Pull to refresh
Logo
What Changed
Following Why Sign Up
Delta, SkyWest add four routes from Salt Lake City to outdoor destinations

Delta, SkyWest add four routes from Salt Lake City to outdoor destinations

New Capabilities Salt Lake City, UT local

Flights to Flagstaff, Moab, Monterey, and Santa Rosa expand the airline's Western leisure network

October 7th, 2026: SkyWest begins Moab-Denver for United

Overview

Updated Oct 22

Delta is now the only airline flying nonstop between Salt Lake City and Santa Rosa, California, after Alaska Airlines dropped a planned Nov. 1 launch on the route. Delta's first Sonoma County flight landed Oct. 6; Monterey starts Dec. 19, Flagstaff June 7, and SkyWest began daily Moab–Denver flights Oct. 7.

The routes link Utah to national parks and wine country: Canyonlands, the Grand Canyon, Big Sur and Sonoma. Utah travelers get nonstop flights to places that once required a connection, and Delta builds on a hub where it handles about 70% of the airport's traffic.

Why it matters

Utah travelers gain nonstop access to Moab, the Grand Canyon, and the California coast as Delta strengthens its Salt Lake City hub.

Last Monday's email for Salt Lake City, UT

Sent Nov 9. It carried:

Get next Monday's: one short email a week. Free. Unsubscribe in one click.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

4
New nonstop routes from SLC
Moab and Santa Rosa flying now; Monterey in December, Flagstaff in June
270
Delta peak-day departures from SLC
More than all other carriers combined
2
Daily Flagstaff roundtrips
Year-round service starting June 2027

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

Log in Sign Up

People Involved

CT
Cody Thomas
Managing director of market development, SkyWest Airlines
Quoted in SkyWest's Moab route announcement
 Layne Watson
Layne Watson
Senior manager of corporate communications, SkyWest Airlines
Quoted on Moab's new Salt Lake City and Denver connections

Organizations Involved

Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Airline
Expanding its Salt Lake City hub with leisure routes

Delta is Salt Lake City's largest carrier, operating more flights from SLC than all other airlines combined.
SkyWest Airlines
SkyWest Airlines
Regional airline
Operating new routes for Delta Connection and United Express

Utah-based regional carrier operating jets under contract for Delta, United, and Alaska.
Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport
Airport
Delta's western hub

Utah's main airport and a major Delta hub.
CS
Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport
Airport
Fourth airline added with Delta's SLC service

Santa Rosa airport serving Sonoma County wine country.

Timeline

2014 June 2027

11 events Latest: October 7th, 2026 · 1 month ago Showing 8 of 11
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Delta launches Salt Lake City-Flagstaff

    Upcoming Route launch

    Twice-daily year-round service to Grand Canyon gateway begins, operated by SkyWest.

  2. Delta launches Salt Lake City-Monterey

    Upcoming Route launch

    New service gives Utah travelers access to Pebble Beach and Big Sur.

  3. SkyWest begins Moab-Denver for United

    Latest Route launch

    Year-round daily roundtrips begin operating as United Express service, replacing Contour Airlines.

  4. Delta, SkyWest add four routes from SLC

    Announcement

    Delta launches Santa Rosa, announces Monterey and Flagstaff; SkyWest adds Moab-Denver for United Express.

  5. Delta launches Salt Lake City-Santa Rosa

    Route launch

    First flight lands at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport with 52 passengers on an Embraer E-175. Delta also launched a Wine Takes Flight program letting eligible SkyMiles members check a case of wine free on qualifying Northern California flights.

  6. SkyWest restarts Moab service for Delta

    Route launch

    Seasonal daily roundtrips from SLC to Canyonlands Regional Airport begin October 1, pausing after Thanksgiving and returning in March 2027.

  7. Alaska Airlines drops planned SLC–Santa Rosa route

    Route cancellation

    Alaska, which in May announced a nonstop link to Salt Lake City starting Nov. 1, dropped the plan, The Press Democrat reported Oct. 6. That leaves Delta as the only carrier flying the pair nonstop.

  8. Delta opens second-largest Sky Club at SLC

    Expansion

    Nearly 34,000-square-foot lounge opens in Concourse B, seating 600 guests.

  9. Avelo flies Salt Lake City-Santa Rosa

    Route launch

    Low-cost carrier Avelo operates SLC-STS before dropping the route in 2025.

  10. Delta resumes Salt Lake City-Moab

    Route launch

    Delta brings back the Moab route after a multi-year pause. Service runs until 2023.

  11. Delta begins Salt Lake City-Moab service

    Route launch

    Delta starts nonstop service between SLC and Moab, gateway to Canyonlands and Arches national parks.

Scenarios

1

Delta adds a fifth outdoor route from Salt Lake City

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Simple Flying (route analysis)

If the four new routes post strong bookings, Delta is likely to add more leisure destinations from SLC. The airline has been expanding its Western hub, and successful launches would support further growth. Watch for announcements after the Flagstaff launch in June 2027.

2

Delta drops Salt Lake City-Moab service again

Unlikely Resolves by Q1 2028

Discussed by: Simple Flying (notes it's the third attempt)

The SLC-Moab route pauses after Thanksgiving and is scheduled to resume in March 2027. If summer demand is weak, Delta could drop the route permanently rather than return a fourth time. The route's history of pauses makes it the most fragile of the four new connections.

3

Delta's four new SLC routes launch as announced

Likely Resolves by Jun 7, 2027

Discussed by: Delta News Hub

This is the baseline: Santa Rosa, Monterey, and Flagstaff launch on their announced dates, and Moab returns in March 2027. Airlines typically launch announced routes unless there's a major operational issue. The main risk would be a delay, such as aircraft availability or airport readiness in Flagstaff or Monterey.

4

Delta keeps Salt Lake City-Santa Rosa flying

Possible Resolves by Jun 1, 2027

Discussed by: The Press Democrat (route launch reporting)

Avelo dropped the Salt Lake City–Santa Rosa route in 2025 after a short run. Delta's version adds hub connections Avelo lacked and a wine-check perk for SkyMiles members, but winter demand on the route is unproven. The airport now has four carriers, which splits demand.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2024-2025

Avelo Airlines on Salt Lake City-Santa Rosa (2024-2025)

Avelo Airlines, a low-cost carrier, operated nonstop flights between Salt Lake City and Santa Rosa's Sonoma County Airport in 2024 and 2025, according to Simple Flying. It eventually dropped the route.

Then

The route ended without another carrier stepping in immediately.

Now

Delta now launches the same route with full hub connectivity.

Why this matters now

Delta is entering a market Avelo previously served, betting that its SLC hub connections provide more demand than a point-to-point low-cost service.

2014-2023

Delta's earlier SLC-Moab attempts (2014-2015, 2021-2023)

Delta served Salt Lake City to Moab from 2014 to 2015 and again from 2021 to 2023, pausing service both times, per Simple Flying. The route connects to Canyonlands and Arches national parks.

Then

Delta paused the route each time after a year or two.

Now

Delta now returns to Moab a third time, a sign the seasonal market keeps justifying another attempt.

Why this matters now

The new Moab service follows the same seasonal pattern — pausing after Thanksgiving, resuming in March — showing how Delta manages fluctuating demand in a national-park gateway.

Sources

(8)
+2
KSL.com Delta News Hub Simple Flying Salt Lake City International Airport The Press Democrat The Salt Lake Tribune AirlineGeeks AeroRoutes