The Traditional Southeast Asia Slog
For decades, the path to Southeast Asia for most Americans involved a grueling, multi-step journey. Unless you lived near a major West Coast gateway like Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO), the trip required at least two stops. First, a domestic
flight to a coastal hub. Then, a long-haul flight across the Pacific, typically landing in another massive airport like Tokyo (NRT), Hong Kong (HKG), or Seoul (ICN). Finally, after a lengthy layover, you’d board a third flight to your ultimate destination, be it Manila, Bangkok, or Ho Chi Minh City. This travel pattern turned the beginning of a vacation into an endurance test, adding hours or even a full day of transit time stuck in airports and wrestling with connections.
A New Trans-Pacific Playbook
Airlines are now rewriting this tired script. Armed with a new generation of ultra-long-range, fuel-efficient aircraft like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carriers can profitably connect cities that were previously out of reach. Instead of funneling all traffic through a few mega-hubs, they are launching direct, non-stop services from a more diverse set of U.S. cities. This strategic shift is not just about adding more flights; it's about creating entirely new pathways to Asia, bypassing the most congested and time-consuming connection points for millions of travelers.
The Midwest Gets a Direct Connection
Perhaps the most significant example of this trend is the introduction of new routes from the American Midwest. In a game-changing move for travelers far from the coasts, Philippine Airlines is set to launch the first-ever non-stop service between Chicago (ORD) and Manila (MNL) in November 2026. This three-times-weekly flight will slash travel time by eliminating the need for a domestic connection to the West Coast. For anyone in Chicago or the surrounding region, a trip that once required two or three flights can now be done with one. It opens up the Philippines and, via Manila's hub, the rest of Southeast Asia in a way that was never possible before, turning Chicago into a new gateway to the region.
More Flights, More Options from Coast to Coast
This expansion isn’t limited to the Midwest. Airlines are adding capacity and new routes across the board. United Airlines has aggressively built up its San Francisco hub as a premier gateway to Southeast Asia, adding a second daily flight to Manila. Not to be outdone, Delta Air Lines will enter the market in March 2027 with its own non-stop service between Los Angeles and Manila, becoming the only U.S. carrier on that route and providing more competition. Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines is also boosting its service from Seattle. This growing network means more choices, more competitive pricing, and more opportunities for travelers to find a convenient one-stop itinerary.
What About Vietnam and Thailand?
The Philippines is at the center of the current expansion, but options to other parts of Southeast Asia are also improving. For years, Vietnam Airlines has operated the only non-stop flight from the U.S. to Vietnam, a popular route between San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City. United Airlines has also added direct service to Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok from the U.S. via a stop in Hong Kong. However, it's important for travelers to manage expectations. Despite Thailand's popularity, Thai Airways has stated it has no immediate plans to resume non-stop flights to the U.S., citing high costs. For now, reaching Thailand will likely still involve a connection, though the growing number of flights to the region's other hubs makes that connection easier than ever.
