Passengers at Salt Lake City International Airport were greeted by something other than check-in lines at the ticket counter Thursday morning: Local leaders gathered at Gate A25 to celebrate takeoff for the first direct flight linking Salt Lake City to Seoul, South Korea.
Passengers on the inaugural flight were greeted by Delta’s mascot, a big red triangle named Widgey, and free Korean snacks before they boarded the plane.
“With the service we already have, and the addition of this flight, 80% of the world’s population is now within one stop of Salt Lake City, Utah,” Bill Wyatt, the airport’s executive director, said. “It’s a pretty amazing thing to just absorb what that means.”
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Delta Air Lines ground crew member takes a photo of an Airbus A350 for an inaugural flight from Salt Lake City to Seoul, South Korea, at Salt Lake City International Airport, Thursday, June 12, 2025.
The daily service to Incheon, Seoul’s main airport, is Salt Lake City’s first direct connection to Asia. The flight links passengers to more than 50 destinations throughout Asia, including Bangkok, Manila, Shanghai and Singapore.
The University of Utah also has a campus in Incheon, so Korean families and students alike will have a much easier trip to the country.
“This is a monumental step forward,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said. “Today, my invitation to Salt Lakers is to start looking out for more visitors from Asia and welcome them with open arms here in the state of Utah.”
Officials from Salt Lake City, Delta and South Korea added that the flight is more than just a new route — and that it marks the start of more cooperation and stronger ties between the two places.
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) A Delta Air Lines Airbus A350 takes off for an inaugural flight from Salt Lake City to Seoul, South Korea, at Salt Lake City International Airport, Thursday, June 12, 2025.
“It’s a bridge between two places with natural beauty, innovation and growing friendship,” Counsel General of the Republic of Korea Jung-taek Lim said. “[The] Korean Consulate is fully committed to supporting this journey, whether it’s helping travelers enjoy a safe and enriching state or promoting lasting partnership between Korea and Utah.”
The Airbus A350-900 carrying passengers to Incheon departed at 11:40 a.m., and the plane was adorned with a celebratory livery for the airline’s centennial.
Delta One passengers were greeted on board with a “luxury experience” of lie-flat seating, premium bedding and a seasonal chef-curated four-course meal. Those amenities will be offered on future flights to the Korean city, Delta said in a Delta news release.
