Delta Takes On Alaska With Restored Asia Route

The airline is returning to a market it last served in 2020.

Delta A330neo
A Delta Airbus A330neo (Photo: Shutterstock | Nate Hovee)
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Key Takeaways:

Delta is returning to a transpacific market where it will compete directly with Alaska Airlines, which launched service in May 2025.

The Atlanta-based carrier will begin daily nonstop flights between Seattle and Tokyo Narita on March 27, 2027. Delta plans to operate the route with an Airbus A330-900neo.

Delta last served the route in 2020, according to Cirium Diio schedule data. Its return will set up head-to-head competition with Alaska, which entered the market following the completion of its acquisition of Hawaiian.

An Alaska Boeing 787. (Photo: Alaska Airlines)

“Japan continues to be one of the most important and beloved destinations in Delta’s global network, and adding Seattle-Narita service gives our customers even more choice when planning their travel,” Jeff Arinder, Delta’s vice president of international network planning, said in a news release.

The new flight will complement Delta’s existing service between Seattle and Tokyo Haneda. The carrier shifted all of its scheduled service in Tokyo from Narita to Haneda in 2020.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
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