Dubuque Airport Stays Stong Despite Delta Pull Out

By Katie Wiedemann, Reporter

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By Katie Wiedemann

Story Created: Jun 30, 2009 at 4:16 PM CST

Story Updated: Jun 30, 2009 at 9:32 PM CST

Dubuque - After only a year one airline is calling it quits at the Dubuque Airport. By the end of the summer Delta Airlines will no longer fly in and out of the Dubuque Regional Airport.
The announcement came as a shock to the airport staff.
A trip to visit family in the tri-state area is much easier for Denyse Redington if she can fly right into the Dubuque airport.
Redington said, "I had every intention of always flying back to Dubuque instead of O'Hare or Midway and driving from Chicago, so we will miss that."

Starting in September passengers like Redington will only be able to use one airline to fly in and out of Dubuque.
The Delta hub set up shop next to American Eagle in Dubuque almost exactly one year ago.
That's why the announcement hit airport staff like a ton of bricks.
Airport Manager Robert Grierson said, "that's really disheartening because those are people who work here."

Grierson says he does not plan to recruit another carrier to Dubuque.
He says his focus is now making service through American Eagle even stronger.

Grierson said, "American has made it very clear that they want to continue to grow here."

Delta blames the pull out on the weak economy, fuel prices, and passengers' fear of H1N1.
Grierson says it’s part of a Delta's corporate wide decision and he worries which other local airports could take the same kind of hit.
Eastern Iowa Airport Manager Dan Mann says Delta will continue its service in that airport.
But starting August 18th, Delta will end direct daily flights from Cedar Rapids to Atlanta and Cincinnati.

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