Delta Air Lines remains fully committed to Utah, with plans for a $18 million state-of-the-art cargo facility on the grounds of Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). The new facility will cover up to 48,000 square feet, reaffirming the carrier’s stronghold at the airport.
This development has been made possible through a loan with Salt Lake City and the Utah Inland Port Authority, which will help develop the new state-of-the-art cargo hub. SLC is a major gateway for the inner-mountain West, and Delta remains the largest operator at the airport. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics outlines that the airline operates more than 56% of all operations at the airport.
A New Modern Hub
The new cargo facility will be made possible through an extensive renovation of the former United States Postal Service Building. This will become the new home for Delta’s cargo operations at SLC, and will see the airline vacate its current air cargo facility. It is expected that the new facility will significantly improve operational efficiency for the carrier and airport.
It is expected that the new cargo hub will open by 2027 and include significant investment for refrigerated storage, shipping, warehousing, and administrative spaces. Cold chain capabilities will further support high-value, temperature-sensitive goods, including pharmaceuticals and other perishable items. Peter Penseel, Senior Vice President for Delta Cargo, explains as per the carrier’s media release:
“Delta is proud to partner with the UIPA and Salt Lake City International Airport to strengthen our cargo operations and better serve our customers in Utah and beyond. Transforming the former USPS facility into a modern cargo hub reflects our long-term commitment to Salt Lake City and the role it plays in our global network.”
Continued Commitment To SLC
The investment in this cargo facility at SLC not only strengthens the airline’s role in the global supply chain but also creates new business opportunities across the state. Improving capacity should enable Utah-manufactured goods to be dispatched and shipped straight from SLC, without the need to be rerouted through other US gateways.
As already outlined, Salt Lake City remains a key market for Delta Air Lines, and the 
SkyTeam member is the largest carrier at the airport, providing more flights than all its competitors combined. At its peak, Delta operates more than 270 flights per day from the airport to both domestic and international destinations. A snapshot below of the market share Delta maintains at SLC as per data from BTS:
|
Airline |
Average Annual Passengers |
Market Share |
|---|---|---|
|
Delta Air Lines |
14.4 million |
56% |
|
SkyWest Airlines |
3.7 million |
14% |
|
Southwest Airlines |
2.9 million |
11% |
|
American Airlines |
1.2 million |
4.7% |
Long-haul routes offered by Delta at SLC include three European gateways: London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The addition of two new long-haul services will also take flight before the end of the year, with flights to Lima Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM), Peru, and Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN), South Korea.
Delta Cargo At Salt Lake City
Making the new facility possible has been through a loan from the Utah Inland Port Authority, with the investment expected to support and develop not just Delta Air Lines, but also other manufacturers across the state. This will provide a reliable, immediate cargo facility at the airport, instead of relying on other West Coast gateways such as 
Los Angeles International Airport, 
San Francisco International Airport, and 
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
While Delta does not operate dedicated cargo aircraft, its frequent scheduled passenger flights provide robust capacity across its growing SLC network. Across the carrier’s wider global network, the airline boasts it carries ‘billions of cargo ton-miles each year’.
Delta remains one of the most recognizable airlines in the United States, and is one of the country’s ‘Big Three’ carriers. The airline operates a fleet of almost 1,000 aircraft, the third-largest commercial airline fleet in the world (only behind United and American). The carrier is based out of its home at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and also maintains hubs at Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Salt Lake City, and Seattle/Tacoma, with focus cities at Austin and Raleigh/Durham.
