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Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is an international airport located about 4 miles west of Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It is rare for the airport to receive Boeing 747s, but it has happened on a few occasions. The airport has a history dating back to 1911 when a site for an airfield was chosen on Basque Flats. Over the years, the airport has expanded and now serves as a hub for Delta Air Lines, offering connections to various destinations in North America and Europe. The airport has also been the site of several notable incidents, including emergency landings and crashes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Salt Lake City International Airport |
| Airport Code | SLC |
| Location | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
| Distance from Downtown Salt Lake City | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
| Number of Terminals | 1 |
| Number of Concourses | 2 |
| Daily Departures | 343-370 |
| Destinations Served | 93-98 |
| Annual Passengers | 22.3-27 million |
| 747 Landings | Rare |
| Notable Events | Emergency landing of British Airways 747; Emergency landing of Delta Airlines Boeing 757 |
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What You'll Learn
Salt Lake City International Airport's history
Salt Lake City International Airport (IATA: SLC) is a joint civil-military airport located about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. The airport is owned by the City of Salt Lake City and is administered by the municipal Department of Airports.
The history of the airport dates back to 1911 when a site for an airfield was chosen on Basque Flats, named for the Spanish-French sheep herders who worked in the area. The same year, the Great International Aviation Carnival was held, attracting aviation pioneers such as representatives from the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company and the Wright Brothers. World-renowned aviator Glenn H. Curtiss debuted his newly invented seaplane at the carnival, taking off from the nearby Great Salt Lake and captivating 20,000 spectators. For several years, the airfield was primarily used for training and aerobatic flights.
In 1920, the United States Postal Service (USPS) introduced air mail service to Salt Lake City, marking a shift in the airfield's purpose. The airfield was named Woodward Field, in honour of local aviator John P. Woodward. On September 8, 1925, Woodward Field welcomed the first transcontinental air mail flight. The following year, Western Air Express, the first private company to carry U.S. mail, commenced flights from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles via Las Vegas, soon expanding to include passenger flights.
Over the years, the airport expanded, gaining another runway and spanning over 400 acres. In 1960, a new terminal, Terminal 1, was dedicated after seven years of construction and an $8 million investment. The airport was renamed Salt Lake City International Airport in 1968 when Western Airlines was awarded a non-stop route to Calgary, Canada.
The airport has continued to grow and develop, with expansions in the 1980s, the opening of a new runway in 1995, and the addition of international terminals and concourses. In 2001, Concourse E was expanded, and SkyWest Airlines established a new maintenance hangar and training facility. The airport played a significant role during the 2002 Winter Olympics, accommodating over one million visitors. In June 2008, Delta Air Lines introduced the airport's first transatlantic route to Paris, followed by the first direct flight to Asia, a route to Tokyo's Narita Airport.
While it is uncommon for Salt Lake City International Airport to receive Boeing 747 landings, there have been a few notable instances. In 1974, a fictional scene in the film "Airport 1975" depicted Captain Alan Murdock landing a crippled Boeing 747 at SLC. In more recent years, there have been a few rare sightings of 747s at the airport, including emergency landings and military transports.
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747s at Salt Lake are rare
Salt Lake City International Airport is a joint civil-military airport located about 4 miles west of Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It is the closest commercial airport for over 3 million people and is within a 30-minute drive of nearly 1.3 million jobs. The airport serves as a hub for Delta Air Lines and is a gateway to the Intermountain West and West Coast.
While the airport sees 343 scheduled nonstop airline departures per day to 93 cities in North America and Europe, it is rare for a Boeing 747 to land there. In June 2023, two 747s landed at the airport, surprising residents who had not seen one in a while. One resident commented that it had been since October of the previous year that a 747 had visited the airport.
There are several reasons why 747s are rare at Salt Lake City International Airport. Firstly, the airport is not a major cargo hub, and most commercial flights have phased out the use of 747s due to fuel inefficiency. The 747 is a high-volume aircraft that consumes a lot of fuel and requires a large crew to operate. Therefore, it is typically used for routes with higher demand than those served by the airport. Additionally, the airport does not have many international routes, and the 747 has been largely replaced by other aircraft such as the 777, 787, and A380 for long-haul flights.
However, on rare occasions, a 747 may make an emergency landing at the airport, as was the case with a British Airways 747 that diverted to Salt Lake City due to a passenger requiring medical attention. In popular culture, a 747 landing at the airport was featured in the 1974 film "Airport 1975," adding a touch of Hollywood glamour to the rare occurrence of a 747 gracing the skies over Salt Lake City.
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The airport's busiest times
Salt Lake City International Airport is located about 4 miles (6.4 km; 3.5 nmi) west of Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It is a joint civil-military international airport and is the busiest airport in Utah. The airport serves as a hub for Delta Air Lines and sees 343 scheduled nonstop airline departures per day to 93 cities in North America and Europe.
While it is rare for Salt Lake City International Airport to receive 747 landings, it has happened on a few occasions. In June 2023, two 747s landed at the airport within the same week, with one possibly being a military transport. In another instance, a British Airways 747 made an emergency landing at the airport due to a passenger requiring medical attention.
The airport ranked first for on-time departures and arrivals and had the fewest flight cancellations among major US airports as of April 2017. However, there have been several incidents and accidents involving flights departing or arriving at Salt Lake City International Airport. These include crashes during takeoff or landing, collisions with other aircraft, and fires during the boarding process.
The airport sees a significant amount of passenger traffic, with an all-time record of 28,364,610 passengers served in 2024, a 5.2% increase from 2023. The airport also offers ground transportation to ski resorts and locations throughout Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah, and Summit counties.
To ensure a smooth journey, passengers travelling through Salt Lake City International Airport can benefit from knowing the TSA security wait times. The airport's official website may provide real-time security wait times for each checkpoint, allowing passengers to plan their arrival accordingly. Additionally, programs like CLEAR Plus and TSA PreCheck can facilitate faster clearance and shorter lines at security checkpoints.
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Aircraft emergencies
During an emergency landing, the aircraft may not always land on a runway. Pilots may opt for fields, water surfaces, or even trees as landing sites. When selecting a landing site, it is crucial to assess wind direction and speed, the length and slope of the site, and the availability of a clear approach zone. A clear approach zone and maintaining control of the aircraft are often prioritized over finding a perfect touchdown area.
In the case of forced landings, the aircraft is forced to land due to technical problems or fuel exhaustion. Landing as soon as possible takes priority, regardless of the landing site. Pilots may perform "simulated forced landings" during training, where they practice getting the aircraft on theground safely by selecting a landing area and gliding the aircraft at its best gliding speed.
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Utah, United States, has experienced several aircraft emergencies and emergency landings. While it is rare for SLC to accommodate 747s, there have been instances where a British Airways 747 made an emergency landing due to a passenger requiring medical attention. In other incidents, a chartered Delta Airlines Boeing 757 made an emergency landing after suffering a bird strike, and various crashes have occurred during takeoff and landing, resulting in fatalities.
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SLC's busiest routes
While it is rare for Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to receive Boeing 747s, the airport does occasionally see these aircraft. The airport is located about 4 miles from downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, and serves as a hub for Delta Air Lines. With 343 scheduled nonstop daily departures to 93 cities in North America and Europe, SLC is the busiest airport in Utah.
Historically, the airport was chosen to be located on Basque Flats, where a cinder-covered landing was created for the first airfield. In 1920, the United States Postal Service began air mail service to Salt Lake City, and the first transcontinental air mail flight landed at Woodward Field in 1925. Western Air Express, the first private company to carry US mail, began flying from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles via Las Vegas, later expanding to carry passengers along the same route.
Today, SLC's busiest routes include those to and from North American and European cities. As a major gateway to the Intermountain West and West Coast, the airport serves over 3 million people in the region.
While SLC has a diverse range of routes, it is uncommon for the airport to receive 747s. This is due to the aircraft being phased out on most commercial flights and the preference for more fuel-efficient planes like the 777s, 787s, and A380s. However, on rare occasions, a 747 may make an emergency landing at SLC, as was the case with a British Airways 747 that diverted to SLC due to a passenger requiring medical attention.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, 747s can land at Salt Lake Airport. However, it is rare for the airport to receive 747s.
747s are less common at most places due to their fuel inefficiency. SLC is not a major cargo hub and does not have many international routes.
Yes, a British Airways 747 made an emergency landing at Salt Lake Airport after a passenger fell and hit his head.
