Delta Air Lines will open a daily nonstop route from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) on December 4, 2025. The service creates the first direct air bridge between Utah and South America and deepens Delta's joint venture with LATAM. Travelers across the Mountain West will gain same-airport, one-stop access to São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Santiago, accelerating business, tourism, and cultural exchange.
Key Points
- Daily Boeing 767-300ER service starts December 4, 2025.
- Four cabins: Delta One, Premium Select, Comfort +, Main Cabin.
- Why it matters: first nonstop link between Utah and South America.
- Joint schedule with LATAM enables one-stop reach to 90-plus South American cities.
- SLC's peak-day departures climb to 265 as the hub expands.
Snapshot
Delta's new Salt Lake City-Lima flight will depart SLC each evening and arrive in Lima early the next morning, returning overnight to land in Utah before noon. The 3,980-mile sector will be flown by a 216-seat Boeing 767-300ER outfitted with lie-flat Delta One suites, Premium Select recliners, extra-legroom Comfort + seats, and Main Cabin economy. LATAM's onward network from LIM connects passengers under a single ticket and bag tag.
Background
Salt Lake City has served as Delta's primary Mountain West hub since Western Airlines merged with Delta in 1987. The $4.5-billion rebuilding of SLC, scheduled for completion in 2027, adds 22 gates and longer international concourses. Meanwhile, Delta and LATAM launched a joint venture in 2023 after U.S.-Chile antitrust approval, linking Delta's Atlanta and New York hubs with LATAM strongholds in São Paulo and Santiago. Until now, Mountain West travelers bound for Peru faced at least one domestic connection. The new flight shifts that traffic directly onto Delta metal.
Latest Developments
The Announcement Delta unveiled the route on July 14, 2025, stressing its role in "connecting the Mountain West to the southern hemisphere." Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox hailed the move as proof of the state's growing global relevance.
Fleet and Schedule
- Aircraft: Refurbished Boeing 767-300ER, 216 seats.
- Outbound: DL 145, depart SLC 820 p.m., arrive LIM 615 a.m. +1.
- Inbound: DL 146, depart LIM 1215 a.m., arrive SLC 1005 a.m. The timing supports evening domestic feed and morning South American connections.
Partnership Benefits
Codesharing with LATAM permits seamless transfers to 30 Peruvian destinations and more than 60 flights across Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Elite members earn reciprocal loyalty miles and enjoy shared lounge access at both airports.
Hub Growth
With the Lima addition, Delta's SLC portfolio rises to 96 destinations and 265 peak-day departures. The airport's Phase 3 expansion, due in late 2027, will push capacity near 350 daily flights, positioning Salt Lake City as a true inter-continental waypoint for the western United States.
Analysis
For leisure travelers, the nonstop cuts travel time to Machu Picchu and Peru's surf coast by four to six hours, eliminating a change of planes in Los Angeles or Dallas. Business passengers gain a red-eye schedule that preserves the workday on both ends. The flight also gives Utah exporters a direct belly-cargo lane to one of Latin America's busiest freight gateways, supporting the state's $17-billion annual export economy. Competitive pressure may prompt American and United to bolster their own Mountain West-to-South America offerings, especially from Phoenix or Denver. Risk factors include currency volatility in Peru and slot congestion at LIM during its ongoing terminal expansion, yet Delta's joint-venture presence insulates the route with shared revenue and marketing heft.
Final Thoughts
Delta's December 4 launch marks a strategic leap southward for Salt Lake City, offering travelers faster access to Peru's capital and onward LATAM cities while reinforcing SLC's emergence as an international hub. Watch for promotional fares this fall, check passport validity for at least six months, and consider LATAM-partner through-tickets to maximize baggage and mileage benefits. The new Delta nonstop Salt Lake City-Lima flight promises smoother journeys and broader horizons for the Mountain West.