This winter, Delta Air Lines is set to introduce a 17th route connecting the U.S. mainland to Hawaii, establishing a new link between its Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) hub and a Hawaiian island.
Beginning in December, Delta will commence nonstop flights from SLC to Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) on the Big Island.
The flights will launch just in time for the holiday season and will continue throughout the winter.
Additionally, Delta will increase capacity on several of its other Hawaii routes by deploying larger aircraft and adding more weekly flights during peak holiday times, as announced last Friday.
This expansion offers new travel options for passengers, especially those with Delta SkyMiles, to escape the colder weather and enjoy the Aloha State.
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Delta’s New Route from Salt Lake City to Hawaii
Delta’s latest flight to Hawaii will take off on December 19, according to a statement made by the Atlanta-based airline on Friday.
The route to Kona will be serviced by a Boeing 767-300ER until March 28, 2026. It’s important to note that Delta currently has no plans to operate its Premium Select recliner-equipped 767s on this route, as some of its 767-300s do feature premium economy seating while others do not, according to a company spokesperson.
This will be Delta’s third route to Kona, which is already reachable via its hubs at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
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From Salt Lake City, Kona will mark the third destination Delta serves in Hawaii, joining existing routes to Honolulu and Maui.
As Delta has set its sights on growth at its Salt Lake City hub, total departures in the first half of 2025 are projected to increase by nearly 5% compared to last year, based on data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Later in the year, the airline plans to unveil a new Delta Sky Club at Salt Lake City, which is expected to be one of the largest lounges in its network.
Kona is a stunning Hawaiian destination, known for its array of luxury accommodations, including the newly revamped Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort.
Increasing Hawaii Flight Capacity
In addition to the SLC-KOA route, Delta is enhancing its existing service to Hawaii.
This fall, the airline will jumpstart its seasonal winter service from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG), with flights starting on November 6 using an Airbus A330-300.
During the peak holiday season, Delta will also introduce a second daily flight to its ATL service to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu, running from December 19 to January 5.
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Delta will also initiate its Salt Lake City flights to Maui early, starting on October 6, with a second daily flight added for the holiday season.
Lastly, to accommodate more passengers, Delta plans to upgrade its aircraft from the Boeing 767-300ER to the larger 282-seat Airbus A330-300 for the route to HNL from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) during winter from November 6 to March 28. The A330-300s feature a four-cabin layout that includes Delta One suites, alongside Premium Select and Comfort Plus sections.
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