Sep. 24--Eight days after filing for bankruptcy protection, Delta Airlines announced on Thursday it will eliminate as many as 9,000 more jobs, slash executive pay and cut domestic flights and capacity.
Erie International Airport officials took the announcement in stride.
"At this point, we don't see it having any negative impacts (on Erie)," airport Executive Director Kelly Fredericks said.
Delta serves Erie with regional jets through its wholly owned Comair subsidiary, which is based at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Christopher Rodgers, Erie International's director of strategic planning, said Delta's regional jet operations in Erie are profitable, and he said he cannot imagine the air carrier reducing service in an airport where it is making money.
"I don't see anything in (Delta's) plan that will have any impact on the traveling public and the Erie airport," he said.
Delta said it will revamp its domestic flight schedule Dec. 1 to achieve its goals of reducing routes and excess seating capacity.
However, as it reduces its domestic flights, the nation's third-largest carrier announced plans to expand its international flights.
The carried provided no details of what domestic routes might be cut or have reduced flights or smaller planes serving them.
Fredericks said that rather than bracing for cuts in Delta's service to Erie, the airport is in fact pursuing additional flights to Cincinnati and service to Atlanta.
"We would like to see more Delta service," he said.
Still, Delta's troubles, along with those of Northwest Airlines, another Erie carrier that has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, means airport officials need to keep a close eye on local operations, Fredericks said.
"We are in a close watching and monitoring state," he said.
<>
News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.
