Utah-Europe flight unlikely for next year

Utah probably won't have a direct flight to Europe in 2007, despite personal lobbying at Delta Air Lines by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and other leaders.

"It's not an impossibility, but it's improbable at this point that we will get service to Paris in 2007," Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon said.

"2008 is certainly something we would be shooting for," said Corroon, who was part of a Utah delegation that visited Delta headquarters in Atlanta this week.

Delta spokeswoman Gina Laughlin said the airline remains interested in creating the flight.

Roy Williams, executive director of Salt Lake City International Airport, said the request for service by next summer was a "long shot."

The Utah Board of Tourism Development, Salt Lake City Airport Authority and Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau have pledged $650,000 to promote a new flight to Europe.

Delta, which operates a hub at the Salt Lake airport, has been expanding international service as part of a restructuring plan. The airline filed for bankruptcy protection in September 2005.

"They want to feel comfortable that going down this path makes financial sense," Corroon said of new flights.