That is a good question. I don't know that the scope of the approved JV would permit VA to codeshare on a Delta-operated USA-AKL. A check of contemporary press releases and the DOT docket didn't answer that in the time I am willing to invest.:D

The thing about flying to India with the ME3 is that you can get to the city you are going to in India connecting in the Middle East instead of in India, which is a huge plus. There are a lot of huge cities in India that get business/family/tourism traffic that aren't DEL/BOM and connecting there is awful if you want to get to JAI/BLR/MAA/HYD/CCU/etc.

Actually, it's just for my personal wishlist. I am talking about future ULH flight.

lol
 

ah yes, much more debatable. tbd!

+1. How much do you really want those MQMs haha?

Part of the reason United does well on their Indian flights is because of the strong O&D from NY. ATL doesn't have this O&D, but DL could definitely get enough connecting passengers. DL could really put pressure on QR out of ATL if they started these flights. There isn't too much ATL traffic to secondary Indian/SE Asian cities, so BOM & DEL traffic is most likely supporting QR's flight. DTW is also a good city for Indian flights.

Someone else mentioned JFK-HKG. I doubt this route will happen soon. I think HND/NRT, PVG, and PEK (maybe ICN as well if a JV with KE happens) will all see service from JFK first, and I don't think those are likely at the moment.

SEA-SIN would be smart if they are actually going to fully commit to SEA. ATL-TLV might also make sense, as UA is currently dominating USA-TLV traffic, and there is a fair amount of TLV-Florida traffic.

Anyone for SEA-TPE?

Do we actually know that UA does well on their Indian flights? And, given DL's revenue premium, what might be good for UA may not make the cut for DL.

And El Al will be starting service ex-MIA next year, leaving DL scrambling for crumbs if they started ATL-TLV.

The bigger issue is that it's incredibly hard for DL or virtually any carrier to compete with the ME3 on price. The ME3 clearly don't care that much about money losing routes. And considering they pretty much fly nothing but 777, A380, A350 they just flood the market with cheap seats. And they have the super luxury suites for high rollers.

Instead of seeing DL chasing QR off ATL/DOH, you'd probably see QR offering $500 Y seats, $1.5K J and $3K F seats ATL/India

JFK - ZRH is permanent, (almost) daily service. There are a few Tuesdays and Wednesdays this winter that Delta's not flying it.

Delta already announced permanent service to BER, didn't they? (presuming it ever opens)

They announced seasonal JFK - TXL which starts May 25.

I don't see XXX-AKL anytime soon. DL would offer no connections out of AKL to CHC, ZQN, or WLG or anywhere else in New Zealand. UA has NZ to go everywhere else out of AKL and AA had JQ to cover the biggest outstations in New Zealand.

I'd be on board with the SEA-TPE/SIN someone else mentioned.

I could also see SEA-KUL/CKG/DPS/JKT with GA starting flights to the US in 2017 one of those could be a nice add for DL to take advantage of the GA onward connections.

It will be a cold day in hell before DL serves DPS. I don't see KUL happening either, but it isn't outright crazy like DPS.