Photo courtesy of DOT
The Department of Tourism welcomed Delta Air Lines’ decision to launch nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Manila beginning in March 2027, saying the additional service would boost competition and improve travel options for passengers.
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the new route would give travelers more choices while helping make air travel more accessible and affordable for Filipinos.
She said the government’s priority was to expand the overall aviation market by supporting both local and international carriers, noting that increased connectivity would benefit travelers, airlines, airports, tourism businesses and the broader economy.
Data from the government’s eTravel system showed that the United States remained the Philippines’ largest source of foreign visitors, recording 707,394 arrivals as of July 18, 2026.
Delta’s new service will make the airline the only US carrier offering nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Manila, providing a direct link for business and leisure travelers.
The route is also expected to make travel more convenient for overseas Filipino workers, Filipino Americans and balikbayans returning home, while encouraging more American tourists to visit the Philippines.
Angara-Mathay said many Filipino Americans viewed trips to the Philippines as an opportunity to reconnect with their roots, prompting the DOT to develop travel experiences tailored for balikbayans and second- and third-generation Filipino Americans.
She added that the agency would continue working with airline partners to expand international connectivity and make travel to the Philippines more seamless for visitors.