Delta tipped to return to Singapore as eight long-haul routes launch

Delta Air Lines is reported to be close to announcing a nonstop service to Singapore with the Airbus A350-900, although the sources reviewed here describe this as expected rather than confirmed. Separately, eight long-haul routes are due to start between 19 and 25 October 2026, as northern airlines move to winter schedules on Sunday 25 October.

Delta and Singapore

According to Simple Flying, Delta is "inching closer" to announcing the route, and rumours have circulated for weeks. The publication says Delta would most likely fly from Los Angeles (LAX) or Seattle-Tacoma (SEA), and that it is not yet clear which. Its headline refers to an 18-hour flight, but the article text reviewed does not give a flight time.

Delta served Singapore until 2019, but via Tokyo Narita. The new flights would be nonstop. Simple Flying says the A350-900 is the largest type in Delta's current fleet, with the A350-1000 due to join next year.

The outlet expects up to three weekly flights, which would be less than a third of the capacity of Singapore Airlines, which it says flies the route up to 11 times a week. This is Simple Flying's expectation, not an announced schedule. Singapore Airlines serves five US airports: Los Angeles, New York JFK, Newark, San Francisco and Seattle/Tacoma.

Simple Flying also notes that Air Canada has flown between Singapore and Vancouver since April 2024. It will end the service, citing commercial challenges, with a final flight in January 2027.

Why Los Angeles and Seattle

Citing Cirium data, Simple Flying says the two airports account for close to half of Delta's Asia-Pacific flying in 2026: 1,595 flights from Los Angeles and 1,459 from Seattle. Los Angeles already has Delta services to Sydney, Tokyo Narita, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Melbourne, Auckland, Manila and Brisbane. From Seattle it flies to Tokyo (Haneda and Narita), Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei.

Eight long-haul launches next week

In a separate roundup, Simple Flying picks eight routes it considers unusual or historic. It says the list is selective and omits many other launches. The routes are:

• 23 October: British Airways, London Gatwick to Colombo, three weekly with a 777-200ER, its first nonstop service to Sri Lanka.
• 24 October: United Airlines, Chicago O'Hare to Tokyo Narita, daily with a 787-8.
• 25 October: Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi to Calgary, four weekly with a 787-9.
• 25 October: Finnair, Helsinki to Melbourne via Bangkok, daily with an A350-900.
• 25 October: Belavia, Minsk to Bangkok, weekly with an A330-200.
• 25 October: Air India, Mumbai to Toronto via Rome, three weekly with a 777-300ER.
• 25 October: Arkia, Tel Aviv to Tokyo Narita, two weekly.
• 25 October: Air Canada, Toronto to Tenerife South, two weekly with an A321XLR.

Simple Flying says Finnair's Melbourne service will be the airline's longest scheduled operation, and that it will be the only EU-based airline serving Australia. It also reports that Delta's planned Riyadh service has been pushed back to March 2027 at the earliest, following attacks on Saudi Arabia.

What this means for travellers

Delta's Singapore flights have no confirmed start date, departure airport, schedule or fares in the sources reviewed, so travellers should not book around them yet. If the route goes ahead, it would add a nonstop alternative to Singapore Airlines for passengers from the US West Coast.

The eight launches are open for booking in principle, with first flights between 19 and 25 October. Passengers heading to Colombo, Calgary, Melbourne or Tokyo may find new nonstop or one-stop options. Check operating days and aircraft with the airline, as the roundup lists November frequencies only.

Sources: Simple Flying (Delta and Singapore); Simple Flying (new long-haul routes).