"Delta Air Lines departs Monterey Peninsula Airport"

Friday, January 4, 2008

Delta Air Lines departs Monterey Peninsula Airport
By RIA MEGNIN 
The Salinas Californian 


Delta Air Lines has cancelled its lone daily flight out of Monterey
Peninsula Airport, effective Sunday.

The flight was the airport's only commercial flight to Salt Lake City, and
may herald future cuts in air service to Monterey County.
   
Airport spokeswoman Jennifer Donat said Delta's departure isn't expected to
affect jobs - the flight was staffed by SkyWest, which continues to operate
out of Monterey - but passengers now have to travel at least as far as San
Jose to catch a flight to the Utah airport hub.

Monterey Peninsula Airport announced Delta is cutting routes that have 80
percent or fewer seats filled, partly due to rising fuel costs.

``This is a huge loss for our community,'' said John McMahon, president of
the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau. ``I'm concerned that in
today's competitive environment for business and leisure travel, that lack
of service could be a major deterrent.''

Delta, which came to Monterey in August 2005 with two flights to Salt Lake
City, pulled one in September 2007 and the second in December. The airline
has told the airport it may return to service in May.


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