Salt Lake City's airport gets first nonstop flight to Asia
Driving the news: The Salt Lake City International Airport, in partnership with Delta Air Lines, launched its first direct flight to Asia on Thursday, with nonstop daily service to South Korea's Incheon International Airport, outside Seoul.
Why it matters: The new flight path will allow passengers traveling through Salt Lake City to connect to more than 50 destinations in Asia, such as Bangkok, Manila and Shanghai.
Only four other U.S. airports fly direct to South Korea through Delta: Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Seattle.
What they're saying:"With the service we already have, and the addition of this flight, 80% of the world's population is now within one stop of Salt Lake City, Utah," said Bill Wyatt, the airport's executive director, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
Between the lines: The direct flight to South Korea takes just under 13 hours.
The big picture: As Korean pop culture, dramas and cuisine gain global recognition, South Korea is becoming an increasingly popular travel destination.
The intrigue: The new flight is the latest example of Utah's deepening ties to South Korea.
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