Delta to start ATL-LAX-SYD

[ANstar]

From 1 JUL

DL017 ATL1900 - 2040LAX2240 - 0640+2SYD 77L D
DL016 SYD0915 - 0600LAX0740 - 1455ATL 77L D

I ownder how this will impact V given they will be up against the 3 main alliances on this route with no feed at LAX?

perhaps we will see DL/VA codeshare?

[Bundy Bear]

V Australia are not going to be happy.

Originally V Australia was going to use some feed from Northwest Airlines; now they will have to fight it out for themselves.

I am sure Virgin America will help some but its going to be a blood bath come 1 July.

UA won't be happy either.

[moa999]

Suggestion DL will be using a 777-200LR

DL To Sydney! — Civil Aviation Forum | Airliners.net

Business seats look similar to CX
Delta First U.S. Carrier to Announce True Lie-Flat Seats in International Business Class*:*Delta Newsroom

Guess we can call this this the return of NW.
pity they are not fying to Melbooorn and Brisbaaane

[NM]

Good to see another LOTFAP carrier getting back into the trans-Pacific route. DL will be a good contributor to the route. Their premium cabin product is well respected.

[ANstar]

I wonder how all these new services will effect Air NZ.

They seem to pick up quite a few passengers trans tasman to feed their long haul flights to LAX/SFO etc. And in the past they seem to have done this at a discount to the non stop services.

Now that VA will fly from BNE and SYD and DL from SYD it will be interesting to see if NZ can sustain all their AKL-North America flights.

[maninblack]

Suggestion DL will be using a 777-200LR

DL To Sydney! — Civil Aviation Forum | Airliners.net

Business seats look similar to CX
Delta First U.S. Carrier to Announce True Lie-Flat Seats in International Business Class*:*Delta Newsroom

Guess we can call this this the return of NW.
pity they are not fying to Melbooorn and Brisbaaane

The new Delta seat in business is in fact the same as the new Air Canada product, different seat material.

[dajop]

I wonder how all these new services will effect Air NZ.

They seem to pick up quite a few passengers trans tasman to feed their long haul flights to LAX/SFO etc. And in the past they seem to have done this at a discount to the non stop services.

Now that VA will fly from BNE and SYD and DL from SYD it will be interesting to see if NZ can sustain all their AKL-North America flights.

NZ still offers attractive options ex MEL/ADL and maybe even PER/CNS (depending on timetable). A transfer at AKL is preferable to anything at SYD, particularly if involving change in airline. As the "crunch" bites, wonder if they've id'd the AUS market as a potential bright spot.

[Mal]

Competition on this sector is good for travelers.

[Sunstar320]

Having trouble looking at Booking. What is the total coach fare of SYD-LAX-SYD on the Promotional fare at the moment??

[Amerrican]

This is the greatest news for the Australian tourism market that one could hope for.

Here we've got airservice from Oz to a wealthy country of 300 million English-speaking people, and we get on a few hundred thousand tourists per year. Why? Because on the Qantas-cartel-dominated service to the USA, airfares have been astronomically high. When I lived in LA, I would frequently take a quickie holiday, during slow season. LA-Rome, $550. LA-Sydney, $2000 and more.

Delta, along with V (who I predict can't survive on this route longterm), will finally force airfares down to reasonable levels. I also expect QF to reconfigure their 380's for 650 seats.

Terrific news!