Marta Skylar
Aviation News Editor
28.07.2026 00:32

Delta to Add Direct Flights from Asia to Las Vegas for CES 2027: What It Means for Travelers

Delta Air Lines has announced a special schedule expansion to Las Vegas for the CES 2027 period, specifically new non-stop flights from Hong Kong and Taipei to Harry Reid International Airport. For tourists, exhibition participants, and business travelers, this is an important signal: demand for the first days of January in Las Vegas will again be very high, and flights, hotels, transfers, and connections should be planned in advance.

CES 2027 will take place in Las Vegas from January 6 to 9, 2027. The exhibition organizer, the Consumer Technology Association, positions CES as one of the most important global events for the technology industry. The previous CES 2026 exhibition gathered over 148,000 participants, including more than 55,000 international visitors, over 4,100 exhibitors, and a large number of media. That is why Delta's news is not just another schedule adjustment: it shows how airlines are preparing for one of the busiest weeks of business travel in the USA.

According to Delta, on peak days of CES 2027, the airline plans over 120 flights per day to Las Vegas from key markets in the USA and abroad. The most notable part of the announcement - new direct flights from Hong Kong and Taipei. The flight from Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Las Vegas Airport (LAS) is scheduled for January 4 in the direction of Las Vegas and on January 10 in the reverse direction. From Taipei Taoyuan Airport (TPE), the flight to Las Vegas is to be operated on January 5, and return flights on January 9 and 10.

What Exactly Delta is Changing Before CES 2027

The announced expansion should not be seen as the launch of a full-fledged year-round network from Asia to Las Vegas. These are primarily event-based flights for specific CES demand: they are designed to deliver participants, exhibitors, investors, media, and corporate guests to the city in the days before the opening of the exhibition and return them after the program ends.

In addition to new non-stop flights from Hong Kong and Taipei, Delta also plans additional frequencies from other international destinations. The CES period schedule mentions additional flights or increased connectivity from Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai Pudong, Amsterdam, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and London Heathrow. For those flying via Asia or Europe, this means more connection options, but also a need to check dates more carefully: additional flights are tied to a narrow window in early January.

In the USA, Delta is betting on its own hubs and key business markets. On peak days, up to 10 daily flights from Atlanta (ATL), up to 7 flights from Detroit, New York JFK, and Los Angeles, up to 6 flights from Seattle, as well as additional flights from Boston, Minneapolis, San Jose, San Diego, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Miami are declared. Separately, Delta notes the strengthening of the route from Austin (AUS) to two daily flights in the peak window.

Why This News is Important Not Only for Exhibition Participants

Las Vegas has long operated not only as an entertainment destination. The city is one of the largest centers for conferences, exhibitions, and corporate events in the USA, and CES creates a short but very concentrated spike in demand for flights, hotel rooms, car rentals, taxis, shuttles, and restaurants. Even travelers who do not plan to attend the exhibition may feel the effects of this demand if their trip coincides with the dates of January 4-10.

For tourists, this means several practical things. First, hotel prices in central areas and near exhibition sites may be higher than on ordinary winter days. Second, the load on the LAS airport online board, taxi services, ride-hailing, and shuttles will be greater on days of mass arrivals and departures. Third, international passengers should allow more time for passport control, baggage claim, transfer to the hotel, and the return trip to the airport.

Those planning a short trip of only two or three days should be especially careful. If a flight arrives in Las Vegas on the evening of January 5, and the first meetings are scheduled for the morning of January 6, even a small delay can disrupt the schedule. On such dates, it is better to avoid overly short international connections, choose flexible fares, check the ticket change policy, and have a plan in case of delayed baggage.

What Passengers from Hong Kong and Taipei Should Check

New direct flights from HKG and TPE are convenient because they remove the need for a transfer on the US West Coast or through other hubs. For business travelers, this can save time and reduce the risk of missing a connection. But such flights remain event-based, so before paying, it is worth checking not only the availability of seats, but also the exact date, flight number, baggage rules, fare class, and the possibility of changing plans.

Passengers from Hong Kong, Taipei, and other international cities need to separately check US entry formalities. In many cases, a valid ESTA or visa may be required for a short trip to the USA, but rules depend on citizenship, passport type, previous trips, and the purpose of the visit. A flight ticket or CES registration does not replace an entry permit and does not guarantee passing border control.

Also, it should be taken into account that CES is a business event with its own admission rules, badges, document verification, and venue schedules. Therefore, a flight ticket to Las Vegas does not solve all organizational issues: it is necessary to separately monitor exhibition registration, badge acquisition conditions, accommodation, distance to the Las Vegas Convention Center, and transport between the hotel, exhibition halls, and the airport.

How to Plan Flight and Accommodation in Las Vegas

The safest strategy for international guests is to arrive at least one day before the first important meeting. This provides a buffer for flight delays, longer passport control, baggage wait, time zone changes, and hotel check-in. If the trip is tied to a performance, booth, or negotiations, a time buffer becomes not a luxury, but part of normal risk management.

For overnight stays before an early flight or after a late arrival, hotels near Las Vegas airport should be considered. They can be more practical than hotels on the Strip if the passenger has an early flight, a lot of baggage, or a short connection between events. At the same time, for daily visits to CES, it is important to calculate not only the distance to the airport, but also the travel time to the exhibition sites, as traffic can be significantly slower during peak hours.

Transfers should also be planned in advance. On ordinary routes, one can rely on spontaneous taxis or ride-hailing, but during CES demand increases sharply. For passengers arriving as a group or with valuable equipment, it may be appropriate to check transfers and taxis from LAS airport in advance. If meetings are planned outside the Strip or trips to the suburbs, it is also worth evaluating car rental at Las Vegas airport, but taking into account parking, traffic, and additional fees at hotels.

What This Means for the Travel Market

Delta's decision shows that large exhibitions are again shaping separate aviation waves. After a period when many conferences reduced their scale or moved to a hybrid format, CES has returned to a level where airlines see a sense in operating special international flights. For Las Vegas, this is a positive signal: the city remains a global platform not only for leisure, but also for business tourism, technological presentations, and large corporate budgets.

For airlines, such flights are a way to specifically monetize high demand without the obligation to launch a long-term route. If event-based flights from Asia will be filled, this could become an argument for future seasonal or regular experiments. But passengers should maintain realistic expectations: one series of flights for CES does not mean that direct connectivity from Hong Kong or Taipei to Las Vegas will become permanent.

For the hotel and tourism sector, the news is also important. Additional international capacity means more guests with a high willingness to spend on accommodation, restaurants, transport, and related services. At the same time, this increases the load on city infrastructure. Therefore, travelers should monitor not only tickets, but also hotel cancellation conditions, deposits, resort fees, check-in times, and baggage storage policies.

Conclusion

Delta's special expansion to Las Vegas for CES 2027 is a strong indicator that the beginning of January will again become a peak period for business travel to the city. New direct flights from Hong Kong and Taipei make the journey from Asia easier, and additional frequencies from other international and US cities expand the choice for participants of the exhibition. But the main advice for passengers remains practical: check exact flight dates, US entry documents, fare conditions, hotel, transfer, and time buffer at the airport. In the CES week, even good air connectivity does not replace advance planning.