Delta Connection Suspension is "Permanent" (Updated)

 


Delta Connection's suspension of service to Peoria is officially "permanent." 

WMBD TV-31 posted the news on its website this morning. In May, the airline petitioned the Department of Transportation to temporarily suspend service. This was a requirement after receiving aid through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The suspension took effect July 6, per comment by the adminstrator of the airport's Facebook page. Service had been cut to a single Peoria-Atlanta roundtrip on weekdays.

Airline traffic at Peoria Int'l Airport dropped 96 percent in April. The sting of this loss is especially aggravating given the record tally for 2019 (689,416 passengers) and record numbers in both January and February 2020. Although I haven't yet found numbers for this year, it has been reported that traffic in 2020 hasn't been this slow since 1973 (the year an Ozark Air Lines strike suspended all passenger flights for 77 days. Less than 250,000 passengers flew into or out of the airport that year). 

Fortunately, the airport authority hasn't given up. It desires to lure Delta Connection back to Peoria. That is a tall order. Business travel must return to sufficient levels. And we are competing with Bloomington-Normal's Central Illinois Regional Airport, where Delta Connection not only maintains Atlanta nonstops, but recently resumed service to Detroit. 

But here is the truth. The "pandemic" is always blamed for the devastation of airline traffic. The actual cause was media fear-mongering and subsequent restrictions (mask mandates, social-distancing, etc.) imposed on passengers. Until these restrictions are lifted, and fear is gone there can be no recovery. 

- David P. Jordan

Comments

  1. UnknownDecember 10, 2020 at 10:12 AM

    Not happy about this but at least CIRA has first class seats on Delta flights to ATL. I will continue to fly Delta out of CIRA.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ChristopherDecember 10, 2020 at 10:45 AM

    I DISAGREE..... Delta Airline's departure wasn't about ' media fear-mongering and subsequent restrictions ' . Current pandemic guidelines are meant to keep as many people as possible safe, despite the disbelief. Fact is that Delta was already in the process of pulling out of PIA, before the pandemic began. What's hasn't publicly been disclosed is whatever behind-the-scenes management decisions between the airline and airport management influenced such decision. No doubt, financial negotiations was a significant factor. Scapegoating the media and public health measurements is simply absurd. "

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David P. JordanJanuary 16, 2021 at 1:16 PM

      (Sigh) Lockdowns and other restrictions were based on worst-case scenarios by medical "experts" who were just guessing. Politicians panicked. People must understand that the restrictions, NOT the "pandemic," is what caused economic hardship. Such overreach ruined the airline industry for probably many years to come. There can be no recovery until stupid, symbolic restrictions (masks, social-distancing) are lifted. It is then up to the public to reject media fear-mongering. Society simply must learn to live with coronavirus until overcome by a combination of vaccinations (for the ones who need it) and group immunity.

      That said, Delta Connection reduced service to both CIRA and PIA the past few years. The sudden drop in business travel required the elimination of duplicate services. CIRA-ATL historically handled more traffic than PIA-ATL, so the decision wasn't a hard one. PIA's director seems to think they could resume service if and when business travel returns to normal. I tend to agree, but can't see Delta returning before 2022 at the earliest, however.

      Delete

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