As Pandemic Restrictions Ease, Delta Ramps up Service to Asia

Delta Air Lines has announced plans to resume nonstop flights between Los Angeles International Airport and Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport. The service will operate three times weekly beginning Oct. 30 and move to daily starting Dec. 1.

The airline is also set to begin new daily service Dec. 1 between Honolulu and Haneda, a launch that had been delayed due to the pandemic. And the carrier is also increasing its frequency between Seattle and Seoul Incheon with an additional three-times weekly service beginning Dec. 13.

Los Angeles International – Tokyo Haneda

LAX-HND flights will operate three times weekly beginning Oct. 30 aboard an Airbus 330-900neo with four classes of service—Delta One, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort + and Main Cabin.

Flights are scheduled to depart Los Angeles on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 9:45 a.m. and arrive in Tokyo 3:10 p.m. the following day. Return flights operate Monday, Thursday and Saturday, departing Haneda at 4:50 p.m. and arriving at LAX at 10 a.m. the same day.

Then starting Dec. 1, the route moves to daily service on the same flight schedule.

Honolulu – Tokyo Haneda

Also beginning Dec. 1, the airline is launching its new daily service between Honolulu and Tokyo Haneda.

Flights depart Honolulu at 1:30 p.m., arriving in Tokyo at 6 p.m. the following day. The return leaves Haneda at 9 p.m. and arrives in Honolulu at 9 a.m. the same day. The service operates aboard a four-class Boeing 767-300ER.

Seattle Tacoma International – Seoul Incheon

Delta’s addition of three weekly flights to its daily schedule between SEA and ICN brings to 15 the total number of operations for the carrier and its joint venture partner Korean Air, which currently has five weekly flights between the two destinations.

The new Delta service operates from Seattle to Seoul on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, departing SEA at 11:45 p.m. and arriving at ICN at 5 a.m. two days later. The return flights depart Incheon on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m., arriving in Seattle at 6:10 a.m. the same day.

The new Seoul flights will operate aboard the airline’s four-class Airbus 330-900neo aircraft.

As is expected in these uncertain times, Delta cautions flight schedules are subject to change due to government regulations and travel demand. The airline encourages customers “to visit the Delta Discover Map to check entry requirements before they travel.”

Delta’s increase in Tokyo services comes as Japan’s government eases travel restrictions for inbound international travelers. Beginning Sept. 7, fully vaccinated arriving passengers will no longer be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

Current rules require inbound foreign travelers to show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure. In addition, health officials are considering an increase in the number of daily international arrivals, which is currently capped at 20,000.