Delta dropping some flights in order to contain losses

Delta Air Lines is dropping nonstop flights between Salt Lake City and cities in South Dakota and Arkansas.

The cuts are part of a reduction in domestic flights as Delta seeks to contain losses from higher fuel costs that are expected to wipe out the airline's operating profits for the final three months of the year.

"While we're seeing some domestic reductions, we're continuing to see an increase in international flights," Delta spokesman Anthony Black said Friday.

Delta will start a daily flight between Salt Lake City and Paris starting June 2, the first direct flight between Utah and Europe.

Atlanta-based Delta and its partners operate 335 flights from Salt Lake City.

Daily flights between Salt Lake City and Sioux Falls, S.D., started in June 2006 and, while they were initially popular, were only about 60 percent full this year. Summer occupancy was better at 77 percent.

Delta will end Salt Lake City's flights to Sioux Falls and Bentonville, Ark., the home of Wal-Mart, on Jan. 8.