Delta Air Lines flies planes to 275 different destinations and has more than 4,000 daily departures, according to the airline’s website.
Unfortunately, daily departures to one major airport will be ending permanently in November. The flight had not been a very popular one, and the airline decided to end the flight to better align with customer demand.
Still, it will leave passengers who are used to traveling to this key airport with far fewer options, since the flights previously left daily.
And as PennLive indicated when reporting on the story, the change “severs a key connection and is officially Delta’s full retreat from the region.”
Guay/AFP via Getty Images
Delta Air Lines will no longer run its daily flights to this airport starting in November
According to PennLive, Delta Air Lines is permanently shutting down service at Midland International Air and Space Port (MAF) in Midland, Texas, beginning in November.
Delta has been flying three daily flights between MAF and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) since launching the route last year.
Passengers express concern that Delta Air Lines is ending daily flights
Unfortunately, some passengers are very upset about the fact that Delta is ending these flights.
One Reddit user responded, “Oh no!!!!!!! I am not brand loyal to any airlines. I view it as a commodity and what’s the best (cheapest) way to get from point A to point B. Have randomly flown Delta twice this year for both of my trips that involved flying.”
Related: American Airlines cancels flight permanently, offers refunds
Another poster said that while the flights were at inconvenient times, the Redditor found that it made getting to other locations more accessible. “I liked that it opened up a lot of other destinations in theory.”
Low demand prompts Delta Air Lines to end the daily flight
Penn Live explained why Delta Air Lines is dropping the flight, and the reasoning makes a lot of sense.
Data from the Department of Transportation showed the load factors on the MAF to Austin-Bergstrom flights were below 60%, which is the level that’s needed to sustain the route.
Related: TSA issues stern warning on item over 13 million Americans use
It’s also possible that Delta Air Lines never intended to keep the flight long-term and ran it simply to preserve its access to gates at Austin Airport.
Delta will, in fact, be launching some new routes from Austin starting in December, including to Cancun and Cabo San Lucas.
Local officials are disappointed with Delta Air Lines ending flights out of Midland
While Delta Air Lines may have its reasons for discontinuing the daily flights from MAF, officials at the airport aren’t thrilled about the change.
“While I am disappointed to learn that Delta Airlines will no longer be servicing our airport, it does not diminish our commitment to ensuring Midland International Air & Space Port continues to thrive and meet the needs of our residents and those traveling through the Permian Basin,” Councilwoman Robin Poole told Yahoo Creators.
Poole is the City Council’s liaison to the Airports Department.
More Airlines:
- Airline cuts last flight into this US city, refunds available
- TSA issues stern warning on item over 13 million Americans use
- Spirit Airlines cuts more flights and jobs amid second bankruptcy
“Midlanders can expect us to remain focused on supporting improvements and expansion efforts that will strengthen our airport’s role as a vital hub for our community and our region,” she added.
“Air service is essential, and I will continue working alongside my colleagues, city staff, and our partners to bring more options and better connections to Midland.”
Travelers still have some options at Midland airport
Although Delta’s departure from Midland is a disappointment to passengers and officials alike, travelers do still have some options for flying out of the airport.
As Penn Live explained, much of the market share in Midland belongs to Southwest Airlines, and Southwest will continue to operate nonstop daily flights to Austin.
#Delta #Air #Lines #permanently #cancels #daily #flights #starting #November