‍DALLAS – Delta Air Lines (DL) has commenced a new seasonal service between the United States and Queensland, Australia. 

On December 4, DL operated its first flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Brisbane (BNE).  BNE is the second Australian city in Delta’s route network. In addition, DL flies to Sydney (SYD), New South Wales. The airline started flying to SYD in 2008. 

This new seasonal route to BNE will operate during the Northern Hemisphere winter. Services will operate from December 4 to March 28, 2025. The BNE flights depart LAX on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. They return from BNE on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. 

The route covers a distance of 11,525 kilometres, taking around about 13 hours and 25 minutes. Flights are operated with an Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The aircraft can seat up to 306 passengers—32 in Delta One suites, 48 in premium economy, 36 in comfort plus, and 190 in standard economy seats.

Summer Olympic Games

Incidentally, the aircraft operating the first flight on the new seasonal route, sporting the LA28 Olympic livery, was used to fly the Olympic US team and flag home after the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The choice of aircraft seems intentional, given that LAX and BNE will host the subsequent two editions of the Summer Olympic Games.  

Delta is currently the only US airline flying between BNE and LAX. Australia’s national carrier, Qantas (QF), is the other airline to offer this route. Virgin Australia (VA) previously operated the route and discontinued it in 2020. However, United Airlines (UA) also offered this route for three months between 2023 and 2024.

Though DL was motivated to launch this new Queensland route through incentives offered by Queensland’s Attracting Aviation initiative, the route has good potential indeed for DL as it tries to establish itself as the American carrier of choice for direct flights to BNE. This route also has good potential, with each city hosting the following two summer Olympics.