- Delta Airlines is slated to make its first direct flight from Salt Lake City to South America on Thursday, Dec. 4.
- The daily nonstop flight to Lima will be available through Jan. 25. 2026.
- Connections linking Utah and Peru have grown rapidly in recent years.
Countless Utahns enjoy connections to South America.
Many from the nations of Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and neighboring countries now call the Beehive State home. And legions of Utahns have served Latter-day Saint missions to South American lands.
But commercial air travel from Utah to South America has always involved an airport layover — maybe in Los Angeles, Houston or Miami.
That’s changing, at least for several weeks.
On Thursday, Delta Airlines will launch its maiden nonstop service from Salt Lake City to Lima — embarking on a historic direct flight from Utah to South America.
From Dec. 4 through Jan. 25, 2026, Delta will operate daily direct flights from Salt Lake City to Lima.
Delta Flight 193 will be operated on a widebody Boeing 767-300ER aircraft — accommodating 226 passengers.
“This new route is a significant milestone for Delta and our customers in Salt Lake City and throughout the Mountain West,” said Paul Baldoni, Delta’s senior vice president of network planning in a Delta release.
“With this expanded connectivity through our Salt Lake City hub, we’re proud to offer a faster, more convenient way to reach Lima and other major cities across South America.”
South America’s major cities include Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Santiago and Bogota. But Lima is reportedly Salt Lake City’s most in-demand South American destination.
Delta Flight 193 will also offer added convenience for South America-bound travelers from nearby cities such as Seattle, Portland, Denver, Las Vegas, Sacramento and Boise.
While the SLC to Lima flight is available for reservations until Jan. 25, 2026, it’s unknown if the direct flight will extend beyond that date, according to Delta spokesperson Alex Koehlke.
Gov. Spencer Cox: Opening ‘new doors for business development’
Besides offering a logistical gateway to South America, Peru is a final travel destination for many Utahns drawn to the country’s cuisine, surfing and high-altitude adventures in the Andes and Machu Picchu.
“The creation of this first-ever nonstop gateway between Utah and South America is an exciting opportunity to build upon Utah’s growing importance on the world stage and it underscores Delta’s commitment to our state,” said Cox in the Delta release.
“As this new global connection to Utah begins, we’ll continue to look for more ways to open new doors for business development, economic trade, tourism and culture exchange for our state.”
Added Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall: “As two capital cities both nestled among iconic mountain ranges, it feels especially fitting that Salt Lake City and Lima will now share this direct connection.
“This nonstop route will strengthen ties across our continents, spark new opportunities for residents and visitors alike, and continue Salt Lake City’s emergence as a global destination.”
Salt Lake City International Airport Executive Director Bill Wyatt expects the nonstop service from Salt Lake City to Lima to be a popular choice in the coming weeks for Utah’s growing South American community.
“The route not only connects the state to 30 destinations throughout South America but will be the fourth continent our passengers will have nonstop access to, which further advances Salt Lake’s position as the crossroads of the world.”
The direct service to Lima adds to Delta’s list of nonstop flights from Salt Lake City to international destinations that includes Seoul, Amsterdam, London, Paris and Mexico City.
A Beehive State ‘business trip’ to Peru
Thursday’s inaugural SLC-to-Lima flight is happening at the same time as a “business trip” sponsored by World Trade Center Utah.
That event is designed to forge relationships between Beehive State businesses and their Peruvian counterparts. “Peru is one of the most promising trade partners in Latin America, and Utah companies are well positioned to lead,” according to WTC Utah.
“From food systems to natural products to infrastructure and energy supply chains, the opportunities are real and rising.”
The World Trade Center Utah/Peru business trip will offer Utah participants face-to-face interactions with Peruvian public and private sector leaders.
Beyond the logistical opportunities offered by the new SLC-Lima nonstop flight, Utah business leaders are also eager to explore Peru’s regional supply chain advantages. Shipping from Peru to the U.S. West Coast is typically four days, port-to-port — making it an attractive option for time-sensitive products.
Meanwhile, Peru is investing in infrastructure, logistics and sustainable agriculture — “all sectors where Utah leads,” according to World Trade Center Utah.
In a Deseret News opinion piece published after the announcement of the direct flight from Salt Lake City to Lima, World Trade Center Utah president and CEO Jonathan Freedman said the inaugural service stretches beyond travel convenience.
“It’s a signal,” wrote Freedman. “A signal that Utah’s economy is growing in reach and relevance. A signal that our ties to Latin America are expanding from promising to powerful. And a signal that success attracts more success, with other airlines already watching closely.”
Peru, he added, has long been a valued trade partner with Utah.
“Our biggest imports include primary metals — supporting key industries such as electrical, aerospace, automotive and construction — along with apparel and accessories.
“On the export side, Utah sends machinery, processed foods, computers and other electronics back to Peru. The U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, in effect since 2009, opened the door to stronger trade and investment.”
It’s been a busy year for World Trade Center Utah and its broad delegation of civic leaders, entrepreneurs and educators.
Trade missions in 2025 have included visits to Canada, New Zealand, Australia and India.
Utah-Peru: Forging cultural, commercial links
Last year, a Peruvian Consulate office was opened in Utah to serve the state’s growing Peruvian community.
A KSL report notes that potentially between 45,000 and 50,000 people who are Peruvian or Peruvian American are living in Utah.
The Peruvian Consulate space is located in a downtown Salt Lake City office building and received accreditation from the U.S. State Department for the diplomatic posting in February 2024.
Many from Utah’s burgeoning Peruvian community have connections to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Approximately 649,000 Latter-day Saints live in Peru worshiping in 797 congregations, according to the church’s website.
The nation is also home to 15 missions and four temples in operation, with several more temples in Peru announced or under construction.