Delta Resumes Transpacific Flights from Salt Lake City to Seoul

Delta Air Lines is set to reintroduce transpacific flights from Salt Lake City to Asia with a new direct route to Seoul, South Korea, marking the first such service from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) since 2011. This new year-round route, starting June 12, 2025, will utilize the Airbus A350-900 for daily operations to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN).

This launch revitalizes Salt Lake City’s connection to the Asia-Pacific region, a connection that has been dormant since Delta discontinued its Tokyo Narita service over a decade ago. The Seoul route will be Delta’s fifth to the city, complementing existing services from its other hubs in Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Seattle.

Delta’s partnership with Korean Air, a key player in the transpacific joint venture and a fellow member of the SkyTeam alliance, enhances this new service. Korean Air itself offers flights to 11 U.S. destinations from Seoul, encompassing major cities such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and New York, among others. This network synergy between Delta and Korean Air is pivotal as it provides expansive connectivity across the U.S. and Asia, benefitting both business and leisure travelers.

Joe Esposito, Delta’s Senior Vice President of Network Planning, highlighted the strategic importance of Salt Lake City in Delta’s network. He pointed out the mutual benefits of Delta’s joint venture with Korean Air, which leverages significant hub strengths in both the U.S. and Asia to offer superior connectivity across the continents.

According to Sabre Market Intelligence, Seoul was the second-largest Origin & Destination (O&D) market from Salt Lake City in the Asia-Pacific region in 2023, with approximately 13,000 two-way passengers. Tokyo remains the largest, drawing about 23,000 passengers.

Salt Lake City serves as one of Delta’s primary domestic hubs, featuring nearly 250 peak-day departures to over 90 destinations. The hub’s long-haul offerings currently include flights to key European cities like Amsterdam, London Heathrow, and Paris Charles de Gaulle.

In the broader U.S.-South Korea market, Korean Air leads with a 42.5% share of nonstop capacity, according to OAG Schedules Analyzer data. The market landscape also includes Asiana Airlines, which is merging with Korean Air and held a 24.9% market share in September 2024. Delta follows with a 15.3% share. Other airlines such as Air Premia, American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines also compete in this dynamic market.

This new route from Salt Lake City to Seoul underscores Delta’s strategic expansion and its commitment to enhancing its global network, providing more direct and efficient travel options for passengers navigating between the U.S. and Asia.