What happened
Delta President Peter Carter, speaking at the IATA AGM in Rio de Janeiro, declared Delta's ambition to become the "leading U.S. carrier" across the Pacific, directly acknowledging United as a competitor. United CEO Scott Kirby responded competitively, stating he wants to beat Delta on "everything." Analysis suggests Delta would need to grow its Pacific revenue by roughly 150% (from ~$2.8B to ~$6.9B) to surpass United. This strategic push aligns with Delta's ongoing growth at LAX, including recent Hong Kong launches and expected Manila service by 2027, as well as its joint venture with Korean Air