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”Delta Air Lines will start twice-a-day service between Yakima and its Salt Lake City hub in June.
The move, announced Monday, caps nearly two years of efforts to lure Delta and re–establish a two-airline presence in Yakima.
Travelers will be able to fly nonstop to 112 destinations nationwide from the Salt Lake City hub, said Delta spokesman Anthony Black.
Passengers will fly to and from Yakima aboard CRJ–200s, a 50–seat Canadian–built jet.
Ticket prices have not yet been set, but Delta will likely offer promotional rates when it starts service, said airport manager Buck Taylor.
Horizon Air has been the airport’s sole carrier since 2001, when United Express pulled service, citing declining revenue after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Delta has had its own financial issues, including a Chapter 11 bankruptcy which it expects to emerge from by late April.
Despite that, Delta still wants to expand, and Yakima’s efforts likely persuaded it to start service in the area, said Mike Boggs, manager of aviation services for Mead & Hunt, who served as the airport’s consultant.
“At the same time they’re announcing service to Yakima, they’re making the decision not to serve scores of other communities,” he said. “They believe the Yakima service is the next best opportunity.”
A second air carrier is a major selling point to prospective companies, who look for ease in business travel, said Tammy Everts, marketing and development for New Vision, the county’s economic development arm.
Everts said a business prospect who visited Yakima recently told her how difficult it was to fly into Yakima.
“A lot of businesses come from back east,” Everts said. “Just having another airline gives twice as much flexibility.”
Efforts will now be directed toward keeping the new service, said airport board chairman Bill Wheeler.
As part of an agreement with Delta, the airport has promised incentives that include $150,000 for marketing and guaranteed $500,000 in advance ticket sales for the first year.
The Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce has pledged work with the business community to ensure enough tickets are purchased.
Having that in place before the new service begins will show Yakima’s commitment to keeping Delta financially viable, Wheeler said.
“Airlines have come and gone many times,” he said. “An airline will only stay if it’s profitable. It’s a matter of getting off to a good start.”
Black, the Delta spokesman, said the airline has extended service in other smaller cities, such as Bend, Ore., when demand increased. Also on Monday, Delta announced it was extending service to Salem, Ore.
“As long as we see strong passenger demand in that market, we will not only be maintaining that market, but look at adjusting the service,” he said.
Meanwhile, airport officials are still looking for other air carrier possibilities, Taylor said.
Although Delta is the airport’s top priority, it has started work toward establishing service from Yakima to Portland. Many Yakima businesses need to travel to Portland but have to spend hours driving or waiting for a flight from the Seattle airport.
“We never quit looking for options,” Taylor said. “We’re always looking to complement and add to our services.”
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