Delta Axes NW BDL-AMS Service

Press Release:

Quote:

Northwest Airlines Suspends Bradley Airport Service to Amsterdam
3/27/2009
The troubled economy cited, but officials hope for resumptions when travel industry rebounds

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (March 27, 2009) – Connecticut Department of Transportation and Bradley Airport officials announced today that the flight by Northwest Airlines to Amsterdam, set to resume June 3, has been suspended. Given the challenging economic climate and poor advance reservations, airline officials from Delta Air Lines decided that the flight is not financially viable at this time, but will be reconsidered as economic conditions improve. A reduction in the flight schedule from daily to four times a week, and lower fuel costs, still couldn’t offset a drop in demand, which has affected the entire industry. According to the Air Transport Association (ATA), Delta Airlines, parent of Northwest, cut transatlantic capacity by 11 to 13% this winter and plans to cut another 10% starting in September. Revenue for U.S. airlines fell 19% in February 2009 compared to February 2008 – the fourth consecutive month of decline. Worldwide, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates global loss for 2009 will be $4.7 billion – just last December the loss was projected at only $2.5 billion. Meanwhile, passenger travel worldwide was down 10.1 percent year over year. Bradley to Amsterdam service ran successfully for two summers. As market conditions improve and business and vacation travelers take to the skies again in similar numbers as before, route development officials at the airport stand ready to attract more service on behalf of the millions served by the airport. Added Mark Daley, Bureau Chief, Aviation & Ports, Connecticut State Department of Transportation, “We worked with a number of organizations to attract Delta/Northwest to Bradley in the first place, including the MetroHartford Alliance and Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council. The State and broader regional stakeholders pulled together in support and celebration of this service. I would like to thank them and say to them: please do not be discouraged by this setback as we have much more work to do together.” About Bradley International Airport Bradley International Airport is the second largest in New England and serves an extensive geographic area – its customer base covers the entire Northeast including Western Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey. According to the most recent economic impact analysis, Bradley contributes $4 billion in economic activity to the state of Connecticut and the surrounding region, representing $1.2 billion in wages and 18,000 full-time jobs. (http://www.bradleyairport.com).