MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Delta Air Lines Inc. is looking to drop money-losing flights in 24 small cities, putting some of them at risk of losing air service altogether.
Delta says it has been losing $14 million a year on the flights, which are concentrated in the nation's midsection in cities like Thief River Falls, Minn., and Waterloo, Iowa. Some flights are only 12 percent full on average. Many are on Saab turboprop planes, which Delta is retiring.
Federal subsidies help pay for flying in 16 of the cities. Other airlines can bid for those subsidies if Delta pulls out. The airline says it will ask for federal subsidies in the other eight cities. It said it can't afford to keep flying to those cities without a subsidy.
We will be updating this news on this story today on BrainerdDispatch.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
Comments (12)
Add commentairport
Maybe they could sell their new million dollar enclosed gateway to Paul Bunyan Center for a hundred bucks. PBC is alwas looking for inexpensive new rides.
Federal subsidies
And we wonder if the government has a spending problem!
Essential Air Service (EAS) program
was established in 1978 and services about a 150 airports nationwide. In fiscal year 2009, Congress appropriated $136.2 million for the EAS program, and in 2010 increased this amount to $200 million. Is it a good use of taxpayer money, I don't know but it seems to me that the money would be better spent updating air traffic control and other safety systems in airports that actually make a profit.
5 airports at risk in MN, and Brainerd's is one of them
Looked at several articles on the subject and the Duluth paper was the only one to specifically name the 5 MN airports at risk. Ours is one of them.
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/204366/
I would hate to see our
I would hate to see our airport close. It's especially convenient when flying overseas vs going out of MSP. However, times are lean, and if it's not profitable for the airline and depends on gov't subsidies, it may have to be sacrificed.
There always seems to be about 10 TSA agents working during flights. That also seems excessive, and I'm sure could be reduced. In any case, what will happen to those folks?
Jetway
What is curious to me is that if Delta had thought of this before then why the need for the new jetway and airport remodeling? Now, I have heard that another airline is looking at servicing the Brainerd Airport and I hope that the improvements would help in attracting them.
An airport is always good
for local businesses. The subsidies are well worth it.
Airport
Considering what it costs to fly out of Brainerd, I say shut it down. The drive to MSP is a pain but you save up to $500 on your ticket, just for the convience of a 100+ miles.
I fly out of Brainerd fairly
I fly out of Brainerd fairly often, and the ticket price is usually the same, or close to what you pay to fly out of MSP.
No long lines at our airport, no stress and hassle of the drive to the cities, saves time, and free parking.