Delta is going to Sydney
 

Delta will start Atlanta to Sydney, Australia with one-stop service via Los Angeles beginning July 1, 2009. Service will be daily. Here are the details:

Delta Air Lines 17 Equipment: 77L
Depart: 7:00 PM Atlanta, GA (ATL)
Arrive: 8:40 PM Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
Duration: 4 hr 40 min
Time between flights: 2 hr 0 min

Delta Air Lines 17 Equipment: 77L
Depart: 10:40 PM Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
Arrive: 6:40 AM Sydney, NS (SYD)
Duration: 15 hr 0 min
This flight arrives 2 days after departure

Delta Air Lines 16 Equipment: 77L
Depart: 9:15 AM Sydney, NS (SYD)
Arrive: 6:00 AM Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
Duration: 13 hr 45 min
Time between flights: 1 hr 40 min

Delta Air Lines 16 Equipment: 77L
Depart: 7:40 AM Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
Arrive: 2:55 PM Atlanta, GA (ATL)
Duration: 4 hr 15 min

I KNEW it! (not like it wasn't obvious) but still. Delta seemed to be growing LAX a bit - perfect for something like this.

I can't say I did not see this coming. Massive international growth for Delta post merger... Well I hope you guys are enjoying all the benefits the merger has provided to you. Sydney service is very lucrative.

I don't know why my company won't just merge...:(

And as a former USAF heavy driver that used to do the Sydney run often...it is a SWEEET layover!

That Sydney flight is on an old NWA route authority, flown by the 744 in 1991 thru 1994. It was not a "Use or Lose" authority. This is unlike the majority of the east asia authorities slots and or country entries which tend to be use or lose. So that one has been dormant for a while but the combined airline has enough mass to make it pay now, this looks like a sign of good things to come.

Very sweet, and a VERY good move.

That's why CAL pulled out of the market twice.:rolleyes:

But seriously, this big international expansion will either pay off big time in spades or be a spectacular flop.

Hope its the former but in this economy, who knows?

This route will be interesting to see how how DL does load factor-wise. There is already two on the route, QF with its A388, UA with the 744 and soon Virgin Australia with the 77W. Now DL enters the fray. Thats a lot of seats daily btw SYD-LAX. I know DL has a huge feed into ATL and a decent one into LAX. I would like to see how many SYD bound pax get on at ATL. I know QF runs a daily LAX-JFK-LAX run so their 744 does not sit all day at LAX so they do get some east coast feed. I hope DL can make this work long-term. I imagine there will be a sizeable marketing campaign in the Sydney area.

aren't they shrinking 3-5% internationally and 8-12% domestically (roughly)?

Dont forget UA and ANZ (not direct though) with connection though AKL