Deseret News | Delta looks west, adds nonstop flight to Tokyo

Reader comments
Delta looks west, adds nonstop flight to Tokyo

Newsworthy | 1:13 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

This is great economic development for Utah. It may bring more jobs to the area with the opening of new flights from SLC and perhaps more international companies may be willing to open operations in the area if we have a more direct route to Asian countries.

sawyer jones | 1:41 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

Thanks--Delta!

Frequent Flyer | 1:57 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

Too bad Delta has now doubled the amount of SkyMiles you need to fly. Half my family lives in Europe. It used to take 50,000 SkyMiles for a roundtrip flight to visit them. Now it's 45,000 each way!

The cost of travel keeps going up while the quality and service keep going down. Now they want me to pay to check a bag?!

Sorry, new opportunities for Utahns are great...air travel is not!

Comments continue below

Paris | 3:37 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

Didn't Delta end the direct flight to Paris or is that coming back?

yes | 4:23 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

Yes, yes, yes. Fantastic.

France | 4:25 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

Last time I heard on the news that Delta was going to make a non-stop flight to Paris, and the only reason how I know that I had a friend and his wife just got back from Paris and they took the non-stop flight going -coming, If that answeres you question,

Craig | 4:38 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

At the time they are cutting several domestic non stops they add this. I do not think they have clue to what they are doing. Sheer numbers and better service in this country would provide more dollars than a single flight over seas.

Mr. Miyagi | 4:54 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

Arigato Gozaimasu

re: Craig | 5:00 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

Most of the airlines have cut domestic routes, but added international flights because they are more proftiable.

High price, poor service | 5:14 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

As a 1K United and Platinum Medallion on Delta, I feel I'm qualified to comment about the airline industry in this country. All the majors are completely out of touch and are corrupted by the same entitlement culture that has taken down our economy. This is why you will continue to see higher prices, lower levels of service, and additional nickel/dime fees. Passengers are not viewed as customers...they are a mere inconvenience.

In recent months, I've started flying Southwest domestically whenever possible and have found them to be delightful. At least they don't pretend to be something they're not. Internationally, I try to fly non-U.S. airlines and find their service to be far superior. I encourage all travelers to seek alternatives and send a message loud and clear to the big airlines that enough is enough.

utflyer | 5:38 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

Delta to Toyko, 5 times weekly on a Airbus 330 beginning June 3rd. Atlanta to Toyko on a 747. Shows that Delta is beginning to use Northwest equipment

David | 5:56 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

Wow, this is great news! I didn't know we could expect something like this so soon.

Tony | 7:05 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

I could be wrong, but if the Airbus 330 is larger than a 777, then there is no way that it will be able to land at SLC International. The runways and the concourses are not big enought to allow for turnaround.
And there is still non-stop to Paris from SLC.
And Southwest is the way to go, great people..real people.

Decision | 8:58 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

I will have to decide whether to fly good service Japanese airlines from SF/LA with a few extra hours to my flight due to the connection or direct from SLC on a crappy US airline. Even with the risk of delay in SF due to weather, I am tempted to stick with the Japanese airlines. At least I know the service will be good and more importantly the plane will be cleaner.

Almost | 9:41 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

Almost as good as drive through sushi. Sweet.

Nick | 10:19 p.m. Nov. 12, 2008

If JetBlue had more options from SLC or Vegas (where I live) they would be the way to go. I don't mind Southwest, especially since their new seating procedures, but JetBlue is cheaper and offers better service. I wish I could support Delta, they operate a hub in my hometown and employee thousands of Utahns, but they have such crappy service. I will definitely try to support them when I go to Europe next year, a non-stop through SLC sounds great.

RE: Tony | 4:29 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Yes, the SLC-Paris flight continues.

Yes, an A330 can use SLC's runways. Air Force One, a 747, did it when the Clintons were president.

Someone on the Internet says an A330 needs 8800 feet. 16L/34R and 16R/34L at SLC are both 12000 feet. I don't know if "someone on the Internet" is right, which is why I mentioned Air Force One first.

You may be right about the ramp and gate requirements. Surely Air Force One didn't pull up to the A concourse and let the President out. :-) A photo of an A330 indicates two doors near the front, like a 757, but it's about 10 meters longer than a 757. Can SLC handle that? I don't know.

Jody | 5:11 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

The non stop to Paris is great. I just flew it and it was full, so I do not see them ending it. While Delta's service does not compare to the Asian airlines it is far superior to the European airlines. Delta's baggage restrictions are much better and more reasonable to address overages. Personally, I am hoping that their partnership with Korean airlines benefits more me than the direct Tokyo flight.

Great!!! | 7:27 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Just like SLC/Paris, Narita will be a huge hit. It will bring more passengers (east coast) through SLC-more airport taxes for us. Re:Decision- I've flown Delta International to Narita from LAX, as well as SLC/CDG. International service is great! If you can avoid SFO, you'd be crazy not to. Re:Tony. Air Force One (747) can land on the runway & 777's have landed & boarded no problem here. Next, I hear SLC/Amsterdam is coming. Anything to avoid changing flights in JFK works for me.

Kevin | 7:44 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

This is sweet. I'm looking forward to it. I wish they had a non-stop to Vienna rather than Paris, though.

Start your own Airline | 8:41 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

It's great to see all of the positive comments on this new SLC to Tokyo route. For those naysayers who think Delta "doesn't know what it's doing" I suggest that you start your own airline like Utahan David Neelman did. He was wildly successful until his airline started truly competing with the majors. Since then, Jet Blue has become just as common as all the other carriers. Airlines are what they are because of cutthroat competition and customers who will not pay a preimum for convenience. Southwest succeeds because they offer customers cheap service, and cheap jokes. For long distance travelers, they will never be called convenient and they will never bring non-stop international service to SLC. Oh, and by the way, I work at SLC international and it's already a fact that an airbus 330 can land and operate using the existing facilities, as can a 777. Only gate D2 can handle those aircraft, but they will fit.

Poor Frequent Flyers | 8:46 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

You poor poor Frequent Flyers, you are so picked on by Delta, lets see, you, can check 3 bags with no charge and your bags can way 70 pounds and still no charge. I can check 1 bag and I get 50 pounds, poor poor Frequent Flyer. And get this, you pay the same price for the ticket as I do. And lets not forget the SPECIAL breeze way boarding just for you and the SPECIAL lines at security just for you. Thanks Delta for expanding and adding the world to our world here in Utah.

Re: Tony | 9:27 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Yeah, Tony, I'm sure the airlines didn't think to make sure that the plane they were announcing wasn't too big for the airport. Good catch.

Besides, I'm pretty sure you're thinking of the A380. The A330 is actually very similar in size to the 777.

Asian Flyer | 9:47 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Great news to Utahns! I've long been wishing for some non-stop flight to Asia from SLC. We have the International Terminal that should handle the large 747,777,A330, and A340 planes. I don't know about the A380, but the airport should develop plans for that soon. I can't wait for the day for a non-stop to Hong Kong and Manila.

Pittakos | 10:45 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

To: Poor Frequent Flyers | 8:46 a.m. Nov. 13, 2008

You are absolutely correct. I would love to have seen some of these whining crybabies crossing the plains on foot with the pioneers. I made Medallion Class this year and it just sweetens the trip a little bit however, when I can fly from SLC to CDG in 10 hours, I have absolutely nothing to complain about.

Thanks Delta for expanding our services here in Salt Lake and hopefully there is more on the way.

747 | 1:01 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

A couple of months ago a British Airways flight to AZ made an emergency landing at SLC. So, the big boys can land here. My trips to Beijing will be much better now. I don't hve to go through LAX.

OzFlyer | 2:24 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

About time! Now I can avoid LAX and SFO. I can't stand those airports.

Narita is a beautiful airport.

OC Surfer | 6:46 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

Good news for Utah!

But I'll stick with Singapore Airlines as my all-time favorite airline when I fly to Tokyo.

Josh Ewing | 10:30 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

This is great news for the Utah economy. Delta is growing its presence in SLC and that is good for all of us. Congrats to Delta for their service and leadership.

The NIT | 11:23 p.m. Nov. 13, 2008

To Tony and others:

Gee, do you think Delta would have checked runway and terminal capabilities before planning and then announcing this flight service?

Phoenix | 7:28 p.m. Nov. 15, 2008

Im very excited for this, does anyone know how much a ticket is going to cost for it though?

Phoenix | 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15, 2008

Im very excited for this I have always wanted to go to Tokyo, does anyone know how much a ticket would cost for this?

John | 11:19 p.m. Feb. 14, 2009

This new service is going to be great for Delta, Salt Lake City, The State of Utah and the whole Region; just like the Paris service is and will continue to be. I hope this will lead to even more foriegn service via Salt Lake City.

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