Disappointment was apparent on faces of Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport Commission members and airport officials this summer as they dealt with the announcement that Delta Air Lines was planning to eventually discontinue its service to Brainerd and several other small market cities.
The commission later asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to rebid the Brainerd proposal after it was learned Great Lakes Airlines, which flies smaller aircraft was seeking to replace Delta. As of Friday no response had been received from the Department of Transportation.
Ever since the Delta announcement the airport commission has emphasized to travelers that air carrier service continues to be available in Brainerd. Rick Adair, recently appointed as interim airport manager, said this month Delta Air Lines would continue to serve the Brainerd airport until Great Lakes Airlines is set up to offer a seamless transition to the traveling public.
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the Essential Air Service subsidy to Great Lakes Airlines. While up to this point air service to Brainerd had not been subsidized, federal subsidies were used in 16 of the 24 cities where Delta announced plans to discontinue service.
It was reported this summer that Brainerd’s air carrier occupancy rate was 53 percent, which ranked it in the top 10 of the 24 cities where service will likely be dropped. The highest occupancy rate was Butte, Mont., with 65 percent and the lowest was Thief River Falls at 12 percent.
MIKE O’ROURKE may be reached at 855-5860 or at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com.
