Image credit: Sarah Stierch via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0); author: Sarah Stierch; source page: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_M._Schulz%E2%80%93Sonoma_County_Airport_-_Sarah_Stierch.jpg.
Delta Air Lines will start twice daily nonstop flights between Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, California, and Salt Lake City International Airport on October 6, 2026. Airport officials and the airline announced the service on May 22, as reported by the Press Democrat.
Wine Country travelers who now drive to San Francisco, Oakland, or Sacramento to catch a Delta itinerary can book the new Santa Rosa flights instead. Start with the Delta Air Lines guide for bags, boarding groups, and SkyMiles rules before you pick a bank.
At a Glance
- Start: October 6, 2026, Santa Rosa (STS) to Salt Lake City (SLC).
- Frequency: Two daytime round trips every day at launch.
- Aircraft: SkyWest Embraer E175 flying as Delta Connection.
- Airport: Delta becomes the fourth airline at STS after Alaska, American, and Southwest.
- Hub use: SLC is a Delta hub, so the value is the connecting map, not only Utah.
The October 6 Schedule in Local Time
The Press Democrat reported that Delta will initially offer two daytime round trip flights every day through its Delta Connection partner, SkyWest Airlines. That is the load bearing operational claim: two round trips, every day, on regional jets, starting October 6.
AeroRoutes later published the filed times for the first flying day. From Salt Lake City, DL3541 is listed at 9:30 a.m. arriving Santa Rosa at 10:39 a.m., and DL3533 at 3:00 p.m. arriving 4:08 p.m. From Santa Rosa, DL3541 is listed at 11:25 a.m. arriving Salt Lake City at 2:24 p.m., and DL3533 at 4:55 p.m. arriving 7:55 p.m.
Treat those clock times as the current filing, not a frozen schedule. Airlines move banks when crews, gates, or connecting banks change. Confirm the live departure on delta.com the week you fly, then build a buffer around the STS check in window rather than around a May table.
The block times sit near two hours each way. Book the earlier STS departure if you have a tight international or East Coast connection after Salt Lake City.
Why Salt Lake City Matters From Wine Country
A Delta spokesperson told the North Bay Business Journal, which the Press Democrat carried, that the airline looks forward to making its debut in Sonoma County with nonstop service to Salt Lake City. The leisure line is real. The network line is the one that changes a booking.
Salt Lake City is a Delta hub. A Santa Rosa passenger is not limited to Utah ski weeks or a downtown conference. The same ticket can continue to the Midwest, the East Coast, Mexico, or Delta’s longer haul map without a Bay Area transfer. That is the difference between a new city pair and a new way to use Delta from Wine Country.
If Salt Lake City itself is the trip, the things to do in Salt Lake City list is the next planning page after you lock the outbound. Temple Square, the trailheads, and downtown sit a short transfer from the airport, so a 2:24 p.m. arrival still leaves an afternoon on the ground.
The practical test is whether the STS flight is priced and timed better than a drive to SFO plus a Delta mainline seat. Run both options with parking and drive time included before you pick loyalty credit over clock time.
Fourth Airline at a Small California Airport
Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport already lists Delta Air Lines among the airlines serving STS, with Salt Lake City as the Delta destination, on its passenger FAQ. That official page is the current airport roster. Alaska, American, Southwest, and now Delta are the four names.
Southwest began service at STS on April 7, 2026, according to the Press Democrat timeline. Delta is the second new commercial airline at the airport this year. Airport Manager Jon Stout said the new service will give the community additional travel options. That does not promise lower fares. It does mean a Delta ticket counter and a Delta Connection jet at a terminal that is still walkable from the lot.
The airport’s FAQ argues the case against Oakland, Sacramento, and San Francisco in one paragraph: shorter lines, easier navigation, cheaper parking, and a short walk to the terminal. A Delta hub flight only works if you still treat STS as a small airport. Arrive earlier than the city habit, but skip the two hour highway bet.
Alaska Follows With Seasonal Salt Lake Service
Delta will not have Salt Lake City to itself for long. The Press Democrat reported that Alaska Airlines had already announced seasonal Salt Lake City service beginning November 1, 2026, along with Phoenix and Boise, lifting Alaska from nine STS destinations to twelve.
That creates a short window. From October 6 through October 31, Delta is the scheduled STS to SLC carrier in the reporting we have. From November 1, travelers can compare Delta’s twice daily hub banks against Alaska’s seasonal frequencies. Delta is selling a SkyTeam hub. Alaska is selling a West Coast network with a seasonal Utah spoke.
If you need a November date, price both airlines on the same calendar day before you pick loyalty. If you need October, Delta is the named option. If you need a Bay Area backup, keep SFO or OAK in the cart until the STS seat is ticketed, then cancel the backup under its own rules.
Santa Rosa stay planning still belongs on the ground, not in the gate area. The RV parks near Santa Rosa, California page is useful when the flight is the last piece of a Wine Country trip rather than a same day turn.
Check-In, Bags, and the STS Terminal
The airport FAQ says kiosk check in is available for passengers traveling with carry on luggage only, and that baggage claim sits in the main terminal. STS does not set baggage fees or carry on counts. Those rules belong to Delta, which means the Fly Delta app and the ticket receipt control the bag price.
Do not copy Alaska’s wine rule onto a Delta ticket. The FAQ notes that Alaska and Southwest allow one properly packed case of wine checked free. Delta is listed separately. If you are flying Delta with wine, read Delta’s alcohol rules before you tape a case.
Ground transport at STS is simpler than a Bay Area hub. Rental counters are in baggage claim. Ride share and taxis work under airport agreements. Build the day around the earlier of the two STS banks if you cannot absorb a misconnect at SLC. Buy on delta.com with the SkyMiles number attached if you care about elite credit.
Decision Matrix
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Live in Sonoma, Napa, or Marin and fly Delta often | Price STS to SLC on October 6 or later against your usual SFO or OAK routing, including parking and drive time. |
| Need a connection beyond Utah | Use the earlier STS departure and hold at least 90 minutes at SLC before any long haul or East Coast bank. |
| Travel in November, not October | Compare Delta’s twice daily banks with Alaska’s seasonal SLC flights that start November 1. |
| Only need a Bay Area to Utah seat | Keep SFO and OAK as backups until the STS ticket is issued, then cancel the unused hold under its own fare rules. |
Planning Impact
October 6, 2026 is the first flying day. Confirm both banks on delta.com the week of travel. The AeroRoutes filing is the current clock, not a contract.
October 6 to October 31 is the Delta only window on this city pair in the reporting we have. Book that month on Delta if you want STS to SLC before Alaska’s seasonal start.
November 1, 2026 is Alaska’s seasonal Salt Lake start. Reprice the same dates on both carriers if your trip sits in November or later.
Frequently Asked
When does Delta start Santa Rosa to Salt Lake City flights?
October 6, 2026, according to the airport and airline announcement reported by the Press Democrat, with AeroRoutes listing the same first flying day.
How many Delta flights will run between STS and SLC?
Two daytime round trips every day at launch, operated by SkyWest as Delta Connection on Embraer E175 aircraft.
Is this a Delta mainline jet or a regional partner?
It is Delta Connection. SkyWest operates the Embraer E175 under Delta’s flight numbers, so bags, boarding, and SkyMiles follow Delta rules, not a separate SkyWest ticket brand.
Will Alaska also fly Santa Rosa to Salt Lake City?
Yes. The Press Democrat reported Alaska’s seasonal Salt Lake City service from STS begins November 1, 2026, after Delta’s October 6 start.
