Delta Air Lines announces new Hawaii route from its Salt Lake City hub and more flights next winter
Delta Air Lines is adding a 17th route from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii this coming winter — and is connecting its Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) hub with a new Hawaiian island in the process.
This December, Delta will launch new nonstop service from SLC to Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) on the Big Island.
The new flights will kick off just in time for the holiday season and run through the winter months.
Meanwhile, Delta will also deploy bigger jets and more weekly flights on a handful of additional Hawaii routes next winter — particularly during the peak holiday season, the carrier announced Friday.
Altogether, it’ll mean new opportunities for travelers — including those with a stash of Delta SkyMiles — to visit the Aloha State when the weather again turns cold throughout much of the country.
Related: Which airline is now best if you don't want to pay bag fees?
Delta’s new Salt Lake City route to Hawaii
Delta’s newest Hawaii route will take flight Dec. 19, the Atlanta-based carrier said Friday.
The carrier will fly its Kona route with a Boeing 767-300ER through March 28, 2026. We should note that, as of now, Delta does not plan to deploy its 767s sporting Premium Select recliners on the Salt Lake City-Kona route, a spokesperson said. The carrier has some 767-300s featuring the premium economy cabin and others without it.
This will be the airline’s third Kona route; it currently connects to Hawaii Island via its Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) hubs on the West Coast.
As for Salt Lake City, Kona will be the carrier’s third Hawaii connection link from the airport. Delta already flies from the Beehive State to Honolulu and Maui.
It was already shaping up to be a year of modest growth for Delta at its Salt Lake City hub. The carrier’s total departures during the first half of 2025 were set to rise nearly 5% over last year, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Later this year, the airline is planning to open a new Delta Sky Club in Salt Lake City that will be among the biggest in its entire lounge network.
Kona is one of Hawaii’s numerous beautiful destinations that sports a variety of top-notch hotels, including the recently reborn Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort.
Adding more Hawaii capacity
Beyond the new SLC-KOA route, Delta is bolstering its existing Hawaii service.
This fall, the airline will get a jump-start on its wintertime seasonal service from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG). Beginning Nov. 6, Delta will fly the route with an Airbus A330-300 aircraft.
It’ll also add a second daily flight to its ATL service to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu between Dec. 19 and Jan. 5, during the peak holiday season.
Related: Best Delta credit cards
The carrier will get an early jump on its Salt Lake City flights to Maui as well — starting Oct. 6, to be exact — and add a second daily flight during the holidays, too.
Finally, Delta plans to swap in a bigger plane to carry more passengers to HNL via its Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) hub during the winter months. Between Nov. 6 and March 28, the carrier’s 282-seat Airbus A330-300 will make an appearance instead of the Boeing 767-300ER, which features up to 226 seats, depending on the cabin configuration.
Delta’s A330-300s have a four-cabin layout with Delta One lie-flat suites, plus Premium Select and Comfort Plus sections.
Related reading:
- Save money: How you can book flights to Hawaii using points and miles
- Delta Medallion status: What it is and how to earn it
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- Delta basic economy: What you need to know about bags, seats, boarding and more
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.