Delta flies back into Springfield after 8-year hiatus

by Paul Schreiber

SBJ Reporter

pschreiber@sbj.net

Delta Connection carrier Comair will begin nonstop flights to Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky International Airport beginning April 15 from the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport, said Joe Kauffman, director of corporate marketing and communication for Comair. The carrier joins three other airlines at the airport: American Connection, United Express and Northwest Airlink.

Though airport travel had declined in many areas since 9-11, demand for service out of Springfield has remained fairly strong, said Sherry Wallace, marketing spokesperson for the airport. Discussions with Delta occurred over a two-year period, she added.

The performance of the airport in terms of passenger loads and the response to service indicates it's a "vibrant market," said Nick Miller, manager of corporate communications for Delta Connection. He added that service also will provide "more direct routing to the East Coast and to the Southeast" for southwest Missouri passengers.

"We're looking forward to establishing a station at Springfield-Branson Regional Airport," Miller said. "Generally, when you open a new station you're talking about hiring (about) 20 people."

Service

Comair will operate three, 40-seat Bombardier CRJ regional jets out of Springfield, Kauffman said. Scheduled departure times are at 6:40 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. and estimated ticket prices for the 90-minute flight are uncertain, he added.

Atlanta-based Delta flies planes out of St. Louis, Kansas City, Tulsa and Little Rock, Ark., Kauffmann said.

Delta's past

It's been a while since Delta flew planes out of Springfield. Atlantic Southeast Airlines, a Delta subsidiary, operated a turbo-prop service here in 1994-1995, Wallace said. Service ended when Delta scaled back its Dallas hub, she said. Service from "mainline Delta" left in 1978, she added.

Delta will operate out of about 900 square feet from the ticket counter to the ramp, Wallace said. Although the lease agreement hasn't been finalized, airport space is typically rented in three-year increments, she added.