Delta expands Australia footprint with first Melbourne flights launching in December

Delta Air Lines is expanding its footprint Down Under.

Later this year, the Atlanta-based carrier will launch new service to Melbourne, Australia.

The new route, originating from its West Coast hub at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), will give Delta an all-new destination — its third on the Australian continent.

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Ishrion Aviation was first to spot the new route, which a spokesperson for the carrier later confirmed to TPG.

Delta's L.A. to Melbourne flights

Delta's new Australia route will launch this December, the airline said this weekend.

That'll allow the carrier to ramp up its schedule over the Pacific right as peak travel season in Australia begins during the southern hemisphere's summer season.

Notable about this route: Delta will operate its new flights between LAX and Melbourne Airport (MEL) with an Airbus A350-900 featuring its all-new cabin look, the carrier told TPG.

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TPG recently got a sneak peek at the overhauled interior aesthetic on board a newly delivered Airbus, featuring darker, sleeker seats and memory foam Delta One suites with softer cloth coverings.

The aircraft sports Delta's more premium-heavy configuration, with 40 Delta One suites, 40 Premium Select recliners and 36 Comfort+ seats (along with 159 seats in the main cabin).

Itinerary

Delta will fly its LAX-MEL route three times weekly during the peak season. Here's what the itinerary will look like:

• LAX-MEL: Departs 9:25 p.m. PST, arrives 8:15 a.m. local time (+2 days)
• MEL-LAX: Departs 10:25 a.m. local time, arrives 6:10 a.m. PST (same day)

The flights begin Dec. 3.

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How to fly to Melbourne from the US

Located in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria, Melbourne will give Delta three destinations on the continent — all from its Southern California hub.

The airline already flies from LAX to both Sydney and Brisbane.

Meanwhile, this new route will give U.S. travelers a sixth nonstop link to Victoria's capital, which is home to a variety of alluring points hotels such as the Ritz Carlton, Melbourne.

Current Melbourne flights from the U.S. include:

• Qantas from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and LAX
• United Airlines from LAX and San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Meanwhile, if you're hoping to use points or miles to book Delta's new flight to Melbourne, you have a few options. You can use frequent flyer miles in your SkyMiles account, and top them off with a welcome bonus from one of Delta's cobranded American Express credit cards.

Plus, American Express Membership Rewards transfer to the SkyMiles program 1:1.

Related reading:

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• Delta basic economy: What you need to know about bags, seats, boarding and more