Delta Air Lines has officially touched down in Victoria for the first time, launching its new nonstop Los Angeles (LAX) to Melbourne service this morning – and Karryon was on the ground to welcome its arrival.
The inaugural A350 flight, DL11, arrived with a water cannon salute, a Welcome to Country performance and a joyful (and at times emotional) moment as the captain and crew stepped onto the tarmac to join the celebrations.
The significance of the occasion wasn’t lost on airport staff and the Delta team, many of whom described the first landing in Melbourne as a milestone they were proud to witness.
Melbourne Airport expects a record-breaking summer, with more than 7 million passengers forecast across December and January, including over 2.5 million international travellers – and Delta’s entry is set to play a key role in meeting demand.
A trans-Pacific-first
With the new service, Delta becomes the first carrier to operate the A350 between Melbourne and the United States. Its 275-seat aircraft features four cabin classes, including 40 Delta One suites.
Inbound DL11 and outbound DL12 were timed to symbolically mirror Melbourne’s tram routes 11 and 12, passing through well-known precincts from St Kilda to Collins Street and Brunswick Street.
Flights connect through Delta’s major LAX hub, offering Victorians convenient onward access to more than 40 US destinations.
A red-carpet send-off
For outbound passengers, the celebrations continued inside the terminal.
Delta, in partnership with Los Angeles Tourism, rolled out a full red-carpet farewell complete with coffee and donut giveaways, photo moments and a lively party atmosphere – a fitting launch for the new trans-Pacific connection.
Melbourne’s new major partner
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said Delta’s arrival represents an important moment for the state.
“Delta is one of the largest airlines in the world, and its network opens up incredible opportunities for trade and travel in both North and South America,” she said.
“This new service will help bring hundreds of extra visitors to our state each week, which will help support Victoria’s world-class tourism, dining and hospitality venues.”
Argus added that Delta’s global presence will draw more North American travellers to Victoria.
“North America is an incredibly important market for us, and we know that simply by being on Delta’s route map, more American tourists will be inclined to make Melbourne their first stop in Australia.”
The new service is also a win for families and businesses.
“Having Delta flying across the Pacific will also make it easier for Victorian businesses to connect with one of our key trading partners and Victorian families wanting to travel to Disneyland or North American ski fields,” Argus added.
A win for the travel trade
Delta’s entry into Melbourne expands capacity, strengthens competition on the trans-Pacific route and gives travel advisors another premium US option with strong onward connectivity.
For travellers, it means easier access to the US. For Victoria, it means more visitors, more opportunities and a powerful new global partner. Delta, welcome to Melbourne!
In November, Delta Air Lines unveiled its latest Distinctly Delta uniform collection in the US, incorporating designs from American lifestyle brand Lands’ End and Missoni, for wear-testing trials ahead of its full rollout in 2027.
