Flying Delta from the Tri-Cities? Here is What to Know

Flying out of smaller regional airports has gotten complicated with all the airline changes and route adjustments flying around. As someone who has used Tri-Cities Airport more than a handful of times visiting family in eastern Washington, I learned everything there is to know about the Delta experience at PSC. Today, I will share it all with you.

If you are in the Pasco, Richland, or Kennewick area of Washington and need to fly, Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) is your home base. And if you are flying Delta specifically, I have got the honest rundown on what to expect from booking to baggage claim.

A Quick History

Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Delta started serving the Tri-Cities because the region needed reliable air connectivity. The area has been growing steadily with the Hanford site, agriculture, and wine industry bringing in more people and businesses. Companies need to move people in and out efficiently, and Delta stepped up to fill that gap. It was a smart move on their part — eastern Washington was underserved for years.

Where Can You Go?

From PSC, Delta flies you to their major hubs, and from there the world opens up:

• Seattle: Quick hop over the Cascades. I have done this flight dozens of times — barely enough time to finish a coffee before you are descending. From Seattle you can connect to international flights across the Pacific and beyond.
• Salt Lake City: Delta’s mountain hub with an enormous number of connections. If you are heading south or to the Rockies, this routing is usually your best bet from PSC.
• Minneapolis: If you are heading east or up to Canada, this routing often makes the most sense time-wise. Good connections to the Midwest and East Coast from there.

Basically, you are never more than one connection away from almost anywhere in the world. That is what makes having Delta at a regional airport endearing to us eastern Washington travelers — we do not have to drive three hours to Seattle to catch a flight anymore.

The Airport Itself

PSC is the fourth largest commercial airport in Washington state — bigger than you might expect for a mid-sized metro area. I was genuinely surprised my first time through at how well-equipped it is.

• Food and drinks in the terminal — nothing gourmet but enough to grab a meal before your flight
• Free Wi-Fi throughout that actually works at decent speeds
• Business center if you need to do some last-minute work or print boarding passes
• Check-in and baggage claim that is easy to navigate — you will not get lost here, I promise

Flying Delta – The Experience

Delta does their usual reliable thing here — snacks, drinks, seat-back entertainment on most flights. If you are in their SkyMiles program, you are earning miles like anywhere else on their network. No difference from flying Delta out of a major hub in that regard.

One thing I have noticed that sets PSC apart — Delta is pretty reliable here compared to some bigger airports. On-time performance is solid since you are not competing with the congestion of a SeaTac or a LAX. They also do not seem to overbook flights out of smaller airports as aggressively, which means less chance of getting bumped from your seat.

What Delta Brings to the Area

Having a major carrier serving the Tri-Cities matters more than most people realize until they think about it. Local businesses can move employees and clients in and out efficiently without burning a whole day on road travel. Tourism benefits directly — folks can actually get here to visit wine country or the Columbia River without driving for hours from Seattle or Portland.

Some Real Talk

Look, flying out of a regional airport has trade-offs and I want to be upfront about them. Fewer direct destinations means more connections, which means more total travel time and more chances for delays to cascade. But the flip side is genuinely worth considering: parking is a breeze and usually cheaper, security lines are shorter by a mile, and you are not dealing with the overwhelming crowds of a major hub. I can show up 45 minutes before my flight at PSC and still feel relaxed. Try that at SeaTac on a Friday afternoon.

Looking Ahead

Delta seems committed to the Tri-Cities based on everything I have seen. The region keeps growing, demand keeps climbing, and the airline keeps adjusting schedules to match. For now, if you need to fly somewhere from eastern Washington, Delta at PSC is a solid, reliable option that saves you the long drive west. I will keep flying out of here as long as they keep the routes running.