There’s one less airline at the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.
Delta Airlines late Friday announced it is temporarily suspending all flights to and from the airport beginning Wednesday, a move company officials say is due to low customer traffic and coronavirus concerns.
It had been flying from Newport News/Williamsburg Airport to Atlanta three times a day.
“The safety of our employees and customers remains our primary focus as we navigate these challenges together,” said Sandy Gordon, senior vice president – Domestic Airport Operations. “By consolidating operations while customer traffic is low, we can allow more of our people to stay home in accordance with local health guidelines.”
Hampton Roads is served by two airports: Newport News/Williamsburg and Norfolk International Airport – Delta will still fly in and out of Norfolk International.
The CARES Act lets an airline do that if it serves more than one airport in an area.
According to published reports, Newport News/Williamsburg Airport received $4 million in stimulus money.
Delta has announced an 85 percent reduction in its second quarter schedule, which include reductions of 80 percent in U.S. domestic capacity and 90 percent internationally.
Delta suspended service to nine other airports. Stations will remain closed at least until September, as Delta continues to evaluate overall network needs, according to a news release from the company.
The airlines will “re-accommodate” customers whose travel is impacted as a result of service suspensions. Affected Delta employees will be provided pay protection options through Sept. 30, 2020.
Delta is looking at other opportunities to take similar measures in additional markets.
The company filed a request with the U.S. Department of Transportation last month to consolidate operations in another nine cities served by multiple airports. That request is still under review.
For those impacted by the suspension of service, Delta has extended waived change fees and the flexibility to travel through Sept. 30, 2022, to customers with canceled travel through September 2020.
Eligible customers include those who have:
- Upcoming travel already booked between now and Sept. 30 as of April 17, 2020.
- Canceled travel from flights between March 2020 and September 2020.
Customers can cancel and change their bookings on Delta.com.
YOU ALSO MIGHT WANT TO CHECK OUT THESE STORIES:
- Phase 1: Restaurants, hotels prepare to reopen as coronavirus cases continue to go up
- How well are people social distancing in the Historic Triangle and elsewhere? New data might have the answer
- The other frontline workers: These hospital staff are working behind the scenes to protect the public, coworkers
- Pretrial detention amid the coronavirus: Williamsburg-James City County ahead of the curve; and a take from a defense attorney
