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Delta Air Lines is cutting one of its two daily nonstop flights between Salt Lake City International Airport and Reagan National (DCA) in Washington, D.C., so that the carrier can move the slot instead to Los Angeles International Airport.

As a consolation, Delta is adding a daily nonstop flight between Salt Lake City and Washington Dulles International Airport in the Virginia suburbs, but it is much farther from downtown Washington for customers such as Utah's congressional delegation.

The changes are scheduled to start April 24.

Reagan National allows only 20 round-trip flights a day on commercial carriers for trips of more than 1,250 nautical miles. To add the nonstop to Los Angeles, Delta decided to cut a daily nonstop to Salt Lake City.

"Delta's preference would be to maintain two round-trip flights to Salt Lake City from DCA, but is unable to do so without a change in federal statute," said Andrea Newman, Delta senior vice president for governmental affairs.

Adding more slots, she said, would spur jobs and economic growth through new business and tourism opportunities.

"As a Delta hub," Newman said, "Salt Lake City is a critical part of Delta's domestic and international network, connecting the Mountain West with service to all parts of the U.S. and beyond."

At the same time, Delta hailed the change as a sign of its growth and investment at its hub in Los Angeles, including a plan to spend $1.9 billion to upgrade terminals there. The flight to DCA on a Boeing 757-200 will offer the only flat-bed seats in first class on the route frequented by customers in government, defense, entertainment and consulting services.

Delta says the replacement flight to Dulles will maintain the number of total seats it offers to the Washington, D.C., area from Salt Lake City. Its new daily flight to Dulles will leave Salt Lake City at 5 p.m. and arrive at 11:08 p.m. The reverse direction will leave Dulles at 7:30 a.m. and arrive in Salt Lake City at 10:10 a.m.