I can’t say that I’m terribly surprised, but Delta Air Lines will be canceling one of its long haul routes as of late 2025, as flagged by @xJonNYC.
In this post:
Delta will stop flying to French Polynesia
In December 2022, Delta launched a seasonal, 3x weekly flight between Los Angeles (LAX) and Papeete (PPT), in French Polynesia. The flight has been operating with the following schedule:
DL119 Los Angeles to Tahiti departing 11:40AM arriving 6:40PM
DL118 Tahiti to Los Angeles departing 8:40PM arriving 7:20AM (+1 day)
The 4,095-mile route has been operated by a Boeing 767-300ER, and has been blocked at 9hr westbound and 8hr40min eastbound. While the service has operated for three seasons, it’s soon coming to an end.
Currently the route is scheduled to be available through June 7, 2025, and then it was supposed to resume again as of October 7, 2025. However, Delta has just pulled all inventory for the route, so it’s no longer on sale, suggesting that this route is being cut.
With this reduction, Delta’s long haul destinations out of Los Angeles include Paris (CDG), Sydney (SYD), and Tokyo (HND), on a year-round basis, plus Auckland (AKL) and Brisbane (BNE), on a seasonal basis. Furthermore, Delta plans to add flights to Shanghai (PVG) as of June 2025, and flights to Melbourne (MEL) as of December 2025.
Why didn’t Delta’s service to Tahiti work out?
For context on the competitive landscape between the United States and Tahiti:
- Delta’s SkyTeam partner Air France flies between Los Angeles and Tahiti, as part of a “direct” flight from Paris
- Air Tahiti Nui flies from Tahiti to both Los Angeles and Seattle; the airline isn’t part of an alliance, but has partnerships with Alaska and American
- United flies between San Francisco and Tahiti
- Ultra low cost carrier French Bee flies between San Francisco and Tahiti, as part of a “direct” flight from Paris
I was surprised back when this service was added, so I can’t say that I’m surprised that it’s now being cut. For one, Delta partner Air France already operates the route, and offers a superior passenger experience, plus connectivity from Paris. So the incremental value of Delta adding service was limited.
Beyond that, though, Delta’s fundamental issue is that it lacks a West Coast fortress hub. For example, United has been operating service to Tahiti out of San Francisco on a year-round basis, and the ability to make that work comes down to how much connectivity the airline has there. Delta (and United, for that matter) does’t have that same level of service in Los Angeles.
Bottom line
In late 2022, Delta launched a 3x weekly, seasonal flight between Los Angeles and Tahiti. Unfortunately after a few seasons, this route will be canceled. As of October 2025, Delta will no longer fly to French Polynesia. On the plus side, Air France is a Delta partner, and continues to offer service in the market, so it’s not a huge loss. But that also makes you wonder why Delta added this service in the first place.
What do you make of Delta cutting its Tahiti flights?
Delta just can't compete in a big, non-fortress hub airport that is serviced by literally every airline, including foreign-flagged airlines. The 767s are awful. The service is mediocre as is the food. Delta's product just isn't appealing against Air Tahiti Nui or Air France. And you could even fly Hawaiian through Honolulu to Tahiti.
And let's be honest: Tahiti is such a niche market.
I wouldn't say Air Tahiti Nui is better in all aspects, but they're certainly cheaper and have a vastly lower cost structure, along with the stronger point of sale on both ends of PPT and CDG.
Such a shame that the A350-1000 hasn't been delivered yet. Would have saved this route.
The suite doors alone would have driven a 10 point load factor increase! Suites…with *doors*!
Also worth noting that, bizzarely, DK's 3x weekly flights were on the same days as AF. Would presumably make a lot more sense to do alternate days.
I will add despite Delta also failing at this. UA's own PPT route is their worst performing APAC flight by loads.
I think there is simply an oversaturation of service for what is a very leisure focused destination for the US point of sale. On the French side, there's more direct need for it for a variety of purposes, which is why TN, AF, and Bee can make it work better.
I suspect PPT will get downgauged or reduced by UA eventually.
Not a surprise. Delta defenders were thinking it being extended by a few months was some sort of indicator it wouldn't go away, when the reality was that their yields were trash and the 767 product just wasn't it. The reality was that they just needed somewhere to use their frame. The irony is their Delta One lounge has a signature PPT cocktail in LAX.
LAX continues to be a rotating dartboard for Delta longhaul,...
Not a surprise. Delta defenders were thinking it being extended by a few months was some sort of indicator it wouldn't go away, when the reality was that their yields were trash and the 767 product just wasn't it. The reality was that they just needed somewhere to use their frame. The irony is their Delta One lounge has a signature PPT cocktail in LAX.
LAX continues to be a rotating dartboard for Delta longhaul, where they cannot even operate a single daily flight to Europe year-round. Maybe NAN next for a season?
I predict BNE is next to go once the subsidies disappear. Everyone on that flight just connects to SYD or MEL anyways. Slash BNE and make MEL daily.
Other than a business traveler stuck on a corporate contract, who with their own money would pay for business-class to Europe from Los Angeles on Delta? I would much rather fly Air France or Virgin Atlantic.
Surprising this vanity route lasted as long as it did. Premium leisure is slowing very quickly as the US economy heads into a recession or likely worse. The decision by Delta to cut LAX-PPT is further evidence that its LAX hub and specifically its long haul intercontinental network there doesn't work.
Yeah everyone is always up in arms about SEA, but the reality is that SEA longhaul is one of their top performers, even getting double dailies for AMS in summer.
Meanwhile, LAX-LHR had 40% LFs and Delta can't even run CDG year-round. Keep in mind, even UA can operate LAX-LHR despite not having a partner at LHR like VS does.
Even with their stronger domestic feed, Delta just doesn't have an appeal for longhaul in...
Yeah everyone is always up in arms about SEA, but the reality is that SEA longhaul is one of their top performers, even getting double dailies for AMS in summer.
Meanwhile, LAX-LHR had 40% LFs and Delta can't even run CDG year-round. Keep in mind, even UA can operate LAX-LHR despite not having a partner at LHR like VS does.
Even with their stronger domestic feed, Delta just doesn't have an appeal for longhaul in the highly competitive landscape of LAX, where so many superior foreign carriers compete.