Routes & Destinations Delta opens a new gateway to Asia with first-ever nonstop route from Salt Lake City to Seoul
Delta is boosting its global footprint with the launch of its first-ever nonstop service from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN) on June 12, 2025.
Maybe almost as important as the new route is the equipment. It is going to be an A350-900. If we can become a larger 350 base, that could be a big difference maker for future routes as well. I wonder what the summer load limits will be until they extend the runway. I would hate to lose the route or have it become seasonal if fuel costs increase and they aren't able to carry a profitable load.
350 shouldn't need much (if any) payload limits. I think bigger issue is that's much more aircraft than they probably were thinking they wanted (I imagine they preferred A330-900 which would indeed end up payload restricted), and I imagine they'll be sending it out more often than not with plenty of empty seats (because they aren't selling all the seats, not because they're restricting). But it also sounds like it's Delta's desire to put the 350s on all of their trans-Pacific flying eventually, anyway.
2024 has been a fun year. First we get an unexpected NHL team and now a direct flight to Seoul that I wasn't expecting for a few more years.
Was the SLC to NRT route, 10ish years ago, cancelled because of load limits or lack of demand?
I'm not too worried about the new SLC to ICN route because of the code sharing agreement with KA. I think the two airlines will be able to find enough people to funnel through the two hubs.
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Real estate agent working in Salt Lake and Ogden
Couple things impacted SLC-NRT flight. Two largest were probably the A330 they had on the route at the time struggled with performance and (probably more importantly) HND was opened back up to international flights and the NRT hub was closed by Delta.
A click-bait article suggested it was already open. That's why I didn't see any coverage on reputable sites (KSL, KUTV, the Trib, etc.)
Looking forward to flying through SLC sometime in the near future to check out the tunnel!
No actually, they will open up tomorrow morning at about 10:30am. Central tunnel will open in the morning. Go on your Facebook page. There is live video from SLC airport.
Maybe someone already shared this, but the media releases for the new tunnel opening included criteria to be met for construction to start on Concourse C. 35,000,000 passengers through the airport.
“As of February 2024, more than 27 million passengers traveled from and out of the airport in the course of 12 months. Whenever that number grows to 35 million, the Department of Airports will start the construction of Concourse C.“
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