United CEO Chides Delta As Both Airlines Look To The Pacific

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Wednesday, Delta announced it will expand at Los Angeles International Airport, adding daily flights to Hong Kong on June 6, 2026 and three daily flights to Chicago O’Hare starting June 7, 2026.

On the United earnings call on Thursday, a reporter asked United CEO Scott Kirby about the new routes. Kirby responded: “We fly 6,000 flights a day. So a couple of new routes aren’t that big of an issue for us. But I guess I feel complemented when other airlines feel like they’re worried about us getting ahead and have to fly routes that are going to lose money for them.”

Key Facts in Second Quarter Results

Delta and United, the two most successful U.S. airlines, have broken from the pack due to well-located hubs, strong international routes and appeals to premium passengers willing to pay more for seats.

On earnings reports in the past two weeks, both showed their strongest growth in the Pacific, where both are growing.

Delta reported that Pacific revenue grew 11%, transatlantic revenue grew 2%, total international revenue grew 2% and domestic revenue declined 1%.

United reported that Pacific revenue grew 8.7%, while Atlantic revenue grew 2.5%, total international revenue grew 3.8% and domestic fell by 0.7%.

United also said that Pacific passenger revenue per available seat mile grew 2.9%, while Atlantic PRASM fell 2.3%, total international PRASM was down 1% and domestic PRASM fell 7%.

What Explains Pacific Growth?

“While Delta and United did not share commentary on the Pacific markets on their second quarter calls, they grew capacity 4% and 5.7% respectively year over year during the quarter which indicates it is a growth area,” Meredith Dixon, Senior Analyst at Octus, told me in an email.

“Both meaningfully grew capacity in 2024, as Delta’s Pacific capacity rose 32% year over year in 2024 while United increased Pacific capacity by 31%,” Dixon said.

“Currency has an impact, as the weakness of the Japanese yen has spurred higher travel demand to Japan from the United States,” she said. “Partnerships have also helped expand transpacific revenues, as Delta’s JV with Korean Air has boosted revenues in South Korea, while United’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) arrangement has bolstered its Pacific performance.

“The resiliency of premium offerings could also play a role in why unit revenues in particular have outperformed, as travelers are increasingly willing to pay for an elevated experience, and the longer Pacific flights may enhance that preference,” Dixon said.

Delta Wants To Dominate LAX As United Dominates SFO

Delta is already the leading carrier at LAX. Next year it will add not only flights to Hong Kong, but also Chicago, a hub for both American and Delta, who both serve the route already.

“As the largest global carrier at LAX, we’re continuing to invest in routes that matter to our customers and deliver the premium travel experience that they’ve come to expect from Delta,” said Paul Baldoni, senior vice president of network planning, in a press release.

From January through May 2025, Delta had a 19.48 % market share at LAX, while United had 15.49 and American had 15.21, according to airport statistics. Southwest had 8% and Alaska had 7%.

Both Carriers Plan Pacific Growth

Delta will add Los Angeles to Shanghai and Melbourne in December.

United, already the leading trans-Pacific carrier, said in April that it will boot service.

In October, United will become the only U.S. airline to fly to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. Both will be served from Hong Kong, where it will offer connections from Los Angeles and San Francisco.

In December, the carrier will add service from San Francisco – the best Pacific hub in the U.S. – to both Adelaide Australia (three a week) and Manila ( a second daily flight).

With these new routes, United will now offer flights from the U.S. to 32 different cities in the Pacific region – four times that of any other U.S. carrier, United said.