific connectivity from Seattle, Hong Kong service will return from Los Angeles. This is an interesting move, especially since United Airlines and hometown carrier Cathay Pacific already offer plenty of flights between the two cities. (Meanwhile, Seattle to Hong Kong is currently unserved, and it's possible that Alaska Airlines has the city on its expansion list.)
Perhaps Delta thinks there's simply not enough nonstop demand from Seattle to Hong Kong to make that nonstop route work. Of course, Delta also operates a big hub at LAX, but so do the three other largest U.S. airlines. It's much harder to be the No. 1 airline in Los Angeles than it is in Seattle.
In addition to its long-haul expansion, Delta will add a domestic route it's never operated before: LAX to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Three daily flights on this route will begin June 7, 2026; the service will have some serious competition with flights operated by American Airlines and United, as well as discounters Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines.
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Chicago and LA are both hubs for American and United, so adding Delta to the mix will not only give travelers more options, but it could also put more pressure on the struggling ultra-low-cost carriers that fly the route.
With more service by network carriers, ultra-low-cost discounters have struggled recently to fill their planes without significantly discounting their tickets. Rising costs and redesigned business models could make it harder than ever for Frontier and Spirit to survive in the LA-Chicago market.
“Launching service to Hong Kong and Chicago from LAX strengthens our presence in two of the world’s most dynamic markets. As the largest global carrier at LAX, we’re continuing to invest in routes that matter to our customers and deliver the premium travel experience that they’ve come to expect from Delta," Paul Baldoni, Delta's senior vice president of network planning, said in a statement.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.