On Tuesday, June 5, Delta Air Lines announced that the Atlanta-based carrier will slash more than 40 percent of its service to Memphis International Airport by September.
Details:
- The "de-hubbing" of Memphis means a cutback from 92 to 60 daily flights out of the city.
- Reduction of 230 airport customer service and cargo employees as of Sept. 3. Employees can apply for other positions within the company.
- Delta says Memphis is "unprofitable" as a hub.
- U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen responds: "In 2008, Delta CEO Richard Anderson said in a Congressional hearing that the Delta/Northwest merger would not impact flights in and out of Memphis and even hinted at the addition of a possible Paris flight. He said that the merger was about addition, not subtraction. Now we are no longer a hub, have zero regular international flights and have only 60 domestic flights on Delta. This decision by Delta puts the flying public at a disadvantage."