Delta to reconnect Monterey with LA and Salt Lake City after nearly two decades
Delta Air Lines will resume service at Monterey Regional Airport in December, its first flights there since January 2008. The airline plans twice-daily nonstops to Los Angeles and daily service to Salt Lake City, operated by Embraer 175 regional jets. The new routes aim to give travelers easier access to Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, and the scenic Highway 1 corridor.
Monterey Regional Airport has operated without Delta service since January 2008, a gap of nearly two decades during which American, United, and Alaska all established a presence there. The airport's small terminal, with limited gates and a single security checkpoint, may see increased congestion once Delta's Embraer 175 regional jets begin arriving twice daily from Los Angeles and once daily from Salt Lake City on Dec. 19.
The new routes connect the Central Coast to two of Delta's western hubs, though Seattle remains unserved from MRY. Travelers heading to Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, or the Highway 1 corridor currently face roughly two-hour drives from San Francisco or 90 minutes from San Jose, making direct flights a meaningful alternative for those visiting the region.
This route restoration could benefit leisure travelers seeking easier access to Monterey's coastal attractions, as well as business passengers connecting through Delta's Salt Lake City hub to broader western networks. Local tourism-dependent communities may see modest economic gains from improved air access, while existing carriers face fresh competitive pressure on the LAX route. Travelers could also enjoy more schedule flexibility and potentially lower fares as Delta competes with United on that corridor, though the airport's small terminal may test its capacity during peak holiday travel.