Klobuchar Presses Delta CEO in Letter to Continue Service to Greater Minnesota Airports

Press Release

Today U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar pressed Delta Chief Executive Officer Richard Anderson in a letter to continue service to greater Minnesota airports. Klobuchar asked Anderson to reconsider Delta's plans to potentially reduce or eliminate service or find alternative carriers to Thief River Falls, Hibbing, International Falls, Brainerd, and Bemidji since these areas rely on Delta for commercial airline service. Klobuchar has been in contact with all five communities and pledged her support to keep Delta service or make sure alternative carriers are found.

"Commercial airline service to these impacted communities has been a lifeline for tourists and businesses alike,"Klobuchar wrote in the letter.

Klobuchar continued, "This service has helped families connect with one another and enabled Minnesota businesses, particularly from our state's rural communities, to find opportunities and partners in other parts of the country, and even internationally."

Klobuchar serves on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee and Subcommittee on Aviation, which has jurisdiction over the nation's aviation system and all U.S. airline carriers.

The full text of the letter is below:

July 16, 2011

Mr. Richard Anderson

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

1030 Delta Boulevard

Atlanta, GA 30320-6001

Dear Mr. Anderson:

I write to you today about Delta's plans to reduce or eliminate service at several of Minnesota's airports. As you know, hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans rely on Delta for national and international travel each year. The cities you have identified for reduced or eliminated service--Thief River Falls, Hibbing, International Falls, Brainerd, and Bemidji--are especially reliant on your service since they are not served by any other commercial carrier.

Commercial airline service to these impacted communities has been a lifeline for tourists and businesses alike. With the ability to connect at Delta's Minneapolis-St. Paul hub, Minnesotans from these communities have relied on Delta for service to hundreds of cities in the United States and abroad. This service has helped families connect with one another and enabled Minnesota businesses, particularly from our state's rural communities, to find opportunities and partners in other parts of the country, and even internationally. In short, Delta's service to Greater Minnesota helps create jobs and maintain the economic vitality of these communities.

For these reasons, I ask that you reconsider your decision. If Delta ultimately eliminates its service to any of these communities, I would urge you to work with the Department of Transportation and other carriers as well as my office to find replacement service and to continue servicing these airports until an adequate replacement carrier is found. These communities should not suffer because of the airline's actions.

Sincerely,

Amy Klobuchar

U.S. Senator

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