Fuel Prices Are Forcing One Airline Out of State
By Jennifer Palmer, The Oklahoman
May 23–ExpressJet Airlines will no longer fly in Oklahoma after this summer, the company announced Thursday.
ExpressJet is decreasing its summer schedule by 30 percent as of Aug. 23, according to a press release. The company will continue to serve about 20 cities nationwide but Oklahoma City and Tulsa will not be among them.
Record fuel prices have forced the company to make difficult decisions, spokeswoman Kristy Nicholas said.
The move was announced at the Houston-based airline’s annual meeting.
“We will work to accommodate any customers that have purchased tickets and would be impacted,” Nicholas said.
But because the flight schedule is published six months in advance, she said, they don’t expect any re-accommodation issues.
ExpressJet had been offering nonstop service from Will Rogers World Airport and Tulsa International Airport to Albuquerque, N.M., Los Angeles/Ontario, Calif., Sacramento, Calif., and San Diego.
The ExpressJet aircraft feature free XM radio and are designed without the dreaded middle seats.
The airline came to Oklahoma in April 2007.
In Tulsa, all airline contracts expire June 30. ExpressJet will continue its service from July 1 to Aug. 22.
The airline has a three-year agreement with Will Rogers World Airport, which it will have to pay out. Mark Kranenburg, director of airports, said the contract is for $131,000 a year.
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