Nonstop flights to India are on Utah's wish list

First Paris, now Tokyo. Next up for nonstop international flights from Salt Lake City? Maybe India.

Jason Perry, executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development, told the GOED board this week that India is among a few destinations on the state's wish list for Delta Air Lines to serve.

"They entertain our wish lists from time to time," Perry said. "They've started penciling out other potentials for the state already."

The board has talked to Delta about flights to London and Amsterdam, as well as India, he said.

"The state certainly has enough work in India to justify that (flight)," Perry said. "We've let them know that — so has the governor — so we'll keep working on that."

Delta on Wednesday said it would add nonstop service from Salt Lake City International Airport to the Tokyo-Narita International Airport in Japan. The first flight will take off June 3.

The GOED board approved funding to help market both the Paris and Tokyo flights. The Utah Board of Tourism Development, Salt Lake County and the Salt Lake airport were among others contributing to develop the marketing plan.

"There are a lot of great possibilities for that Tokyo flight," Perry said, noting that Japan is Utah's fourth-largest trading partner. "It really captures some of that skiing market. Right now, most of the Japanese skiers go to places that have nonstop flights. We will now be one of those."

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