Dec 06, 2008 - 04:06:08 CST
MINOT (AP) - Minot's mayor says he's disappointed that Delta Airlines is not including Minot in its plans for new routes next summer, but he says the city is still determine to add westbound flights."We are going to keep working," Mayor Curt Zimbelman said. "Our citizens deserve it. Our base folks deserve it."
Delta announced Thursday it is adding fights from Bismarck and Fargo to its Salt Lake City hub in June.
Minot officials have urged Delta to consider Minot in the future. They offered a service proposal that includes $816,200 in incentives for establishing a westbound flight.
"People who want to go west are already coming down (to Bismarck). My biggest concern is you have two lower-tier cities southern cities getting all the westerly routes," Zimbelman said.
The mayor told Delta President Ed Bastian about the need for a westbound flight because of the growth projected for Minot Air Force Base and for the developing oil industry.
"It's really important for us, for the economy of our city," the mayor said, at a meeting organized by Sen. Byron Dorgan with Bastian and airport officials.
Bastian said no changes are planned that would diminish service or eliminate an airline representative.
MLT Vacations will benefit from the potential for increased business, airline officials say. MLT, which works primarily with Northwest Airlines travel packages, employs about 300 people in Minot. Delta acquired Northwest in October.
Bastian said the airline will be reducing its flights about 7 percent worldwide, but North Dakota should see no change in service level.
fargo guy wrote on Dec 7, 2008 5:20 AM:
O'hare is the second busiest airport in the world not too hard to top the number of people living in ND!!! dumb statemant!!
to bismarck guy: 543,337 people have passed thru Hector International in Fargo to date this year Bismarck has Probably what 200-300K?? and Minot 100-150K so tell me why an airline would increase service to Minot over Bis or Fargo? but yeah I need to get over myself! sorry that Fargo makes you feel like a nothing!! oh yeah i lived in the Western part of the state for 70% of my life!! my statement wasn't meant to bash anybody, just to state that a Minot to Denver route wouldn't last!!!!! you need to get over yourself as people in Bis-Man think they are bigger than they are!!!!! "
one over wrote on Dec 7, 2008 1:00 AM:
muhhaha wrote on Dec 6, 2008 1:29 PM:
Problem is, Minot is on an even lower tier than Bis & Fargo. Can Minot please stop going balistic every time Bismarck gets something?
That said, more service is always great. "
bismarck guy wrote on Dec 6, 2008 12:59 PM:
Critic wrote on Dec 6, 2008 11:59 AM:
Ahhhh. I feel a lot better. "
fargo guy wrote on Dec 6, 2008 9:29 AM:
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