Delta Airlines-DL This time I really put the plan of flying from Los Angeles-LAX to Shanghai-PVG behind. This route was originally regarded as a golden waterway connecting the two major economies of the United States and China, but repeated delays seem to indicate that this dream is unlikely to be realized. Every time when everyone thought the flight was about to take off, Delta announced another delay, just like the kind of plane in the movie that keeps accelerating on the runway but never takes off.
During the epidemic, the global aviation industry suffered a heavy blow, and many plans were forced to be shelved or canceled, and this route of DL was no exception. As time goes by, this route, once considered to have unlimited potential, seems to become increasingly unrealistic. DL's executives may have finally made the difficult decision to cancel this route and reallocate resources to other routes that are more likely to be profitable after many internal meetings.
Such a decision is not easy, especially considering that Delta has invested a lot of resources and publicity on this route. But sometimes, letting go of a plan that is no longer feasible can make more room for the future and look for new opportunities. Like a voyager changing course, albeit circuitously, he may eventually discover new continents. Delta’s current strategy seems to be to find more fertile land on the global aviation map.
Contents of this article
Why did Delta Air Lines fail? 🤷♂️
It’s really nostalgic to think back on the days when I flew non-stop from Los Angeles to Shanghai on Delta. But since the pandemic swept the world, the route has been like a stalled engine. Although the epidemic has gradually subsided, flights between the United States and China are still sparse.
Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Delta Air Lines' Los Angeles to Shanghai route was frequently operated, with up to 330 round-trip flights between China and the United States scheduled in December 2019 alone. These flights are distributed on six major routes and fly directly to China's two bustling cities, Shanghai and Beijing. At the time, most of these routes were operated by Boeing 777 aircraft, but during the epidemic, these aircraft were retired by Delta.
As the epidemic gradually subsides, Delta Air Lines announced that it will expand its flight services in China in the future. Plans include adding flights to Shanghai from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport-DTW and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport-SEA. The Detroit route will operate three times a week, using the advanced Airbus A350-900; while the route from Seattle is planned to operate once a day, and will be equipped with the new Airbus A330neo. These new routes officially started sailing on October 29 last year.
DL originally intended to resume this route at the end of March 2024, but the time was delayed again and again, and finally canceled. Even if the latest plan is to restart at the end of October 2024, at present, this is just a castle in the air!
So don’t despair, if travelers really want to fly to Shanghai, DL still has flights from Detroit-DTW (operated by A350-900) and Seattle-SEA (operated by A330neo). In other words, the story is not over yet, it’s just that the starting point has changed!
And in the battle for the airline throne at Los Angeles International Airport, United Airlines-UA is like a jet equipped with a rocket, aggressively vying for the top spot. American Airlines-AA is like the kid picked last in a dodgeball game, slightly embarrassing.
Currently, in addition to Delta Air Lines, there are several other airlines operating this popular nonstop route from Los Angeles to Shanghai. Among them, China Eastern Airlines-MU provides services three times a week, using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. This large passenger aircraft is famous for its excellent flight performance and comfortable cabin facilities. United Airlines-UA has also provided daily direct trans-Pacific routes from Los Angeles to Shanghai since mid-February, operated by its Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
United Airlines dominates Los Angeles 🏆✈️
Los Angeles International Airport - LAX, this bustling hub of American Airlines, has become a fierce competition field for the three major airlines in the United States - United Airlines - UA, Delta Air Lines - DL and American Airlines - AA. In this competition, UA is like the strongest player in the gym, constantly flexing its muscles and actively expanding its international route network to transport passengers to important cities in Asia, Europe and Oceania, such as Hong Kong-HKG, London- LHR, Melbourne-MEL, Sydney-SYD and Tokyo-HND/NRT, etc. This not only reflects their determination to expand their global coverage, but also demonstrates their ambition to occupy a leading position on international routes.
In comparison, DL seems a bit unable to keep up with this rhythm. Although they still maintain flights from Los Angeles to Paris-CDG and Tokyo-HND, some important adjustments show their strategic repositioning. They recently transferred route rights from Los Angeles to London to partner Virgin Atlantic-VS. This move not only highlights the close cooperation between partners in the SkyTeam alliance, but also reflects Delta’s re-evaluation of its Layout on global routes. In addition, Delta had to temporarily shelve the Shanghai route that was originally planned to resume due to various external factors and strategic considerations. This decision further illustrates the company's cautious attitude in the face of uncertainty. As for the Auckland-AKL and Brisbane-BNE routes being adjusted to seasonal operations, this seems to indicate that DL is also seeking greater flexibility and efficiency when assessing demand fluctuations in these markets.
Overall, the battleground of Los Angeles is witnessing each of the three major airlines advancing their global strategies with different strategies and speeds. UA's aggressive expansion is in sharp contrast to Delta Air Lines' strategic adjustments. These changes not only affect their respective business development, but also shape the future pattern of the Los Angeles international aviation market.
Conclusion
Delta decided to discontinue flights from Los Angeles to Shanghai and instead focus on routes from Detroit and Seattle. This decision may seem surprising, but it is reasonable, because these routes from North America still maintain strong market competitiveness and passenger traffic. Nonetheless, the fact that the route from Los Angeles to China has never flown as scheduled is indeed puzzling and makes people wonder what unknown challenges and considerations may be involved. In an industry full of variables, such unsolved mysteries are not uncommon. 🕵️♂️✈️
The world of air travel is full of uncertainty and constant change, including unexpected flight cancellations and delays. As the impact of the epidemic gradually subsides, the global aviation industry is slowly returning to normal, but new challenges and opportunities are also coming. Therefore, it is very important for passengers to be ready for changes at any time. It's like being in an airport lounge and being alert, ready to be called upon to board your flight.
Delta’s decision reflects its strategic adjustment in its global route network planning. Facing the uncertainty of the international market, flexibly adjusting routes to cope with changes is one of the strategies commonly used by large airlines. Especially during this period of global economic recovery, every flight you take can open up new adventures and opportunities.
So, for those of you who love to travel, no matter what novel changes the aviation industry will bring, you must continue to maintain an optimistic and flexible attitude. Fasten your seat belts and prepare for every takeoff. Let's explore the unknown world in the clouds together. Because in the world of air travel, your next destination is always full of surprises!