Delta resumes direct Hong Kong-US flights despite higher fuel costs
Flight DL88 departs city at 9.25am on Monday for Los Angeles, carrier’s first direct US service since 2018
US carrier Delta Air Lines has resumed direct flights to the city for the first time in nearly eight years, launching a new daily Hong Kong-Los Angeles service amid surging fuel prices.
Jeff Moomaw, the airline’s vice-president for Asia-Pacific, said on Monday that it would take some time to increase services connecting the city to more destinations as Delta remained focused on current demand.
“Our focus right now is making sure that this flight is a success,” Moomaw said.
“As it grows over time, and we focus on demand sets … we will start to make other determinations, but right now, we’re dead focused on making sure that this flight is highly successful.”
The carrier said outbound flight DL88 departed the city at 9.25am on Monday using an Airbus A350-900 widebody aircraft configured with 275 seats, including 40 Delta One suites featuring lie-flat seats with sliding doors.
Data from Delta’s website showed that the direct economy return service cost HK$11,770 (US$1,500), including all taxes and fees, and would take an average of 13 hours, 30 minutes for the outbound leg on Friday, with the return trip on June 20.