Delta Air Lines Expands Routes with New Flights from Salt Lake City to London Heathrow, Gatwick, and Edinburgh

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Delta Air Lines is expanding its network by introducing new direct flights from Salt Lake City to three major UK airports—London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and Edinburgh. This expansion is part of Delta’s ongoing effort to strengthen its international connectivity, offering passengers more convenient travel options between the US and the UK. With these new routes, travelers in Salt Lake City now have easier access to key European destinations, further enhancing Delta’s position as a leading carrier for transatlantic travel. This move also supports growing demand for more global connections from the region, providing greater flexibility for both business and leisure travelers.

Delta Air Lines is deepening its partnership in South Africa by placing its code on Virgin Atlantic’s flights to and from London Heathrow on routes to Johannesburg and Cape Town. This new codeshare provides greater choice for customers and strengthens the existing partnership between Delta and Virgin Atlantic, who have worked closely together in recent years in each other’s respective home markets. Through the partnership, Delta passengers will have better access to South Africa, providing travellers more choices to travel between the U.S. and a leading destination in Africa.

More Travel Options to South Africa

Starting on August 7, 2025, Delta will place its code on Virgin Atlantic flights between London Heathrow (LHR) and Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB). Additionally, from October 13, 2025, Delta will also offer codeshare services for Virgin Atlantic’s flights to Cape Town International Airport (CPT). This agreement provides Delta passengers with an easy connection to South Africa via Virgin Atlantic’s service from London.

Virgin Atlantic operates a year-round daily service to Johannesburg, while it runs a seasonal daily service to Cape Town, both aboard the Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Flights to Cape Town will begin again in October and operate through April, providing a scenic option for travelers eager to explore the city. The Johannesburg service departs London at 19:40, arriving at 08:40 local time, while Cape Town flights leave at 22:30 and arrive at 12:05.

These routes are significant for Virgin Atlantic, as they represent the longest nonstop flights the airline operates from London Heathrow. The distance to Johannesburg is 4,884 nautical miles (9,045 km), while the journey to Cape Town is even farther at 5,209 nautical miles (9,647 km). Virgin Atlantic faces competition from British Airways on both routes, with the UK flagship carrier offering a higher frequency of flights to both Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Strengthening the Transatlantic Connection

Delta and Virgin Atlantic, both integral members of the SkyTeam alliance, have formed a transatlantic joint venture that offers a range of benefits for passengers traveling between the US and the UK. This partnership ensures a smoother travel experience by allowing passengers to earn and redeem miles across both airlines, as well as offering Medallion members from Delta exclusive perks like priority services and lounge access.

One of the key benefits of this partnership is the shared terminal at London Heathrow, which facilitates efficient connections for passengers flying between Delta and Virgin Atlantic. With this extensive network, the two carriers provide enhanced transatlantic service, making it easier than ever for travelers to transition between the US, the UK, and now South Africa.

Delta’s services between the US and the UK are extensive, with up to 99 weekly flights from major cities such as Atlanta, New York, Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Salt Lake City to three major airports in the UK: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, and Edinburgh. From Heathrow, Delta operates 68 weekly flights to the US, offering travelers multiple options for connecting to Virgin Atlantic’s South African destinations.

Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic is well-represented in the US market with 157 weekly flights from Heathrow to various American cities, including New York (JFK), Los Angeles, and Orlando. The New York-JFK route is the most heavily serviced, with 42 weekly flights, while Los Angeles follows with 21 and Orlando offers 17 weekly connections. Notably, Orlando is connected to the UK from all three of Virgin’s departure cities, offering more versatility for travelers.

Delta’s Expanding African Network

Delta’s collaboration with Virgin Atlantic enhances the airline’s existing services to South Africa. The US carrier operates daily nonstop flights from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) to Johannesburg, as well as three weekly flights from Atlanta to Cape Town, utilizing the Airbus A350-900. These routes are among the longest nonstop flights operated by Delta, making them ideal for both leisure and business travelers.

Beyond South Africa, Delta serves other key African destinations. The airline operates daily routes between Atlanta and Lagos (Nigeria), as well as flights from New York to Accra (Ghana), and offers three weekly services between New York and Dakar (Senegal). Looking ahead to 2025, Delta plans to further extend its reach across Africa, with the introduction of three weekly flights from Atlanta to Marrakesh (Morocco) and a daily service from Atlanta to Accra.

While Virgin Atlantic currently operates flights exclusively to Johannesburg and Cape Town, the airline had previously planned to resume flights to Accra after a 12-year hiatus. However, these plans were eventually shelved, limiting Virgin’s African network. Nevertheless, the codeshare agreement with Delta ensures that Virgin passengers can still benefit from additional access to South Africa and other destinations on the continent.

Delta Air Lines is expanding its network with new direct flights from Salt Lake City to London Heathrow, Gatwick, and Edinburgh, offering more convenient travel options for passengers between the US and the UK. This expansion strengthens Delta’s international connectivity and supports growing demand for global travel.

Conclusion

The new codeshare agreement between Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic significantly enhances connectivity between the US and South Africa, offering passengers more flexible options and seamless travel experiences. This collaboration deepens the partnership between the two carriers, providing enhanced benefits for travelers, such as the ability to earn and redeem miles across both airlines and more convenient connections between the US, the UK, and South Africa.

With Delta’s complementary U.S. network and Virgin Atlantic’s strong UK operation, customers can enjoy access to an extensive travel network across the Atlantic to the South African market. With the extended reach provided by this codeshare agreement, Delta reinforces its promise to expand choice for customers traveling between the US and South Africa, making the two airlines known entities for transatlantic and African air travel.