Delta Lobbied for Flight

By Erin Nicholes, The Montana Standard, Butte

Apr. 25–Delta Airlines has decided against adding a flight at Bert Mooney Airport for the summer tourism season, but local officials are not taking “no” for an answer.

“I’m hoping that if we can put some pressure on them it may cause them to at least revisit the issue,” airport Manager Rick Griffith said Monday. “It hurts the economic viability of the community, not just the airport.” He is rallying the community to take part in a letter-writing campaign to convince Delta that Butte needs improved services.

Without them, Butte could see fewer tourists and businesses, said Marko Lucich, executive director of the Butte Chamber of Commerce.

“One of the selling points of our community when we’re recruiting businesses is that we have an airport and great air service,” he said. “When you start to lose some spokes in the wheel, it puts us at a disadvantage.” The airport’s trouble started in December, when the bankrupt Delta cut Montana flights. Butte was hit especially hard, losing two of four SkyWest Airlines flights; Delta contracts with SkyWest here.

“They carry 80 percent of our traffic, and we lost 50 percent of our flights on Sky West,” Griffith said.

The dramatic cuts, and Delta’s recent decision against adding a third flight here, were surprising because local boarding numbers have held steady, he said.

“Our market was improving,” he said. “We’ve had no negative news to impact that, other than Delta’s news. It’s not like the local economy is the big issue now. ” But the lost flights have made for tough business at Bert Mooney.

With just two Delta flights remaining, passengers have had trouble catching connecting flights.

“Without that third flight, our connections stink,” Griffith said. “People are traveling to Helena and Bozeman because they have more flight opportunities and they don’t have to wait so long. It’s just a confusing nightmare for our travelers.” And summer will exacerbate the problems.

The tourism season typically doubles the airport’s business. Right now, there simply aren’t enough seats for the usual number of travelers, Griffith said.

He has written letters asking Delta to reconsider its decision and asking United Airlines to eye Butte for a flight. He is sending them to Butte officials, the governor’s office and Montana’s congressional delegation for signatures.

Community members are also encouraged to sign, Lucich said.

“We have to be proactive and show the void this has created in our community and how much it has hurt our community,” he said.

To add a signature to the letter, call Griffith at 494-3771.

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